Wight & Company

🍃 Last week, we kicked off our Landscape Architecture Month series by introducing you to one of the talented minds behind our outdoor spaces. This week, we’re continuing the story with Daniel Wilson, PLA, CPSI. What inspired you to become a landscape architect? ~This is my favorite story to tell! I stumbled upon Landscape Architecture as a college student. I was originally going to be a veterinarian and after a year of studying in college, I was not feeling joy with that major. Luck would have it that my advisor in college was a Landscape Architect and she introduced me to the program. After the first class the following semester, it felt like this is what I was meant to do and it brings me joy each day I get to wake up and be a landscape architect! What do you find most challenging yet rewarding about your work? ~This would hands down have to be working with community members. When we have community meetings, we get to listen to everyone's thoughts and concerns. Some communities come out and share everything they have with us and others are more of a struggle to get community feedback. Regardless we take any and all information back to the office and create a project that fulfills most of their wishes and addresses their concerns. Then when we present the concepts and seeing the community buy into the design and watch them get as excited as we are makes all of it worth it! Where do you see the role of landscape architecture evolving in the future? ~I can see the role of landscape architecture continuing to evolve and grow into a field that pushes sustainable developments and re-developments sites, that will increase the amount of public green space within cities and suburbs that not only benefit human users, but also provides habitat for a variety of animals, birds, insects, etc. Tell us about your favorite project you've worked on at Wight and why? ~If I had to pick only one project to call my favorite, I would have to select the Intergenerational Inclusive Playground in Emricson Park for the City of Woodstock. This project provides a massive accessible playground for children and adults of all ages and mobility needs. We were able to create a space that anyone can go to and enjoy, the playground is not only inclusive but has levels of risk for children who are more able body to play and be with their friend who might use the assistance of a mobility device. We have created a variety of seating options for people to sit together and socialize or if they would like to be alone, those spaces exist as well! It is a project that I am will always talk about and in a few years when my nephew and niece are big enough I will be taking them up to that playground! #WLAM2025

🌿 Great landscapes don’t just happen—they’re carefully crafted by passionate designers who understand how to bring nature and people together. This April, in honor of World Landscape Architecture Month 2025, we’re celebrating the creative minds behind the outdoor spaces that shape our communities. Over the next few weeks, we’ll introduce you to the landscape architects at Wight & Company who turn vision into reality, starting with Gage Berger, PLA, SITES AP, CPSI. What inspired you to become a landscape architect? ~I kept falling asleep in my engineering classes so I decided to switch to design college. A week before the program applications were due, I found out that landscape architecture existed. The professors told me I would get to travel a lot as part of the course work which sounded like fun, so I gave it a shot. It's been ten years and I think I may have made a good decision. Tell us about your favorite project you’ve worked on at Wight and why. ~I loved working on the Ralph E. Tredup Park OSLAD grant application with the South Elgin Parks Department. It was one of my first experiences with the grant application process and it was rewarding to work with our client to create a strong narrative for how the park would benefit the community. We held two meetings at the park in 90+ degree weather but still managed to have higher than normal turnout. It was a lot of fun to interact with those who are directly impacted by the proposed project and hear their excitement about what we were showing them. What’s one piece of advice you’d give to aspiring landscape architects? ~Explore as many of the career paths a landscape architect can take as possible. There are so many different markets that landscape architects work in and too often they get themselves stuck in the first one that crosses their path. From small residential back yards to national parks, there are landscape architects that provide their professional input and perspective to improve the lives around us. #WLAM2025

We’re thrilled to share that Adlai E. Stevenson High School’s Patriot Wellness Center & Fieldhouse is now the first high school facility in the world to achieve WELL Platinum Certification—the highest honor from the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI). Congratulations to the Stevenson community and everyone involved in this accomplishment! This groundbreaking achievement sets a new standard for student health, sustainability, and wellness in school design. Learn more about this milestone on our blog: https://lnkd.in/gb_bZSjf #WeAreWELL #SustainableDesign Stevenson High School, Lincolnshire, IL

The DuPage County Health Department’s commitment to holistic care is truly inspiring—especially at a time when mental health challenges touch so many lives. Whether personally or through family, friends, or colleagues, we are all connected to the need for compassionate, supportive spaces like the new Crisis Recovery Center.

