Team

John Wolf, AIA

Where were you born?

Fredricksburg, VA

Where is your favorite travel destination?

The next place I go for sure each new destination is a chance to expand my base of knowledge and experience.  They have some fascinating townhomes in and around Amsterdam.

What’s something you’d still love to learn?

How to better utilize AI to improve the effectiveness of communication, and coordination with the team, clients, and peers within the field.  It is a great opportunity to place a vast amount of information for use but refining the workflows would have a great impact on process and clarity.

What are some of the projects you’re working on?

-Kelner Homes is keeping me busy at the moment, each request has been an opportunity to grow professionally for both myself and the team and it has been really an interesting challenge to build an account and define processes to manage a larger amount of infill lots and bring quality luxury architecture to the areas of operation.

-The 3517 house for Tide Homes was a very rewarding job to be a part of and a really fun design challenge.  I look forward to following its construction as it moves forward.

-51^st St S Residence is a very interesting project.  Being a luxury estate it has been a continuously challenging project, and the growth I have experienced during the project span has kept it interesting.

-Bradbury residence was a fun design challenge that resulted in a contemporary twist on a courtyard estate that will really feel like a home.

Describe our company culture in one word?

Motivating

What kind of projects do you want to work on (or technology you want to use) in the future?

High-end luxury homes and estates have been very interesting, though the multifamily mixed-use stuff has presented a fun design challenge from time to time to break up the repetitive nature of single and multi-family projects. I think there is a niche for high-end townhomes that are really prime examples of “good” architecture that has emerged in the local market recently and will continue to be a project type that I find interesting because of the need to navigate the relationship of ownership with a lack common space the procession from the public way to the private residence becomes an important distinction that isn’t always executed well and can have a dramatic impact on quality of the project and quality of the experience for the owners.

What do you hope to see in the future in the world of architecture and design?

I’m particularly excited about the potential of technology to democratize sophisticated design solutions while maintaining quality and sustainability.  As the standardization of complex elements is made easier with rapid prototyping it really has the potential to change how we approach residential design and make better solutions available to more people.

When did you know you wanted to be an architect/designer? (Or whatever you are, if you’re not an architect/designer!)

My first drafting class in middle school opened my eyes to translating an idea into paper. My Father really leaned into allowing me to explore construction and some ideas and it was over. I took some turns getting here but my wife helped me get to a place where I was able to go back to school fairly late and while working part-time I completed my master’s and proceeded with licensure.

What is something you collect?

Skills, every project teaches you something new if you’re paying attention.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?

-Find what you are naturally good at and find a way to make something exceptional, don’t focus on fixing all of your minor flaws and weaknesses before you know it you will miss a lot.

-Open honest communication solves most problems before they start.

-Every day brings choices that shape who we are – make them count.

What is your favorite hobby?

Life has kept me pretty busy with my son, so my projects have been moving slowly lately but I really enjoy getting into the workshop and crafting fine furniture or finding interesting ways to detail things we interact with daily.

Do you have any hidden talents?

I really enjoy cooking. I think it’s about creating something that brings people together.