MBH Architects Promotes Two to Principal

Joe Irwin and Hillary Thompson recognized for leadership, expertise, and contributions to the firm's growth and innovation.

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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MBH Architects, an award-winning architecture and design firm, has announced the promotion of Joe Irwin and Hillary Thompson to Principal. Irwin, based in the Denver office, has over 15 years of experience leading fixture design and architectural innovation, while Thompson, based at the Alameda headquarters, has spent 11 years shaping the firm's brand communications strategy and knowledge infrastructure.

Why it matters

The promotions of Irwin and Thompson to Principal reflect MBH Architects' commitment to design excellence, technical expertise, and strategic growth. Irwin's leadership in advancing design technology and fabrication capabilities, and Thompson's work in strengthening the firm's brand and knowledge management, have contributed to MBH's reputation as an innovative and client-focused practice.

The details

As Studio Director and Denver Office Director, Irwin has guided multidisciplinary teams to deliver complex, custom fixture programs for high-profile clients. He has pioneered the integration of 3D printing into architectural workflows and contributed to the firm's internal operations and culture. Thompson, as Director of Brand Communications, has led firmwide marketing, communications, and knowledge management initiatives that support MBH's focus on design and operational excellence. She has spearheaded major enterprise projects, including the development of the firm's intranet and CRM platforms.

  • Joe Irwin was promoted to Senior Associate in 2018.
  • Hillary Thompson has spent the past 11 years at MBH Architects.

The players

Joe Irwin

Studio Director and Denver Office Director at MBH Architects, with over 15 years of leadership in fixture design and architectural innovation.

Hillary Thompson

Director of Brand Communications at MBH Architects, leading firmwide marketing, communications, and knowledge management initiatives.

Ryan McNulty

President and Principal at MBH Architects.

Klas Eklöf

Principal at MBH Architects.

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What they’re saying

“Joe and Hillary exemplify the curiosity, rigor, and collaborative spirit that define MBH. Their work has strengthened not only the quality of our design solutions, but also how we operate as a firm. This promotion reflects the meaningful impact each of them has had on our clients, our teams, and the future direction of our practice.”

— Ryan McNulty, President and Principal

“Joe combines technical mastery with a maker's mindset. He continually looks for smarter, more valuable ways to bring ideas to life, and always delivers future-focused solutions that we can build on. His expansive mindset and entrepreneurial spirit drive us into a world-class level of service.”

— Klas Eklöf, Principal

“Hillary has transformed how we communicate who we are and how we learn from one another. She brings clarity to complexity, building systems that organize and activate our decades of knowledge and data as a strategic asset for our clients. By strengthening how information is shared across the firm, she empowers our teams to step into every situation as informed, trusted partners from day one. Her leadership has strengthened the entire organization.”

— Ryan McNulty, President and Principal

The takeaway

The promotions of Joe Irwin and Hillary Thompson to Principal at MBH Architects demonstrate the firm's commitment to design excellence, technical innovation, and strategic growth. Their leadership in advancing design technology, brand communications, and knowledge management have strengthened MBH's position as a forward-thinking and client-focused architecture practice.