about steve: short & long bio's

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Steve Wiser is a lifelong Louisville resident. He attended St. Xavier High School and received his architectural training at the University of Cincinnati.

 For over 35 years, he has specialized in healthcare facility planning, design, and construction. He has built over $2 billion in healthcare projects and designed every type of healthcare project: critical access hospitals; academic medical centers; for profit / non profit; patient units, cancer centers, behavioral health, clinics, etc.  

Steve has been involved in community improvement efforts in Louisville since the late 1970’s. He was active during the 1980’s with the civic group “Third Century”, which continually sought ways to make Louisville a better place in which to live. With this group, Steve co-founded the Street Banner Program, which has since spread throughout the region. He coordinated numerous forums and events. Steve also contributed assistance to the initial Mayor’s Urban Workshop programs, which are now known as Greater Louisville Inc. Development Expedition (GLIDE).

Steve is very active with the American Institute of Architects. He served as president of the local chapter and has been chair of many committees over the past 35 years. He served on two AIA Regional Design Assistance Team studies of Louisville. Steve was a member of the original “Young Architect” class of the AIA and has received the distinguished “Oberwarth Award”, Kentucky’s highest AIA achievement honor. He was recognized as a 'Fellow' of the AIA in 2017.

Since the early 1980’s, Steve has been a leader in the Louisville Historical League. Serving as its president for three terms, he has helped save many properties from demolition, including Old Male High School; old St. Paul’s Church; Olmsted’s Shelby Park; the American Standard Manufacturing Building, Colonial Gardens, and the Ouerbacker House. He has also assisted in restoring the “Louisville Clock”.

Steve’s achievements include:

· Helped author the waterfront design guidelines and has served on its design review committee for twenty-five years

· Written dozens of articles on urban design for Business First newspaper along with commentaries for the Courier-Journal, Louisville Magazine, and other local publications.

· Nationally known healthcare architect, he has authored a book on hospital design, been featured as a speaker at numerous national conferences, and written dozens of articles on healthcare design topics.

· Authored books titled: “Distinctive Houses of Louisville’; “Modern Houses of Louisville”; “Louisville Tapestry: People & Places who helped create America’s Most Livable City”; “Louisville 2035”; “Louisville Sites to See by Design”; “The Community of St. Frances of Rome: An Illustrated History”. And produced a DVD entitled “Louisville Landmarks & Legends”. He has also written four other non-civic books.

· Written dozens of articles on Louisville history, including “Deja View” and “History of Louisville Architecture”.

· Tour guide at Cave Hill Cemetery

· Has given presentations before Louisville Forum, Filson Historical Society; Beargrass St. Matthews Historical Society, Bellarmine University, University of Louisville, National Trust for Historic Preservation, local Rotary and Kiwanis Clubs, among many others.

· He served as a local chair for the AIA 150 committee, which produced the Portland neighborhood charrette, 2008 Calendar of Louisville Architecture, Michael Graves lecture, and several design presentations.

· Steve is married to Kathy for over 30 years, and they have two daughters: Jennifer who is an architectural intern in Chattanooga; and, Erin, who is a textile designer in New York City.

- He has helped implement about 20 historical roadside markers within the metro region.

Steve Wiser is an Associate and Director of Healthcare Design for JRA Architects.