Urban Dynamics: Clara Wineberg on Designing for Chicago, Pioneering on the East Coast, and Speaking Up
By Julia Gamolina, additional edits by Caitlin Dashiell
Clara Wineberg is a Principal at Solomon Cordwell Buenz Architects (SCB), and a leader of SCB’s Residential Research and Development Group, working to constantly expand the firm’s market knowledge and vision for the future of the urban residential experience. Her focus on urban mixed-use projects is driven by design and performance, providing counsel to clients with an understanding of risk and the ability to provide guidance in difficult design and technical scenarios. Clara has also been actively engaged in the firm’s expanding practice on the east coast and in Texas.
Clara holds a Bachelor and Master of Architecture from Tulane University and is a member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA). She serves on the Urban Land Institute‘s (ULI) National Student Housing Product Council, the Board of Advisors for the School of Architecture at Tulane University, and the Advisory Board of the Chicago’s Women’s Leadership Initiative. In her interview, Clara talks about building her career in Chicago and developing her expertise in urban mixed-use developments, advising young architects to always remember that they will get to where they need to be, and to invest the time.
JG: Starting from the very beginning, tell me how your interest in architecture first developed.
CW: I grew up in Colombia, South America - born and raised. It’s a beautiful country. One of the great things about Colombia is that the architecture is unique to the natural and temperate climate. I remember being on a family farm where the living space wasn’t defined by walls but it was very much a defined space.
When we moved to the States, we moved to Miami. The physical transition of moving and observing a different city and culture came together for me in architecture - how buildings are very much a manifestation of people and their character.
“There is a desire to be connected within a city and that connection plays out in how civic amenities, places of learning, working, and living come together.”
What did you learn about yourself while you were in architecture school? What was your main takeaway?
Architecture school was my passion. I wanted to be the uber-architect. Capital A. I was driven and excited by being good and the top of my class. That energized me and eventually became me.
Whether it was my interest in history, politics, culture - and certainly art history was part of my focus during architecture school - I learned about the passion I had within myself and the drive that I had to work things out.
After college you moved to Chicago – how did you get your start in professional practice?
When I first got to Chicago, I worked at a firm that is now called Landon Baker Bone Architects. Pete Landon in the Chicago circle is a well-known architect - he focused his career on social justice and affordable housing here in Chicago. I worked on small-scale buildings, but these projects gave me an understanding of housing and how it affected people, and an understanding of Chicago from a neighborhood standpoint.
The early neighborhoods I got to work in were on the South Side of Chicago where the old steel mills were. Working with several non-profits, we worked on providing affordable housing. After Pete’s office – I joined Nagle Hartray, one of the original Chicago Seven Architecture firms. Jim and Jack were modernist and careful observers of the city and civic institutions. I worked on several commissions with University of Chicago and UC Lab School.
Clara with colleagues at The Laurel, a signature luxury mixed-use condominium project on historic Rittenhouse Square. Courtesy of Clara Wineberg.
What did you do next?
From there, I went to another firm that was unfortunately a victim of the 2008 recession. I joined a larger firm that focused on multi-family projects. There I was involved in several deluxe condos and multi-family high-rise projects. Beyond the energy of designing high-rise projects - that experience was very much about understanding the deal and the overall strategy that ultimately is manifested in architecture.
How did you finally get to SCB?
I took a two year hiatus when I had my children, and when I was ready to rejoin professional practice, I joined SCB. I’ve been there since. My focus has been multi-family residential projects nationally. SCB was very much a regional practice when I joined it, and has grown into a national practice during my tenure. I’m very proud of being a part of that.
“...we put a lot of pressure on ourselves to do everything all at once. It’s OK to do things in a sequential manner and not multi-task.”
What was it about SCB that was attractive to you at that point?
When you drive along Lakeshore Drive in Chicago, you see the pre-war, mid-century, and contemporary buildings. You see the evolution of multi-family high rise all along the lakefront. SCB was one of the pioneering design firms that defined the Lake Front with high rise living. As a firm that works with demanding developer clients we put a great emphasis on knowing efficiencies of a good unit but also creating a dynamic design for our clients and one that also contributes to neighborhoods. Working with a firm that has transformed a city was and is very energizing for me.
