Joe Valerio, a Chicago native and founding principal of Valerio Dewalt Train Associates, has always considered the construction phase of a project a critical part of his design process. This is even reflected in the tongue in cheek mission statement of “Build or Die,” which has in many ways become a part of the firm’s identity. As an employee of the firm, I can truly say that a spirit of building, and not just designing, is at the heart of almost all of the companies projects.
Unafraid to try something unique, Joe has completed a number of projects across various architectural sectors over his 40-year career, including corporate office, high-tech industrial, institutional, retail, and residential. With a number of works receiving regional and national awards, the firm have proven that approaching each project with a fresh perspective is something that is successful to their creation process.
Examples of his firm’s work can be found throughout the Chicago area including the main store and Rooftop Café at Lincoln Park Zoo, the Midwest corporate campus formerly occupied by the 3-Com Corporation, the Garmin Flagship store on Michigan Avenue, and the recently completed Earl Shapiro Hall and the Gordon Parks Arts Hall buildings for the University of Chicago Laboratory School.
Interview published in November, 2015.
Godfrey Hotel, Chicago. © Steve Hall – Hedrich Blessing. Courtesy of Valerio Dewalt Train.
Godfrey Hotel, Chicago. © Steve Hall – Hedrich Blessing. Courtesy of Valerio Dewalt Train.
Godfrey Hotel, Chicago. © Steve Hall – Hedrich Blessing. Courtesy of Valerio Dewalt Train.
Seven27 Apartments, Madison, Wisconsin. © Barbara Karant. Courtesy of Valerio Dewalt Train.
Seven27 Apartments, Madison, Wisconsin. © Barbara Karant. Courtesy of Valerio Dewalt Train.
UC Lab School – Gordon Parks Arts Hall. © Steve Hall – Hedrich Blessing. Courtesy of Valerio Dewalt Train.
UC Lab School – Gordon Parks Arts Hall. © Steve Hall – Hedrich Blessing. Courtesy of Valerio Dewalt Train.
UC Lab School – Gordon Parks Arts Hall. © Steve Hall – Hedrich Blessing. Courtesy of Valerio Dewalt Train.
UC Lab School – Gordon Parks Arts Hall. © Steve Hall – Hedrich Blessing. Courtesy of Valerio Dewalt Train.
Seneca House, Venice, Florida. © Antonio Cueller. Courtesy of Valerio Dewalt Train.
Doblin House addition, Chicago. © Steve Hall – Hedrich Blessing. Courtesy of Valerio Dewalt Train.
Doblin House addition, Chicago. © Steve Hall – Hedrich Blessing. Courtesy of Valerio Dewalt Train.
Doblin House addition, Chicago. © Steve Hall – Hedrich Blessing. Courtesy of Valerio Dewalt Train.
Doblin House addition, Chicago. © Steve Hall – Hedrich Blessing. Courtesy of Valerio Dewalt Train.
Doblin House addition, Chicago. © Steve Hall – Hedrich Blessing. Courtesy of Valerio Dewalt Train.
Doblin House addition, Chicago. © Steve Hall – Hedrich Blessing. Courtesy of Valerio Dewalt Train.
Doblin House addition, Chicago. © Steve Hall – Hedrich Blessing. Courtesy of Valerio Dewalt Train.
Summerfest, Milwaukee, 1978. © Courtesy of Valerio Dewalt Train.
Summerfest, Milwaukee, 1978. © Courtesy of Valerio Dewalt Train.
Summerfest, Milwaukee, 1978. © Courtesy of Valerio Dewalt Train.
Lakefront Festival of Art, Milwaukee. © Courtesy of Valerio Dewalt Train.
Lakefront Festival of Art, Milwaukee. © Courtesy of Valerio Dewalt Train.
Lakefront Festival of Art, Milwaukee. © Courtesy of Valerio Dewalt Train.
Lakefront Festival of Art, Milwaukee. © Courtesy of Valerio Dewalt Train.
Three Rivers, Michigan. © Courtesy of Valerio Dewalt Train.
Three Rivers, Michigan. © Courtesy of Valerio Dewalt Train.
Three Rivers, Michigan. © Courtesy of Valerio Dewalt Train.
Three Rivers, Michigan. © Courtesy of Valerio Dewalt Train.
Three Rivers, Michigan. © Courtesy of Valerio Dewalt Train.
Intro Song
“Strella, Sing a Singsong to the Moon” by Studio Noir is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike License.