Art Garden

Dan Wheeler is a founding principal of Wheeler Kearns Architects and is a Professor of Architecture at the University of Illinois at Chicago. He works and practices to educate not only colleagues, clients, and students but also himself constantly, about the never-ending potential of architecture to elevate everyday experiences and the great responsibility that comes with this every optimistic endeavor. Dan received his education at the Rhode Island School of Design, including two years study in Rome. Prior to establishing his own practice, he was an Associate and Studio head at Skidmore Owings and Merrill, Chicago (1981-87). Dan is the recipient of a NEA Traveling Fellowship, the CCAIA Young Architect Award, AIA Fellowship and the Chicago Tribune’s “Chicagoan of the Year” in Architecture. Most recently, he received the 2017 AIA Illinois Nathan Ricker Clifford Award for Architectural Education. Dan has served as Interim Director for both the Graham Foundation and the UIC School of Architecture. He has been a consulting architect / educator to the Rural Studio since 2002. He lectures regularly and frequently sits on professional and academic juries. His prolific work and influence span project type; public institutions, non-profit organizations, and private commissions. He draws to see, to test, to explain, and to build places of authenticity. Dan is a registered architect in Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Michigan, Colorado, and Arkansas.

Born in NYC and raised in both Venice Beach, California, and Peaks Island, Maine, Tima brings a breadth of experience and leadership to Relativity Architects. He studied at Rice University and the Southern California Institute for Architecture. His passion for art led him to the practice of architecture as a launching point to explore the three dimensional space within his own paintings. In addition to his American studies, Tima has spent considerable time studying throughout Europe. He completed a one year artist-in-residency in Israel. Since then, Tima has pursued the exploration of art and the built environment through his own practice of architecture and design. From straw-bale construction to various high-end hospitality projects and from motion picture studios to master plans, he is vigilant throughout the process to achieve balance between quality, style and efficiency. Tima was also an adjunct professor at Woodbury University and acts as a guest juror at several Los Angeles universities. As co-founding Principal of RA, Tima continues to explore the physicality of art and architecture through his work with RA. He has received an AIA scholarship as well as two AIA Hospitality Design awards. Additionally, Tima is the recipient of both the Individual Boutique 18 Design Award and the Boutique 18 Design Restaurant Award.