Bio:
The great architect, Sharon Samuels is a Chicago based Architect, Artist, Designer. In 2008, she launched SolQuest Design Unlimited, a full service architecture and design firm.  SDU has been featured in several publications including Crain’s Chicago Business.   She has served as a faculty member at Columbia College Chicago and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.  Her professional service has centered around diversity in the profession and design education targeted at underserved youth in Chicago.

How did you first learn about architecture and when did you decide that built environment profession was an area of interest for you?
I first learned about architecture as a little girl when my mother would take me to see Frank Lloyd Wright houses.  In high school, I was an art student, but my mother wanted me to become an engineer.  The happy compromise was architecture!

What do you do?
The answer to this is simple---whatever it takes. Most of the time, that means creating something out of nothing, most of the time, it means the realization of something that some thought was impossible.  

What excites you in the work you do?
My excitement always matches the excitement of the client.  If I have a client that is willing to go to the edge, I know that I have to live up to that.  Most times, you do not know the impact your work will have, but I hope for the best every time.

Who or what inspires you professionally?
I am inspired by those that continuously test limits and move beyond them.  This includes a variety of people, not just architects.   One great example that always comes to mind is Michael Jordan, who said: “Limits, like fears are often an Illusion”

What is your proudest professional accomplishment or achievement?
By far, my proudest professional achievement is getting my license.  For me, it was not the end, but the beginning.  It was at this point that I knew that I owed more than I could ever repay and I needed to give back to the world as much as I could.

Featured Project Name: 
Boxville
 
Featured Project Location: 
Chicago, Ilinois
 
Featured Project Completion Date: 
2017

Role in Featured Project: 
Design Architect
 
Featured Project Description:
Boxville is Chicago‚ first street food market and container mall.  It serves the Bronzeville community with unique products and services, while offering neighborhood entrepreneurs affordable spaces for enterprise development and job creation.   The Bronzeville Bike Box, which opened in 2013, followed by Boxville in 2017.  Both projects made use of a non-traditional building type, shipping containers, as an alternative to ‚Äúbrick and mortar‚Äù, which can be expensive for small entrepreneurs.

Photography Credit:
Darin Triplett, Keith Pervis, Sharon Samuels