An Interview with Bryan Wingold

Bryan Wingold is the new director of Black + Green Ops at architecture and design firm //3877.

As the new director of Black + Green Ops at //3877, an architecture and design firm based in Washington, D.C., Bryan Wingold brings more than 26 years of industry experience to the team, with previous positions in design, construction, and business development. His background as a designer and project manager allows him to help clients pinpoint the right solution for various corporate and hospitality projects. I recently spoke with Wingold about this latest role, his career, and mentoring the next generation of design leaders.

Anna Zappia (AZ):  Bryan, you are the new director of Black + Green Ops at //3877. Tell me about the role.

Bryan Wingold (BW): I will be working on business development, marketing, and public relations. There will be a lot of introductions, communication, and coordination with potential clients, as well as existing clients that the group already has. I’ll be strengthening the relationships with our vendors and suppliers. Internally, I will be helping with staff management, organization, and mentoring, which I am really excited about. I’ll be helping with team hiring and selection as we continue to grow.

 AZ: Bryan, you have had an interesting career. Did you know from an early age that you wanted to go into architecture?

 BW: When I got out of high school I was once described as a rocket with no fins. I was going somewhere very fast, but no one knew where. I had no idea what I wanted to do for a living, but I knew that I wanted to get out of the house. I went to live in Roanoke, Virginia, and renovated a wing of my cousin’s house. I was paying it forward as my rent so I could go to community college.

I had taken some art classes and I was working in a cabinet shop. Through that experience, I realized that I loved shaping space. I loved seeing something in my mind, making it a reality, and then sharing it with others. That’s when I knew I wanted to go into design. Uncle Sam was the only member of my family with any money to send me to college, so I joined the army. I was a chemical warfare specialist en route to becoming an interior designer.

The Freshman, designed by //3877, boasts a vibrant interior.
Photo by Joseph D. Tran

AZ: That’s definitely not the typical path that leads to a career in design. Do you think your time in the military served you well when you entered the world of architecture and design?

BW: I think initially it did. The military gave me the fins I needed on my rocket. It helped me with some direction and motivation. When you’ve just come out of school and are new to the industry, it’s hard to define what the priorities are. Everything seems to have the same level of importance. I think with some of that military structure, I was able to help identify the critical path more quickly than some of my peers. I was able to produce documents and gather information from my clients a little bit more efficiently. I also learned a lot about leadership training, which helped me become a better project manager later on in my career. I think all of those things added up.

AZ: You’ve taken on a number of roles throughout your career, which spans more than two decades. How will all of those experiences shape what you bring to this new role?

BW:  I have been in a number of roles, from interior designer to project manager, to senior director of design and construction. It has been a wild ride. With the experience that I have, I can kind of see through the clouds and help the team jump ahead. This feels very familiar to me, because I have been in firms this size before. As we started talking about the areas where we could improve and growth strategy, I was reminded of conversations from my past. I have been down this road before, so I can help with all of these different elements.

The front desk at the Hyatt Place National Harbor in Maryland, designed by //3877.
Photo courtesy of OTO Development

AZ: You mentioned that you are looking forward to mentoring some of the younger team members. Tell me more about that, and what areas you’ll be focusing on.

BW: When management is focusing so much on projects or maintaining client relationships, time for mentoring sometimes is forgotten. When I came on board we talked about me doing some of the mentoring to free up the management team so that they can continue to do the things that they do, which have helped create a great company.

Some of the younger team members haven’t had any formal training in project management, so I am working on that. We’re working hard to make sure that everybody in the firm has a position of value, that there’s not just one path to success. We need to make sure that it’s understood there are multiple lanes, not just the project management path. There may be a technical path, a design path, or a leadership path that is significant for someone. If someone has a particular interest or passion then they should be supported. There is still a lot I have to learn, too. I am always a student.

AZ: On the business side, what area will you be looking at?

BW: I fully intend to reach out to the hotel ownership groups and talk with them. I don’t know of other design firms that have a former owner working for them. That perspective is going to bring a lot of value to the process. I understand what owners are looking for, because of my design background and time as an owner myself. I know a lot of the people at different brands, so I can reach out to them directly and ask questions. I think with potential clients it’s going to be a game-changer. Hopefully, it will be a good eye-opener for them as we go ahead and market to those new groups.

AZ: Before you worked at //3877, you were actually one of their clients. Why did you decide to accept the job at the firm?

 BW:  They care about their clients, and they care about everybody who works here. It’s very genuine. It’s not to get the next job, or to keep or hire an employee. They strive for excellent service, and there isn’t a project they take on that they don’t have fun with. It’s great to have that family atmosphere.

A well-appointed room at the Hyatt Place National Harbor, designed by //3877.
Photo courtesy of OTO Development