Wight & Company

06/01/2026

Congratulations to James Mark on being recognized by Crain’s Chicago Business as a Notable Leader in the AEC Industry. This well-deserved honor reflects your thoughtful leadership and lasting impact on the profession. Your dedication continues to strengthen our region and inspire progress across the communities we serve.

05/26/2026

Student wellness is no longer confined to the gymnasium, and our learning environments shouldn’t be either.

In "Beyond the Gymnasium," our latest blog post, we explore how K–12 schools are redefining wellness through more inclusive, flexible, and holistic design. From multipurpose fitness and recovery spaces to environments that support mental health, social connection, and nutrition, these spaces play a critical role in student success.

Designing for wellness means designing for every student—removing barriers, expanding access, and creating environments that foster lifelong habits.

Read the full insight:
https://www.wightco.com/insights/beyond-the-gymnasium/

In today’s educational landscape, wellness extends far beyond traditional physical education. As student interest shifts toward performance-based and…

05/20/2026

At Wight & Company, growth is never just about getting bigger—it’s about delivering greater value to our clients. As our Transportation & Infrastructure (T&I) practice expands, so does our commitment to providing thoughtful, integrated solutions that respond to the evolving needs of our clients and the communities they serve.

Our T&I leadership team brings this commitment to life every day. Robin Martel, Director or Planning, Jeffrey Washington, Director of Construction, and Mark Holwerda, Director of Operations work as a cohesive unit, guiding the delivery of best-in-class Phase I, II, and III projects. Together, they are strengthening client relationships, investing in our people, and advancing infrastructure across the region.

Rooted in collaboration, clarity, and long-term impact, our T&I leadership team is elevating how projects are planned, designed, and delivered—creating a more connected, effective experience for both clients and teams while advancing infrastructure excellence.

This is how we move infrastructure forward—with a connected approach, purposeful delivery, and a clear focus on lasting impact.

05/11/2026

We’re proud to see our work featured by EDspaces, along with Educational Environments, showcasing the Joliet Township High School Culinary Labs—an investment in career-connected learning that prepares students for life beyond graduation.

In partnership with Joliet Township High School District 204, our team helped reimagine culinary education across two campuses—creating modern, industry-aligned environments that support hands-on learning, collaboration, and real-world skill development.

Learn more about these spaces and how they are helping shape the next generation of culinary and hospitality professionals: https://ow.ly/ofvG50YXR7h

05/06/2026

When we design with children at the center, we’re building more than spaces—we’re building happiness.

Our latest Insight explores how early childhood environments can support connection, attunement, trust, autonomy, and love—shaping how young learners grow, feel, and thrive.

Discover how design aligned with core human needs creates meaningful impact from the very first day.

👉 Read more:

Introduction Beyond the basic survival requirements of air, water, and food, researchers have identified five biologically based core needs that, when…

05/04/2026

Congratulations to the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County on the opening of the DuPage Wildlife Conservation Center! We were glad to attend the ribbon cutting and celebrate this exciting new, net-zero facility dedicated to wildlife care and conservation.

https://www.wightco.com/work/dupage-wildlife/

04/30/2026

Our dedicated Sustainability Team is comprised of passionate professionals, each driven by their own experiences and personal “why.” Together, they’re shaping a more sustainable future for the built environment.

As Director of Healthy and Sustainable Environments, John Mlade brings people together to create smart, practical solutions that support healthier buildings, stronger communities, and better outcomes for the planet.

“I work in sustainability because I think about the kind of world our kids will grow up in. The places we design and build shape how they connect to nature, their communities, and each other. I want to help create spaces that feel grounded, lasting, and in balance—so the next generation inherits something worth caring for. And, we have fun while doing it!”

04/28/2026

Environmental stewardship and sustainable design aren’t just services we offer—they’re a calling. This week, we continue the celebration of our a dedicated Sustainability Team, each driven by their own experiences and personal “why.” Together, they’re shaping a more sustainable future for the built environment.

Building Performance Engineer, Zhongdi Chen brings data to the conversation to not only help designers and clients make informed decisions in the early stages of the process, but also to support the third-party certification process to ensure projects achieve desired sustainability goals.

“I work in sustainability because the future deserves more than convenience. Progress requires stepping outside our comfort zones to understand what is truly better, even when it’s inconvenient. As an engineer driven by data, my role is navigating real‑world compromises and clearly communicating what our analyses can—and cannot—tell us, so better decisions can be made for the long-term performance of a building.”

04/27/2026

🌱 More than green—it’s high-performing design.

The green roof at our Darien Headquarters does more than look good. It helps extend the life of the roof membrane and significantly reduces stormwater runoff from our site. Patty King walks us through how thoughtful planting and layering turn the roof into a working system.

Why it matters: Green roofs protect infrastructure while supporting stormwater management and urban ecology.

Tips:
• Consider green roofs where roof replacement is already planned
• Evaluate structural capacity early
• Use regionally appropriate plants for long-term success

By testing features like green roofs in our own buildings, we learn firsthand what works—so our clients don’t have to guess.

04/23/2026

We’re proud to be guided by a dedicated Sustainability Team, each driven by their own experiences and personal “why.” Together, they’re shaping a more sustainable future for the built environment.

As a Sustainability Analyst at Wight, Ananya Jain helps our teams minimize environmental impact across projects. Driven by a deeper purpose, she brings passion and intention to everything she does—always pushing for more.

"I’m driven by the opportunity to contribute to something bigger than myself and create impact that lasts beyond my lifetime. I see the built environment as one of the most powerful levers for change because buildings shape how people live, work, heal, and connect every day, while also influencing environmental outcomes at scale. What draws me to sustainable buildings is the chance to create spaces that are healthier, more resilient, and more responsible. I’m especially inspired by how sustainability allows nature and human innovation to work together, and to me, this field is one of the clearest expressions of what thoughtful design can achieve: a built world that supports people while coexisting more responsibly with the natural one."