We are immensely excited to celebrate Taryn Wheeler’s fifteen-year anniversary with MWA. As Director of Portland Housing, Taryn has provided thoughtful leadership, strategic insight, and a deep commitment to creating housing that strengthens communities. We are grateful to have her on our team and congratulate her on a remarkable fifteen years. Taryn reflects on her long journey here and shares a glimpse into what keeps her busy outside of the office.
TARYN’S REFLECTIONS ON FIFTEEN YEARS WITH MWA
What projects are you working on right now?
Recently, I’ve been focused on a range of affordable housing and rehabilitation projects, including Home Forward Troutdale York Terrace, Smith Tower Apartments Renovation, Mississippi Heights, VHA Mill Creek Rehabs, Cornell Transitional Housing, and Mercy Housing Northwest 24th and Vaughn. What I enjoy about this mix of work is that every project comes with a different challenge and a different community context. Some are focused on preservation and modernization, while others are about creating new opportunities for stability and housing access. Across all of them, the common thread is designing places that support people in a meaningful, lasting way.
What elements mark a successful project for you?
A successful project is the moment the keys get handed over and residents walk into a space that immediately feels like home. That feeling matters. Beyond the building itself, success also means the process worked well: the design team collaborated effectively, the client felt supported, and everyone stayed committed to the shared vision. If the project delivers good design, strengthens relationships, and leaves the client excited to work together again, that is a real success to me.
How have the responsibilities and expectations of your job changed in the last few years?
Earlier in my career, I spent most of my time deep in the drawings, focused on technical coordination and design development. These days, my role is much more centered around people and leadership. As a director, a big part of my responsibility is creating the conditions for my team to do their best work, whether that means removing obstacles, mentoring staff, supporting clients, or helping projects stay aligned with their goals. I still miss being immersed in drawings sometimes, but I’ve found a lot of fulfillment in helping others grow and succeed. It’s less about redlines now and more about encouragement, guidance, and keeping projects moving forward.
What’s your favorite thing about working at MWA?
Easy, it’s the people. I genuinely believe MWA is filled with some of the most caring, thoughtful, and passionate people I’ve worked with. There’s a strong sense of shared purpose here, and that creates an environment where people support each other and want to do meaningful work together. My team motivates me to show up every day ready to contribute something worthwhile.
How do you maintain work/life balance?
I definitely would not claim to have perfected work/life balance, but I’ve learned which things recharge me outside of work. Camping and road riding help me reset and reconnect with the outdoors, and I also value quieter moments like reading or spending time with family over dinner. Lately, I’ve been looking forward to trying windfoiling.
What lasting impact do you hope to have at MWA?
I hope the work we are doing becomes deeply embedded in the identity of the firm, not just as a project type or practice area, but as part of what MWA stands for. I also hope the people I’ve worked with feel like someone invested in their growth and helped them goes on to do incredible things.
When you started your career, why did you want to become an architect?
I was drawn to architecture because it sits at the intersection of structure, beauty, and control over the built environment. I loved the idea that design could shape how people experience a place and influence the environment in purposeful ways.
Is there a particular architect or designer whose work inspires you? Why?
Samuel Mockbee and the work of Rural Studio have always stayed with me. Their approach challenged the idea that thoughtful, beautiful architecture should only exist for people with large budgets. They demonstrated that design can be both deeply human and highly resourceful, and that architecture has a responsibility to serve communities in meaningful ways. That philosophy continues to resonate with me and has influenced how I think about the role of design in affordable housing and community-focused work.