We are pleased to announce that AG’s Gene Guszkowski, AIA, is being honored by the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee (UWM) with a Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award. The 24 alumni award recipients and corporate partner were chosen based on their outstanding professional achievements, civic involvement and partnerships with the university.

“The University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee is fortunate to have so many influential and dedicated alumni, not only in this region, but also across the country and throughout the world,” said Adrienne Bass, associate vice chancellor of alumni relations. “Once again, the UWM Alumni Association received an impressive number of award nominations, and we are proud to publicly recognize the demonstrated talent and altruism of this distinguished group of 2018 awardees.”

Did you know that Gene was one of the initial graduates of the UWM School of Architecture & Urban Planning? He received his Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies in 1971 and Master of Architecture from UWM in 1973.

Gene’s dedication to the field and loyalty to the Milwaukee design community has been demonstrated by his longevity with one Milwaukee area firm for 51 years. He began as a print boy at The Shepherd Associates in 1967 and his innate design capabilities, communication skills and natural charisma have supported him as he has transitioned into a firm leader, first as a shareholder with Shepherd, Legan, Aldrian in 1981 and then as a partner with Aldrian Guszkowski in 1992. In 2002, the firm was rebranded as AG Architecture and he has continued to be an integral part of the leadership team. While the name on the door and ownership teams have changed, Gene has been a constant, one might say the heart of the firm.

While Gene’s roots are in Milwaukee, he has impacted the design industry on a national level. As CEO, he directs all of AG’s design activities and has served as planner, design architect and project architect for numerous multifamily and mixed use developments in and around the Milwaukee area as well as an extensive portfolio of senior living environments across the country. He has been a registered architect since 1975 and is licensed in 38 states.

For almost 50 years, AG Architecture has specialized in the design of innovative senior living environments. Gene has been integral to developing long term relationships with senior living providers from coast to coast who benefit from the firm’s unique ability to provide vision, build consensus and bring certainty and predictability to the development and construction process. Gene himself is continuously recognized by clients for his ability to build consensus among multiple project stakeholders as well as neighborhoods and community leaders. During a recent survey, clients said the following about Gene:

 

“Gene is a “personality” which is what makes him so engaging in addition to the fact that he has vision and is a great designer.”

“Gene has a way of leading the project in a practical way. He is what I could call a real artist; an artist with personal skills and a commitment to being a personal servant to the client.”

 

Under Gene’s leadership, the firm has received local and national recognition for award winning multifamily and senior living design. Gene is a recognized thought leader and innovator in the senior living industry who has contributed to industry publications and been a panelist and featured speaker at national conferences.

Gene is a proud UWM alumni who remains a dedicated student of architecture, always learning, growing and exploring the world around him. He enjoys sharing his knowledge and mentoring young professionals. With 86-percent of the AG architecture team UWM graduates, Gene continues to support the growth and development of the profession and success of the UWM School of Architecture. He is truly a Distinguished Alumni.

 

Thank you UWM for recognizing our firm leader!