SAMUEL WYKOFF
RA | NCARB | LEED AP BD+C
I Realized I Wanted to Be an Architect at the Age of Five
Each evening, my father would sit at our dining room table with a drafting board, triangles, and a T-square, designing the house my parents would later build and in which I would be raised. I was captivated by the idea that someone could intentionally design and build the world they would inhabit.
That realization has never left me.
Stillwater has always been home. Today I live and work overlooking Swartswood Lake, where the surrounding landscape serves as a daily reminder that the places we inhabit shape the quality of our lives.
That belief continues to inform my work and my conviction that architecture should respond thoughtfully to its surroundings, serve the people who inhabit it, and contribute positively to the world around it.
WHY ARCHITECTURE?
As I grew older, I began to understand that architecture is about far more than buildings.
The places we inhabit influence the quality of our lives. They shape our experiences, support our activities, and provide the setting for many of life's most important moments.
What has always fascinated me about architecture is the architect's unique role in that process. The architect must listen, imagine, solve problems, coordinate countless moving parts, and advocate for the people who will ultimately inhabit the work.
Good architecture has the capacity to enrich daily life, strengthen communities, and improve human experience. That possibility is what first drew me to the profession and what continues to inspire me today.
THE PRACTICE
After returning home to Stillwater, New Jersey, I established my practice in 2015.
From the beginning, I wanted the practice to remain intentionally small, allowing me to be personally involved throughout every stage of a project—from our first conversation through design, construction, and completion.
The workshop is where that work takes place: a place for study, exploration, and collaboration, where we work together to explore ideas, refine solutions, and transform them into architecture.
PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND
I earned a Bachelor of Architecture from the New Jersey Institute of Technology, graduating magna cum laude in 1995.
Since then, I have had the opportunity to work with a variety of architects and firms, gaining experience on projects ranging from academic and civic buildings to religious and historic preservation work. Each project offered new lessons about design, construction, and the many ways architecture can serve people and communities.
Those experiences continue to inform my work today.
INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVE
Over nearly a decade abroad, I lived, practiced, and consulted in Japan, Singapore, and Switzerland.
Those years provided an opportunity to experience different cultures and approaches to architecture firsthand. I observed how people lived, worked, gathered, and related to the built environment, and gained a deeper appreciation for the relationship between culture, place, and design.
Despite those differences, I was continually reminded of something universal: people everywhere seek places of meaning, spaces that support their lives, and shelter that provides comfort, security, and belonging.
TEACHING & COMMUNITY
In addition to practice, I have taught STEM and architectural design as a New Jersey State-certified Teacher of Technology Education since 2016 and currently serve on the Stillwater Township Zoning Board of Adjustment.
Working with students, residents, property owners, and community members has reinforced my belief that architecture is ultimately about people. It should be understandable, accessible, and connected to everyday life.
That perspective continues to shape the way I practice architecture today.
CREDENTIALS
Registered Architect — New Jersey & Pennsylvania
NCARB Certified
LEED Accredited Professional (BD+C)
Eligible for reciprocity throughout the United States.
Architecture begins with understanding…
Learn more about the ideas and principles that shape the practice and inform every project.
Every project begins with a conversation…
I would be happy to hear about your project and discuss your goals, aspirations, and ideas.