A man in a gray suit jacket and light blue shirt sits at a desk, smiling and holding a pencil. He has short hair and is working on papers. The background shows a bright, softly lit interior with books and a white radiator.
A man in a gray suit jacket and light blue shirt sits at a desk, smiling and holding a pencil. He has short hair and is working on papers. The background shows a bright, softly lit interior with books and a white radiator.

Christopher Whelan

DESIGN ASSOCIATE

“Drawing is, and has always been, at the center of our design and creative processes. We take great pride in how we translate our client’s vision and infuse it with creativity, beauty, and memory.”

Christopher Whelan was studying economics at Johns Hopkins University when, on a lark, he took an elective architectural history course and his passion for design was born. After graduating from Johns Hopkins in 2010, Chris enrolled in the University of Notre Dame School of Architecture, where he studied in Rome, developed a deep appreciation for American and traditional architecture, and graduated with a Masters in Classical Architecture.  

During his graduate studies, Chris interned at Timothy Bryant Architect and Buccellato Design and received multiple awards for his student work, including a Jury Prize from the AIA Philadelphia’s Ed Bacon Student Design competition, a Charter Award from the Congress for the New Urbanism, and a Trumbauer Award from the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art’s Philadelphia chapter.

Chris joined GPSA in 2013, and in 2024, was named Schafer Buccellato’s first Design Associate, a role which calls upon his diverse background and interest in architectural design, theory, and history, as well as his eye for landscape and interior design. “As a Design Associate, I consider every aspect of a project, from big picture planning to the smallest details that make a house livable.” Chris and the rest of the team combine the latest technological innovations with their deep knowledge and understanding of classical detailing to create homes that have a sense of history, a distinct character, and truly work for clients’ lives. 

Chris’s favorite pastime is being with his family, and he also enjoys surfing, swimming, and a good cup of coffee. He lives with his wife and three children in Glen Ridge, New Jersey.