There is a desire to be connected within a city and that connection plays out in how civic amenities, places of learning, working, and living come together. The satisfaction for me comes with the exaltation of knowing that I contributed to how people live - there is a rush of “I did that,” and, “I was on that’. There is tangible proof of my daily work and work I am proud to share with my children.
How easy was it to get back into practice after taking a two year hiatus for your kids?
I purposefully took time to be with my children for a couple of years. You don’t know what it’s going to be like when you have children, so you have to give yourself the room to take time if you want. I think we put a lot of pressure on ourselves to do everything all at once. It’s OK to do things in a sequential manner and not multi-task.
I gave myself the freedom to be a mom for two years. I did do a condo renovation during that time just to keep contacts, but I was mostly focused on being a mom and it was great. Having that time allowed me to come back without remorse or guilt and with a renewed focus. Even though there was a transition, I had a timeclock in my mind. I knew I had relationships within the industry. Two years is really just one project for the most part. Not even. I took one project off and allowed this other personal project to take a life of its own.
The Summit at Drexel University, courtesy of SCB.
The Summit at Drexel University, courtesy of SCB.
To go back to SCB, how were you able to contribute to growing the practice from being a regional to a national one?
We look at how capital flows through the country. We work with clients who develop in different areas. We have been successful with them regionally and then they start seeking opportunities elsewhere – it is natural to want to work with teams that are proven to be successful. Finally, we provide signature designs that really resonate with a lot of development teams. Architecture practice is an ongoing relationship between client, project, and community. When done well, there is a desire to build on that knowledge and expertise of the team you have gotten to know already.
Where are you in your career today?
I’m still at the young side of things. I haven’t limited myself to who I can be. Frank Gehry just had a major milestone building go up, and he’s in his eighties! Somebody tracked his career and he didn't really get his career going until the age of fifty. That’s true of a lot of architects. So where am I in my career? I feel like I’m still in my first chapter.
The challenge for me right now is growing our team on the east coast and building a practice there. I now have enough confidence in myself to know how I fit into this whole commercial real estate world. It’s fun to figure out what lies ahead, and at the same time have enough wherewithal to look at how you can share your experiences. I look at the young women and young men and how I could make it easier for them. We can all learn from each other.
“When you have a successful practice, it speaks to your relationships.”
What have been some of the previous challenges, throughout your career?
Trusting myself enough and waiting to feel like I know enough to speak up. I got to a certain point though where I finally thought, “I know this. Why am I not speaking up?” Now that I'm older, I’m not going to pull back - I’m just going for it! Maybe that’s why I am being charged, or am charging myself, to pioneer the East coast. That’s where I’m headed.
On the flip side, what have been some of the biggest highlights?
Certainly the resiliency of my family. We weren’t completely disadvantaged, but when you come to a new country there are challenges. We started anew in the United States. But you do build strength, and a resiliency within your mind. Now with my own family, I get excited when my teenagers are not deterred by a challenge. I like the fact that they are not complacent and are willing to challenge themselves.
From a professional standpoint, I am proud that I have significant buildings to show for my practice. I have been really fortunate to be able to contribute to Chicago’s landscape as well as in Philadelphia, Houston, Austin, and Atlanta. I’m proud of my teams and our clients. When you have a successful practice, it speaks to your relationships. I’m proud of the clients that I consider friends, and our great collaborative and talented teams. These are people I can rely on and make it fun.
Clara with her family, courtesy of Clara Wineberg.
What would you say has been your general approach to your career?
Architects are problem solvers. The way I like to tackle things is by arming myself with an understanding of the situation. For me that means asking, ‘What has happened? What is the zoning? What is the program we are trying to solve?’ If you can formulate a clear idea of a solution - it’s really impactful.
Finally, what advice do you have for young architects who are just starting their careers?
As architects, we tend to bemoan for being in a demanding career versus embracing it. I tell someone starting out, “You are going to reap the rewards of your hard work, but you have to make that investment.” Understand that it’s a complex field that touches a lot of things. The better you understand all the drivers, the better the designer you can be.
Young people tend to think that you jump in right away and contribute at the highest level. I don’t necessarily believe in that magical inspiration. That magical spark moment doesn’t exist. It’s an iterative design process. You’ve got to invest the time. Allow yourself to be present and heard, but you’ve got to invest the energy and just be patient.