Lawrence Kearns
Wheeler Kearner Architect Firm
Chicago, IL USA
Career Roadmap
Lawrence's work combines: Design, Engineering, and Problem Solving
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Here's the path I took:
High School
St Brendan High School
Graduate Degree
Architecture
University of Miami
Here's the path I recommend for someone who wants to be a Principal of Wheeler Kearns Architects :
Bachelor's Degree: Architecture
Graduate Degree: Architecture
Learn more about different paths to this career
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life has been direct
1.
Worked at local grocery store in high school. I loved sports and played soccer throughout school. As an outreach, our store had a softball team that played at a local federal prison.
2.
After being accepted at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh for graphic arts, a high school friend told me I should be an architect since I was good at math and art. I didn't know any architects.
3.
After learning about architects, I switched to go to the University of Miami, where I earned a scholarship.
4.
I worked for a professor during college and we designed the buildings that ultimately housed our newly formed School of Architecture.
5.
After graduating, I wrote to firms in Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles. A firm in Chicago hired me immediately and I worked on a large project in London called Canary Wharf for three years.
6.
I then left to join the firm I helped grow to twenty architects and have worked here for 35 years.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Teachers:
You won't be good at this. The industry is full of garbage.
How I responded:
Older architects had told me I would suck in this profession. Professors told me that the industry is full of garbage. Don't let others' voices get to you. Continue doing what you love, and in the future, prove them wrong.