Chuck Wahlberg passed away on July 8, 2024, at the age of 101. His legacy as an architect, mentor, leader, and colleague will long be remembered through his lasting impact on our work.
In 1954, Chuck joined the developing firm that would soon become BWBR, hired by Milt Bergstedt (the first “B” in BWBR). Just five years later, Wahlberg was named a principal, becoming one of the four names that denote the company today.
Best known for designing banks and commercial buildings, he was recognized for bringing substantial people skills to the firm, serving as a one-man human resources department for many years. As the firm was finding its footing, Chuck recognized the importance of investing in staff, marketing for work, and building strong relationships with clients – transforming BWBR for the better.
“Chuck was really important to the firm historically in that he had the personality and the professionalism that appealed to people,” says Wil Johnson, who was hired by Chuck when there were only about a dozen people at the firm. Chuck would later appoint him as BWBR’s first marketing director. “He hired dozens and dozens of people, and a lot of them spent their whole careers [at the firm].”
Responsible for hiring nearly every employee over 25 years, including those who would later become leaders, Chuck played a critical role in shaping the culture that still defines BWBR today. The third president in our 100-year history, his leadership in the 1970s solidified the firm as a budding business and introduced traditions that still stand decades later.
“Chuck Wahlberg was my teacher, helper, and friend throughout my architecture career,” says Jay Sleiter, former principal and alumni who briefly led a Hudson, Wis. office with Chuck in 1981. “All of the BWBR founders are gone, but all of us are thankful for them.”
Beyond his incredible contributions to both BWBR and the communities shaped by his design work, our team is grateful for his long-standing passion for the firm’s people and success. He will be greatly missed.