We’re proud to celebrate Kate Hobler for being honored as part of the 2025 Chicago Profiles in Design Showcase! Kate’s talent and dedication to design have earned her a well-deserved spot among outstanding professionals shaping the A&D industry in Chicago. Congratulations, Kate! 👏 BOS - Best in Class Haworth Dealer Haworth

☘️ A Grand New Home for the Irish Consulate—Just in Time for St. Patrick’s Day! ☘️ What better way to celebrate Ireland’s global connections than with a new, thoughtfully designed space? The Consulate General of Ireland, Chicago office and business space is now complete! Inspired by both local and global influences, the interiors create a warm céad míle fáilte—a hundred thousand welcomes—for all who visit. At the heart of the design is a vibrant, multi-functional space, perfect for meetings and events. With sustainability leading the way, the project is on track to achieve LEED Platinum certification—a true pot of gold in the world of green design! It’s an honor to bring this vision to life and support the Irish community in Chicago. Sláinte to a future of connection and collaboration! Cumming Group Clune Construction Company Bernhard Woodwork Ltd.

Last week, our team had the opportunity to support two incredible organizations dedicated to fighting hunger. Our Suburban office volunteered with Feed My Starving Children, packing nutritious meals that will be sent to children in need around the world. These meal packs provide essential nutrients to communities facing food insecurity. Meanwhile, our Chicago office partnered with Nourishing Hope, which supports local families by providing food and essential supplies. Volunteers sorted and organized donations to help ensure efficient distribution to those in need. Both organizations are doing vital work, and we encourage anyone interested to learn more: 🔹 Feed My Starving Children – www.fmsc.org 🔹 Nourishing Hope – www.nourishinghopechi.org We’re grateful for the opportunity to support their missions. #CommunitySupport #FightingHunger #FeedMyStarvingChildren #NourishingHope

We are pleased to announce the promotion of three outstanding design leaders at Wight & Company! ✨ Danielle Appello, AIA, LEED AP BD+C has been promoted to Design Principal. Passionate about creating spaces that inspire and strengthen communities, Danielle brings a design-forward, sustainable approach to civic and commercial projects. Her work on the DuPage Crisis Recovery Center exemplifies design excellence and a commitment to occupant wellness. ✨ Gregory Derrico has been promoted to Design Principal. A leader in multidisciplinary collaboration, Gregory’s designs balance creativity and functional pragmatism. His thoughtful approach—rooted in an understanding of place, program, and climate—shapes impactful and elegant solutions across diverse project types in Chicago and beyond. ✨ Steven Shearer, RA, LEED AP has been promoted to Design Principal. With expertise in educational, civic, and commercial markets, Steven’s leadership ensures that design solutions are both forward-thinking and adaptable. His collaborative approach delivers lasting value to clients and communities alike. Congratulations to Danielle, Gregory, and Steven on their well-earned promotions! Their dedication to design excellence and innovation continues to elevate the work we do. #DesignLeadership #Wight #Architecture

Check out these incredible aerial views of the nearly finished U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile District Headquarters! This six-story, 180,000-sf facility will soon bring together 25 departments dedicated to delivering vital engineering solutions. As Mobile’s Civic Center undergoes demolition to make way for a new arena, this headquarters stands as a key anchor in the area's revitalization. FD Stonewater, LLC Harvey Cleary #USACE #MobileAL

This Women in Construction Week, we celebrate the women who help make it all happen. Whether they’re collaborating in the field, leading projects, or problem-solving behind the scenes, their impact is felt across every phase of our work. 👷♀️ Watch our team in action—building, creating, and having some fun along the way! #WomenInConstruction #WICWeek2025