Galbraith Carnahan Architects

05/29/2026

Ten years ago, the intersection of 64th and North Avenue in Wauwatosa was a vacant lot, an underused storefront, and an abandoned office building, a corner the neighborhood had stopped expecting anything from.

Today it's a destination: Idyll Coffee Roasters, Pipsqueak Wine, and the 1921 log cabin that houses our office, moved down North Avenue on a rainy night in 2019.

None of it required a master plan or a major developer. What it required was someone willing to look carefully at what was already there, ask what it could become, and invest in the answer with patience and intention.

We wrote about it in this month's Making Place newsletter. If there's a corner in your neighborhood that's been overlooked, it's worth a read. And if you're not already subscribed, the link below will get you there.

https://mailchi.mp/6b1145130bf7/building-blocks-how-a-corner-becomes-a-community

Ten years ago, the intersection of 64th and North Avenue in Wauwatosa was a vacant lot, an underused storefront, and an abandoned office building, a corner the neighborhood had stopped expecting anything from.

05/28/2026

They spent a decade collecting art. Eventually the house ran out of room.

The new one was designed around the collection from the start. Skylights canted to keep direct sun off the pieces. A steel display framework that can be reconfigured as the collection evolves. An exterior that borrows its shape and materials from the farm sheds on neighboring parcels.

Gallery Shed | Jackson, WI | Galbraith Carnahan Architects

05/21/2026

Vets Place Central was recognized with a 2026 Mayor's Design Award from the City of Milwaukee in the Everything Begins at Home category.

A renovation and 4-story addition at 3330 W. Wells St., delivering 81 units of supportive housing for veterans in Milwaukee. Completed October 2025.

05/17/2026

Do you know an Ashley Thomas?

Someone with a vision for their community that's bigger than their budget. A nonprofit doing real work that deserves more than it's gotten.

Shechem at Hope Street took eight years and a team that never quit. That building exists because people kept believing in Ashley's vision and the right team showed up.

GCA Deep Roots is looking for the next one. Pro bono design services for nonprofits ready to build something that matters.

https://www.galbraithcarnahan.com/deep-roots/

The full conversation is live on our YouTube. Thank you to Greg Marshall for moderating.

05/15/2026

Before we drew anything, we went somewhere else entirely.

05/10/2026

Happy Mother's Day to every mom who turned a structure into a home.

05/05/2026

Know a nonprofit with a vision for their space and no pathway to get there?

The GCA Deep Roots Program was built for exactly that organization. One recipient each year receives up to $25,000 in pro bono architectural services: programming, space planning, schematic design, concept renderings, and an estimated budget they can take to funders.

Applications close June 15. Share this with someone who needs it.

https://www.galbraithcarnahan.com/deep-roots/

05/01/2026

🌱 We're excited to introduce the GCA Deep Roots Program.

Is your organization ready to grow?

We built this program for nonprofits with a vision for their space and no pathway to get there. One recipient each year receives up to $25,000 in pro bono architectural services from our team. Programming, space planning, schematic design, concept renderings, and a real estimated budget you can take to funders.

Applications are open now. Deadline is June 15, 2026. Details and the application guide are at the link below.

Know a nonprofit that could use this? Tag them or share this post.

https://www.galbraithcarnahan.com/deep-roots/

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04/23/2026

Progress check on the Custom Eco Home in Erin, Wisconsin.
More to come.

Galbraith Carnahan Architects
galbraithcarnahan.com

04/22/2026

Happy Earth Day to all who celebrate.

Grateful to Friends of Lapham peak and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources for inviting us to help with the landscaping at Lapham Lodge, and Johnson's Nursery for their expert guidance.