Nicholas Straube

Nicholas is a Milwaukee resident with a strong background in various art forms, holding a BFA in painting. He is committed to his community and serves as an Adjunct Professor at UW-Milwaukee. Outside of FEH, Nicholas loves spending time with his family and D.O.G., Alfie. 

How did you decide on your career path?

To paraphrase Yogi Berra, I came to a fork in the road and I took it.

What is your favorite part of the design process?

Iteration, iteration, iteration.

How are you creating vibrant communities through design?

One project I am particularly proud of is the transformation of a block on Milwaukee’s Near South Side into a new pedestrian plaza serving Milwaukee Public Schools’ Rogers Street Academy and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee. Using federal pandemic relief (ESSER) funds, we worked with community partners and city agencies to close a short segment of the street and convert it into a safe, active space for students and the neighborhood. The project includes a youth soccer field, outdoor learning areas, and green infrastructure, turning what was once roadway into a much-needed recreational and community space in a densely populated neighborhood with limited park access.

What makes Wisconsin a great place to live?

Milwaukee is unique. It’s diverse and welcoming, with great cultural institutions: the Milwaukee Art Museum, the Milwaukee Repertory Theater, the Pabst Theater….I could go on! Oh! And the amazing range of food; Mexican, Vietnamese, Ethiopian, German, Polish, Italian, Hmong. You get the opportunities and energy of a larger city, but with a small-town vibe. And for me, it’s hard to beat starting each day walking Alfie along Lake Michigan at sunrise.