Daniel Okoli named university architect

Daniel Okoli, who leads the Office of Architecture and Planning Services at New York’s Pace University, has been named university architect for UW–Madison.

“Dan has a strong record of leadership and of delivering major projects on time, and within budget,” says Alan Fish, associate vice chancellor for facilities. “He’s a consensus-builder with the skills to help bring our new campus master plan to life.”

Okoli comes to the university as it manages its biggest building boom since the 1960s. UW–Madison is developing a campus master plan – which is set for completion in September – that will guide the development of campus buildings, green spaces and transportation for the next 20 years.

“In addition to providing stewardship on design matters and project management, Dan will be a key player in assuring that our campus is a good place to live, work and learn – now and in the future,” Fish says.

Okoli says he is excited to be coming to Madison at a time when the campus master plan is being created.

“There is no better time to be on this campus, because it is a defining period in its physical development, with everything aligning to create a great campus,” Okoli says. “It’s part of creating a sense of place for what is one of the best campuses in North America.”

Fish says Okoli is also a skilled communicator, able to reach out to the community.

“In addition to bringing technical expertise to this position, Dan has an accessible and comfortable manner that will be beneficial as he builds and strengthens relationships with campus, other state agencies and the community,” he says.

Okoli has been university architect at Pace University since 2001, and was responsible for projects ranging in cost from $5,000 and $200 million. There, he was charged with managing and executing Pace’s master plan and for developing new building design standards.

For six years before that he was an architect in Ohio State University’s Office of Facilities Planning and Development. There, he provided leadership on a joint university task force with the city of Columbus aimed at addressing the impact of a high volume of large construction projects.

He also worked on various other projects in the United States and abroad that involved change of use, adaptive re-use and historic preservation.

In his new position, Okoli will earn $120,000 annually.