Wes Goforth Architect AIA
PHONE: 401-451-9067
email: [email protected]
92 Columbia Avenue Cranston, Rhode Island 02905
506 Mena Street, Mena, Arkansas 71953
Wes Goforth is the principal of the firm that has offices in Pawtuxet Village in Cranston, Rhode Island and in Mena, Arkansas. He graduated from the University of Arkansas with a Bachelor of Architecture degree in 1975 and received his Master of Architecture degree in the post-professional program from Yale University School of Architecture in 1981.
His work has been shown in numerous exhibitions including Max Protetch Gallery and Artists Space in New York and the John Slade Ely Gallery in New Haven. He has participated in work published by Architecture Digest, Architectural Record, Architectural Digest, Progressive Architecture and the New York Times.
Mr. Goforth has been a visiting studio critic and visiting architect at the State University of New York-Plattsburgh and Trinity College in Hartford and was a visiting critic at Harvard University Graduate School of Design in Cambridge, and Parsons School of Design in New York.
Goforth has been involved in the design of commercial and residential projects since 1975. While at Yale School of Art and Architecture he was in masters’ studios of Frank Gehry, Aldo Rossi, and James Stirling and had fine art studio with the printmaker Gabor Peterdi and seminars with Vincent Scully, Karsten Harries, Gloria Kury and George Herbert. The Yale School of Art and Architecture was energized by visiting international critics and lecturers across the spectrum of art, architecture and design.
His studies in art history, theory, printmaking and drawing developed an enduring understanding of the interrelatedness of architectural design and fine arts. He worked in the offices of the renowned Stanley Tigerman and Associates, Chicago, and Harry Weese and Associates, Chicago for four years and was integral to major projects in that period. Goforth served in the United States Marine Corps as combat illustrator during the Viet Nam era. His studies for his Bachelor of Architecture degree from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville were extensive. This professional program promoted organic and international architecture through the leadership of Dean Faye Jones. The University of Arkansas School of Architecture offered an intensive and immersive program highlighting vernacular and international Modernist architecture. At Arkansas, Goforth focused on fine arts including drawing, painting and color theory.
Goforth interned with Stanley Tigerman in Chicago 1975 to 1979. He was an associate in the private architecture firm of Anderson/Schwartz Architects in New York from 1982 to 1986. He worked for Kohn Pederson and Fox in New York in 1981 and with Sapienza and Lessig Architects in West Haven, CT, from 1981 to 1982. Goforth’s experience in these firms included local, regional and national projects in urban and rural areas including educational, health care, preservation, residential and commercial projects.
After Yale University and New York City, Goforth opened his own firm in Greenwich, Connecticut working on both private and commercial projects before moving to Providence, Rhode Island region where he continues his design studio steps from the Narragansett Bay.
Goforth’s design has bridged a range of scales across commercial residential, art and design studios, sacred spaces, historic preservation, adaptive reuse and renovation. A careful analysis of clients’ needs and aspirations and the context in which they sit are the basis for sound and economical design applications. His expertise includes color distinction, stained glass preservation, unique building sites and designs and nimble individual spaces and restorations. His work on a historic downtown church in Providence is ongoing.
The natural world and history have been a continuing resource in design for Goforth and a balance of large design principles customized to an optimal human experience are his goals.
Goforth’s design addresses these areas:
ADAPTIVE REUSE: Design for art and design studios, sacred spaces, historic preservation and commercial renovations including medical offices and business spaces. Adaptive reuse utilizes careful analysis of clients needs and aspirations and the context in which these are the basis for sound and creative design.
NEW CONSTRUCTION: Design incorporating use of sustainable materials, color distinction, in residential, institutional, commercial and business functions is integral for original projects. New construction includes cost tracking, site planning and landscape design and interior design distinction, stained glass preservation, historic parameters, new building sites and plans, and individual spaces and restorations.
CONSULTATION: Advisory reports or evaluation for personal and commercial architectural reflections, early initial decisions, or preliminary investigations and proposals for change and adaptation.