WJW's 35th Anniversary

Celebrating people, place, and purpose since 1991

This April marks WJW's 35th year in business. In April 1991, architect Bill Worn and design industry entrepreneur Diane Baker had the vision to create a new architectural firm, William Worn Architecture, with both lofty and down-to-earth goals: creating architectural solutions that would advance design for accessibility. That vision has expanded over the past three and half decades as the firm designed housing and residential healthcare for a wide range of underserved populations, creating accessibility, dignity, community and a place to call home.

Today, the firm now known as WJW Architects has surpassed a milestone of working on one thousand projects. Along the way, we have developed and refined our signature approach to the design of affordable housing of many types, senior living, memory care communities, mixed-use development, transit-oriented development, permanent supportive housing, the adaptive reuse of historic buildings, and much more. Our work can be found in Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, North Dakota, and Ohio.

WJW begins another chapter in 2026 with Michelle Sablack and Elizabeth Godbold stepping into new roles and joining Mike Jerabek, Todd Wiltse, and Heidi Wang as partners at the firm. We will also be expanding our River North office space. It's been a terrific 35 year journey and we're excited about what's next.