Laura Wheaton, AIA

Laura Wheaton, AIA

Early in her career, while working in more traditional architectural roles, Wheaton began volunteering with Architecture for Humanity’s Chicago chapter, providing pro bono design services and volunteering as co-director for two years. After moving to Baltimore in 2013, she joined the nonprofit Neighborhood Design Center to oversee its Community Design Works program, which offers conceptual design for community-initiated projects. In both roles, she furthered her understanding of the continuum of design and uncovered her passion for learning from people how the built environment impacts their lives.

Today, Wheaton is a senior associate and project manager in Ayers Saint Gross’ planning studio, where she is focused on campus master plans and cultural institutions. Her design process builds trust and consensus among diverse stakeholders, increasing the number who can meaningfully participate. Drawing on her experiences with Architecture for Humanity and Neighborhood Design Center, she helps communities envision how the built environment can be a solution to the challenges they face.

Wheaton has been an active member of AIA Baltimore, serving in numerous leadership capacities, including chapter president in 2022. Throughout her participation, she has encouraged participatory processes. In 2018, as a board director, Wheaton co-authored the criteria for the chapter’s Social Equity Design Award and identified seven criteria that reflect the importance of process and product. When the chapter identified the Mies van der Rohe-designed Charles Center as the location of its Center for Architecture and Design, Wheaton gathered its leadership for a visioning session and solicited input through a member survey. Her report on key themes and goals for the facility, which opened in 2020, greatly informed its success.

During her tenure as chapter president, Wheaton led the search for its new executive director, Lauren Bostic Hill, and remained a primary contact for its staff during a challenging time and an employee-focused labor market. With input from staff and board members, she also implemented a new annual review process.

A natural teacher, Wheaton’s contributions to the built environment have elevated the field immeasurably. Her penchant for architecture and community engagement has coalesced into a practice that is sure to make the world a better place.