Think.Wilder.Architecture

06/18/2021

I would like to thank Columbia University and the CU Grow program for featuring me in this article and also for their continued support. I love being able to share the real-time story of Think Wilder Architecture and all of our challenges and triumphs.

We are excited about our new office space and can't wait for everyone to come check us out!



Special thanks to William Etheridge Tanya Pope Scharlene de la Cruz Omairys G. Rodriguez

Minority, Women, and Local Initiatives CU Grow Connection Helps Minority-Owned Architectural Firm Stay Rooted in Harlem June 14, 2021 When Stephen Wilder, principal of Think Wilder Architecture (a minority-owned business) first joined the CU Grow Program, his main goal was to gain exposure within Co...

04/03/2021

We started working on this project shortly after the Covid-19 shutdowns. Had no idea how we would get to this point, but excited to say that we got this project approved on Thursday. It's been a pleasure working with the team and the City of Plainfield to help revitalize Downtown Plainfield! Now the real work begins....

10/23/2020

Last week we were able to get approval on this 118 unit / mixed-use building, located in downtown Plainfield, NJ. The building will feature things like a green roof, solar panels, and thermal massing. The building also has live/work units and co-working space for resident use only.
This was our first virtual planning board presentation. Although there were some bumps, happy that we made it through. This was definitely a team effort.

05/05/2020

If you watched The Last Dance this past weekend, you may have saw this man. This is Harvey Gantt, the African-American former Democratic mayor of Charlotte, that Michael Jordan famously refused to publicly endorse in his Senate race versus Republican Jesse Helms.

A you may not have known is that Mr. Gantt was also an architect based in Charlotte. He was the first African-American student admitted at Clemson University (1 of 2 colleges I was accepted to). He also ran a successful architecture practice (Gantt Huberman Architects) that was eventually acquired by Bergmann Architects.

Some of his projects include the Charlotte Transportation Center, Transmerica Square in Charlotte, and UNC at Greensboro Dining Hall renovation.

There is also the Gantt Center, a building dedicated to him designed by the Freelon Group, celebrates contributions of African Americans to our nation’s culture and serves as a vital resource in Charlotte for various arts, literature and community outreach.

I always tell people that being trained as an architect leads to many career paths beyond or related to architecture. Mr. Gantt was no exception.

Salute to Harvey Gantt!

10/20/2017

Flash Back Friday!
Check Out our Principal Architect , Stephen Wilder dropping gems at the 44th Annual National Organization of Minority Architects Conference held in Los Angeles. Last year's theme was "Express Yourself". Various professionals from around the nation explored the state of the architectural industry and how they plan on influencing future trends. Click below !

07/13/2017

The value of landscape architecture should not be overlooked. How simple design methods can not only change how people view a space, but also change lives. Through the direction of Landscape Architect Street Furniture Australia, a local community got involved with transforming a public space that had been inactive for decades. The results are mind blowing!
Please name an unused public space around you that could benefit from a face lift. -up
Swipe, to the left...not to the right. Cool video in the link. http://www.archdaily.com/805639/6-low-cost-techniques-to-activate-underused-urban-space?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ArchDaily+%28ArchDaily%29

“Public space is the new backyard,” says Hamish Dounan, Associate Director of CONTEXT Landscape architects. “Great landscape architecture projects...

07/11/2017

Architects call these responsibilities. Good quote Think Grow Prosper

07/10/2017

When I first started watching this Ted Talk this morning, I didn't think it would be "IG" post-worthy. After about 5 min in I knew I needed to share this story. Once I finished I was so inspired to get to work, I rushed and forgot to post the link. Here it is. https://www.ted.com/talks/siamak_hariri_how_do_you_build_a_sacred_space Don't let this good architecture thing inspire you too much. Bahá'í Temple of South America by Siamak Hariri. This is a perfect case of when architecture and the design process inspires you. Great project, great Ted Talk. "Architecture has that capacity, to move you" Siamak

To design the Bahá'í Temple of South America, architect Siamak Hariri focused on illumination -- from the temple's form, which captures the movement of the sun throughout the day, to the iridescent, luminous stone and glass used to construct it. Join Hariri for a journey through the creative process...

07/06/2017

The Legend of Soul City. Not too long ago, there was a city designed and built for us by us with the help of Republicans. Civil Rights activist Floyd McKissick, with help from the great Architect / Politician Harvey Gannt, were on that New Urbanism before it was a New Urbanism.

07/05/2017

CELEBRATE this, understand the magnitude of this accomplishment. The only architect on Time magazine's 2017 list of most influential people. David Adjaye. Check link for more. https://www.dezeen.com/2017/04/20/david-adjaye-time-100-worlds-most-influential-architect/

"Architectural visionary" David Adjaye has been named among Time magazine's 100 most influential people of 2017 – and is the only architect to make the list

06/30/2017

I read that 1,800 residents (most of them German, Irish, Italian, and Hispanic immigrants) in the Lower East Side neighborhood of New York were displaced in the sixties with promises of soon being able to return to a newly developed home. Idk how many of those people are still alive, but finally they can return home. Well, soon at least. A 1.1 Billion dollar development that includes over 1,000 new residential units, with half to be affordable, is currently taking place. LES WILL NEVER BE THE SAME. Included in the development will be the Andy Warhol museum, parks, movie theater and commercial space. Thank Mayor Bloomberg for helping make this happen. There are things I like about the development, but there are also things that frustrate me about how boardroom discussions impact real people's lives. With great privilege comes great responsibility. A land should not sit vacant for 50 years when NYC has a housing problem. I can only imagine how many architects were waiting for this project to happen lol ....oh yeah, they are currently accepting applications for some of their affordable units. The few buildings I've seen are attractive. Multiple photos, swipe lezeft http://ny.curbed.com/2017/2/16/14640740/essex-crossing-lower-east-side-affordable-housing-phase-2

The developers are adding 61 affordable apartments, and 17 market-rate units.