Bio:
The great architect, Mr. Whitley graduated with a Bachelor of Architecture from Howard University in Washington, DC. He is President of Whitley/Whitley Architects, LLC, and is the second generation to lead the firm. Whitley/Whitley Architects has been in business since 1963 and has won multiple architectural design awards, including twice receiving the Progressive Architecture’s First Honor Award. The firm focuses on urban communities and is committed to making our cities and towns better places in which to live.

How did you first learn about architecture and when did you decide that built environment profession was an area of interest for you?
My father and his twin brother are architects, therefore, I have been exposed to architecture all my life. Watching the drafting, model making and rendering in the office was inspired me to choose architecture as a senior in high school.

What do you do?
As president of the company, I am responsible for securing new projects, networking to meet potential clients, overseeing the company’s “big picture”, overseeing budgets and staff and ultimately being the responsible representative of the company.

What excites you in the work you do?
The creation process excites me. The systematic and comprehensive process it takes to understand and solve a design problem never gets boring. I love bringing talented experts in the design profession together to solve problems and create buildings.

Who or what inspires you professionally?
This is an easy question for me. My father and uncle have always inspired me professionally and still inspire me daily. I believe that I have been trained by master architects. Their passion for architecture is infectious.

What is your proudest professional accomplishment or achievement?
When I realized I was no longer learning from my father and uncle, but that I could hold my own with them in architecture. My proudest professional moment came when they had the confidence to turn the leadership of the company over to me in 2009.

Featured Project Name: 
The New Eastside Market
 
Featured Project Location: 
105th Street and St. Clair Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio
 
Featured Project Completion Date: 
2019

Role in Featured Project: 
Principal in Charge and Chief Designer
 
Featured Project Description:
The New Eastside Market is a unique design solution focused on the health and wellness of Cleveland’s Glenville community. This project sought to eradicate a “food desert” by transforming an existing indoor farmers market into a full-service grocery store, community center, demonstration kitchen and additional location for the Northeast Ohio Neighborhood Health Centers. The spaces were designed to be open and invite the community to interact socially, civically and educationally.

Photography Credit:
Philip Stephens