OFFICE

Our name, Nominal, is inspired by the 2x4—a fundamental building block of U.S. residential construction. Though its name suggests precise dimensions, its actual size is smaller, an oddity rooted in the history of lumber standardization. Before industry norms established consistent sizing, natural variations and imperfections would be adjusted for on-site. In our experience, the construction of a home, building, or urban space—from concept design to inhabitation—involves a similar process of customizing, refining, and making the most of what’s available. We find creativity in the commonplace (or the common stud), aiming to elevate everyday materials into unexpected spaces.

LEADERSHIP

Nominal is led by Cadence Bayley, AIA and Sam Naylor, AIA. Combined, we have two decades of experience designing award-winning architecture across the U.S. and internationally. We met in graduate school, finding a common passion for rigorous experimentation, affordable housing, and civic engagement. Forming Nominal became a natural next step in our commitment to create lasting, high-quality spaces in the communities we live and work.

Cadence is Nominal’s managing partner, with experience spanning architecture, planning, and retrofits. She has worked in Boston, New York, San Francisco, and most recently London, where she focused on social housing redevelopment with Karakusevic Carson Architects. She is also a lecturer in architecture at Northeastern, lives in Somerville, and spends her spare time rock climbing in New England. Sam, Nominal’s consulting partner, specializes in architecture, urban design, and design research. He has worked in New Orleans, Los Angeles, and is currently at Utile in Boston, focusing on multifamily housing across New England. He is the primary author of Legalizing Mid-rise Single-stair Housing in Massachusetts and co-editor of The State of Housing Design 2023, both published by the Harvard Joint Center for Housing. He lives in a cooperatively owned triple-decker in Jamaica Plain and is an avid biker, rain or shine.

Our expertise spans many scales and geographies, from the complexity of an airport to the precision of aluminum flashing. We are passionate about affordable housing, low-carbon materials, and walkable neighborhoods, driven by the belief that everyone deserves a well-designed, joyful, and healthy home.

FOCUS AREAS

Affordable Housing

Designing homes—from the scale of a bedroom to an entire block—is at the core of our practice. Housing shapes our daily lives and reflects cultural practices and values, yet is consistently underdesigned and underproduced. We collaborate closely with clients to understand how they live, using these insights to challenge and evolve norms around quality of life, density, and construction.

Our work spans all scales of housing, from single-family renovations to multi-building urban developments. We believe that creating thoughtful, lasting homes comes from engaging in every stage of the process—from development and design to construction, habitation, and maintenance.

Low-Carbon Materials

We are committed to creating less—that is, less waste, less carbon, and less unnecessary space—while building high-quality environments that endure. Thoughtful material choices and careful design extend the life of buildings, ensuring they retain value across use cases and inhabitants.

Durability is a key part of sustainability. A well-crafted, long-lasting material—one that is not only low-carbon but also healthy—is always preferable to a temporary solution destined for replacement. We prioritize non-toxic, responsibly sourced materials that contribute to better indoor air quality and well-being. We embrace the time and care required for low-carbon materials and construction practices. By working closely with our clients, we select materials and strategies that meet immediate needs while considering the long life of buildings.

Walkable Urbanism

Healthy, human-scaled neighborhoods are rare. We are committed—both professionally and personally—to creating dense, mixed-use communities where people can walk, cycle, or take transit to jobs, schools, and essential services, with access to quality open space. Unfortunately, these places remain too few.

Our practice engages in urban design—from zoning and framework plans to urban furniture. This work is grounded in conversations with residents about their aspirations for their neighborhoods and collaboration with cities and consultants to align policy and projects for a shared vision for better urban spaces.

WHAT WE DO

We provide full architectural services, including interiors, adaptive reuse, and new construction. Beyond buildings, our work extends to vision plans, housing test fits, zoning analysis, public realm interventions, and design research. Whether you have a project, an idea, or simply want to connect, we’re always open to a conversation. Below is an overview of the services we offer:

Full Architectural Delivery (Concept-through-Construction)
Existing Conditions Measurement / Drawing
Interior Design / Interior Architecture
Adaptive Re-use & Renovations
Condo/Coop Documents
Urban Design Framework Plans
Development Test-fits
Zoning Analysis
Public Space Design
Design Research

GET IN TOUCH

At Nominal, we are driven by thorough research, careful iteration, and close collaboration with our clients. We apply this rigorous approach to projects of all scales—whether it’s a city block or a coffee table. We value clear communication, craft, and understated, yet refined materials. We have a knack for drawing as a method of thinking and are not afraid of iteration as the best defense against inaction.

If you have a plot of land, project, idea, or question in need of design we would love to help, please reach out—

hello@nominaloffice.us