Amber Holycross
Vice President, Architecture
AIA (NY), LEED AP ID+C
Favorite Quote:
A sign of a good leader is not how many followers you have, but how many leaders you create. - Gandhi
Experience
Aside from her considerable accomplishments, she feels as passionately about growing the profession as she does about growing her own career. While she is glad that she works with a balanced group of architects, she would like to see more diversity in the profession and would like to see more minorities add their talents and voices. She believes that “we spend our lives in buildings, they need to represent and serve the needs of the greater population. Architecture is about creating a space where people can thrive, grow, find refuge”. She would encourage those that want to change the climate both literally and figuratively to consider entering the field.
Amber has over 18 years of experience working in the fields of architecture and commercial real estate, including project management, design, commercial real estate development, and construction administration. She has worked on projects in Boston, MA, Jacksonville, FL, and the Western New York region. She has worked on various types of projects from commercial and retail, to institutional and residential. She has acted as the designer, owner’s representative, developer, and end user, which allows her to approach projects holistically. Further, she has extensive experience in team management, site identification, programming, entitlements, lease negotiation, design, construction, project schedule and budget management.
As Vice President of Architecture and Associate Principal, she is the firms first female Practice Area Leader, and is responsible for managing Wendel’s national architecture portfolio and team, including over 85 architects, interior designers, and landscape architects. She leads the practice in the areas of corporate alignment, ethics, culture, client relations, business development, production, and staff development. Amber holds an architecture license in New York State and is LEED Certified for Interior Design and Construction. Amber is a member of the Lumber City Development Corporation and was the previous Chairperson for the North Tonawanda Historic Preservation Commission.
Get to know Amber…
If I’m not working, I’m likely…
Spending time with my husband and sons, camping, playing sports or just hanging out.
What is one thing about you that people would be very surprised to find out?
I initially went to school to become a pharmacist.
Most memorable Wendel moment?
Spending time in all the regional offices meeting our talented staff.
