Born in Grand Forks, North Dakota, and raised in Montrose, California, Charlie Downs has worked in the architecture field since the early 1970’s. He moved to Placerville in 1978, and established his own firm in 1981. He established Murray & Downs AIA Architects, Inc., with Ed Murray in 1985, which became ANOVA Architects, Inc., in 2007. ANOVA joined forces with Architectural Nexus in 2011, with a focus primarily on healthcare, research facilities, K-12 and higher educational projects, and civic and federal projects.

He has served on numerous boards, committees, and commissions in the area, and his architectural projects—especially hospitals and schools—have touched innumerable lives, and his approach to healthy, energy-efficient buildings reflects his commitment to environmental stewardship.

Charlie and his wife Nancy Steckley (and their three dogs) live in Camino, where they love to garden and enjoy the recreational opportunities that living on the western slope of the Sierra provides.