Tom Gilman

With more than 45 years at DES, Tom Gilman brings deep perspective and steady leadership to his role as Executive Partner. Serving as the firm’s President from 2003 to 2025, Tom has guided the growth of the firm with a focus on design excellence, mentorship, and relationship building. His experience spans master planning and large-scale projects where he thrives on balancing complex considerations to bring a client’s vision to reality.

As a long-standing leader, Tom continues to shape DES’s culture and practice by advising on design strategy, supporting teams, and strengthening client partnerships. He is an active voice in the profession, having served on the Redwood City Architectural Advisory Committee, the California Architectural Foundation Board, and the Cal Poly School of Architecture Advisory Council. A licensed architect in seven states and a longtime resident of San Mateo County, Tom also served as past president of the AIA San Mateo County chapter.