History
Though SWWB Ltd. didn’t form until 1960, the beginnings can be traced back to 1942 where Jim Swann and Malcolm Weiskopf met at an Army Specialized Training Program for artillery fire power in Worchester, Massachusetts. After their training program ended, Jim was sent with Combat Engineers 288th division in Europe while Mal went to Fort Benning for paratroop training.
After the war ended, Mal enrolled at Cornell University to study architecture and graduated in 1950. During that same time, Jim chose to study at the Institute of Design in Chicago under Maholy Nagy and also had the opportunity to study with R. Buckminster Fuller. Because the Institute lacked an accredited school of architecture, Jim transferred to IIT. During his time at IIT, he was able to study under Mies Van der Rohe.
After graduating from IIT, Jim worked for various architectural firms specializing in single-family projects. After awhile, growing restless and wanting to work on other projects, he left Chicago to work under Eero Saarinen on the GM Design Center and the MIT Kresge Auditorium. After the completion of those projects, he moved back to Chicago and worked at SOM on the U.S. Air Force Academy.
After the war ended, Mal enrolled at Cornell University to study architecture and graduated in 1950. During that same time, Jim chose to study at the Institute of Design in Chicago under Maholy Nagy and also had the opportunity to study with R. Buckminster Fuller. Because the Institute lacked an accredited school of architecture, Jim transferred to IIT. During his time at IIT, he was able to study under Mies Van der Rohe.
After graduating from IIT, Jim worked for various architectural firms specializing in single-family projects. After awhile, growing restless and wanting to work on other projects, he left Chicago to work under Eero Saarinen on the GM Design Center and the MIT Kresge Auditorium. After the completion of those projects, he moved back to Chicago and worked at SOM on the U.S. Air Force Academy.
In the late 50s, while working in Chicago, Jim met Mal Weiskopf again and because of their common interest in modernist design and theory, they established Swann & Weiskopf. By 1961 rehab projects grew for the firm, starting with city urban renewal development in Hyde Park. Their portfolio quickly expanded as they worked on many diverse projects: multi-unit apartment rehabilitation, movie theatres, sports facilities, school buildings, churches, banks, new housing, as well as restaurants and industrial buildings.
When Chris Bednarowicz and Joe Woo, Jr. joined the firm as principals in 1993, Jim retired and moved to the state of Washington. During this transitional period, Mal continued to work for SWWB on a part-time basis until his death in 2000.
In 2003, Chuck Bassett joined Chris as a principal of SWWB. Chris and Chuck originally met in 1972, in the spring of their freshman year in college. They were both enrolled in the architecture program at the University of Illinois, Chicago, and met while studying under Professor Ken Isaacs. Under Isaacs they studied and worked on furniture design and new experimental housing design. UIC proved to be a rigorous program—they not only learned the elements of quality design but also learned extensively about structural design and building engineering.
When Chris Bednarowicz and Joe Woo, Jr. joined the firm as principals in 1993, Jim retired and moved to the state of Washington. During this transitional period, Mal continued to work for SWWB on a part-time basis until his death in 2000.
In 2003, Chuck Bassett joined Chris as a principal of SWWB. Chris and Chuck originally met in 1972, in the spring of their freshman year in college. They were both enrolled in the architecture program at the University of Illinois, Chicago, and met while studying under Professor Ken Isaacs. Under Isaacs they studied and worked on furniture design and new experimental housing design. UIC proved to be a rigorous program—they not only learned the elements of quality design but also learned extensively about structural design and building engineering.
After they had completed their studies, Chris went on to work on commercial and institutional projects, while Chuck worked for firms that designed large multi-family and single-family housing projects. Through the years, Chuck developed a strong background in residential design and construction technology while Chris’s expertise grew in commercial and institutional design for large projects such as schools and cinemas.
Chris and Chuck started to work together in 1998 when they both became consultants for a project for the Field Museum of Natural History. Chris was brought in to do masonry and restoration consulting and Chuck worked on the conceptual design and the reorganization of the museum’s central plant system.
Chris and Chuck started to work together in 1998 when they both became consultants for a project for the Field Museum of Natural History. Chris was brought in to do masonry and restoration consulting and Chuck worked on the conceptual design and the reorganization of the museum’s central plant system.
It was soon afterwards that Chuck acted as a consultant for SWWB on a number of remodeling projects for the Chicago Public Schools. Their first joint project on a new construction was the New Field Elementary School that opened in the fall of 2003.
Like Malcom Weiskopf and Jim Swann, 40 years ago, Chuck and Chris have found that their diverse talents form a good balance for their clients as well. Each of their skills compliments the other whether designing new construction, renovating buildings or working with various communities. It is this balance that has brought a large number of projects to a successful completion.
