Wallace Design Collective

When Steve Huey and Mike Gray first opened the Kansas City office of Wallace Design Collective in 1995, they couldn’t have imagined the journey ahead. From a humble beginning with just three people to today’s team of nearly 30 professionals, the Kansas City office has grown into a trusted leader in structural and civil engineering solutions. As we celebrate three decades of success, we look back at the remarkable story of growth, collaboration and community impact that defines Wallace Design Collective’s presence in Kansas City.

The Early Days: Building a Foundation

The story of Wallace Design Collective’s Kansas City office begins with GMH Corporation, a successful engineering firm led by Steve Huey and Mike Gray. For seven years, GMH operated independently, taking on projects nationwide. But as their client base grew – eventually including high-profile names like Disney – they ran into challenges with state registrations and insurance coverage.

“We had our own office under GMH and had been doing engineering work for seven years,” Steve recalls. “But our corporation wasn’t licensed in every state, and our insurance wasn’t sufficient for the type of projects we were taking on.”

To address those issues, GMH began partnering with Wallace Design Collective. “Mike Gray reached out to Tom Gangel,” Steve explains. “We also lacked drafting resources, so teaming up made sense. That’s when we started joint ventures like movie theaters and early work with Zahner.”

The partnership worked so well that in 1995, Wallace officially acquired GMH, creating the Kansas City office. “The timing was ideal,” Steve says. “It’s been a symbiotic relationship ever since – and I think it’s worked out great for everyone  

 

Building a Diverse Portfolio

From the start, Wallace Design Collective’s Kansas City office stood out for its diverse project work. While the early focus was on movie theaters and historic preservation in Kansas City’s River Market, the team quickly branched out into specialty metal structures through a unique collaboration with Zahner.

“It started when Bill Zahner was building a house with a pyramid roof, an off-center dome, and an observatory,” Steve recalls. “He needed help figuring out how to support it – so we engineered it using three telephone poles and a plywood ring beam. He still lives there today.”

Impressed by the creative approach, Zahner invited the team to consult on his architectural metalwork. “He said, ‘We need someone who thinks outside the box,’ and we just kept getting more involved – eventually doing all their metal engineering.”

This led to iconic projects like the Experience Music Project (now MoPOP) in Seattle and the de Young Museum of Art in San Francisco. The latter used structural cold-formed copper and extruded bronze materials never before approved for structural use in the U.S.

“We had to not only write the code, but we had to make up our own code for the design, submit that code to the city of San Francisco, and get approval of this new design code we wrote and turn in the calculations for this building to do the facade,” Steve explains with pride.

 

Evolution and Growth

By the time Darcey Schumacher joined the firm in 2003 – about eight years after its founding – the Kansas City office was already beginning to evolve. With around ten team members, the office still focused heavily on theater work under Mike Gray’s leadership, while Steve Huey continued expanding the specialty façade and historic preservation sectors.

“It was all fresh and new to me,” Darcey recalls. “There was a strong emphasis on theater work when I started, but that’s changed over time.”

The economic downturn of 2009 – 2010 marked a turning point. As theater projects declined, the team was pushed to diversify. “The shift in the economy really changed our trajectory,” Darcey explains. “That’s when I moved into more national retail work and started developing my own client base.”

At the same time, she began cultivating local relationships to bring in more Kansas City-based projects. “Getting more involved in the community – through AIA and other local groups – was a big part of that. It helped raise our visibility and opened doors to new opportunities.”

 

Expanding Capabilities

The addition of civil engineering services to the Kansas City office in the early 2000s marked a significant milestone in the firm’s strategic growth. This expansion diversified the office’s capabilities beyond structural engineering, enabling Wallace to offer more comprehensive services to clients in the region.

“It was another strategic growth pattern,” Doug explains, highlighting how this expansion aligned with Wallace Engineering’s broader vision of providing integrated engineering solutions across multiple disciplines.

Initially managed by Darren Burns from the Tulsa office, the civil engineering department operated with a small team in Kansas City. This arrangement allowed them to leverage the expertise of the larger company while establishing their local presence.

Six years ago, when Doug Fredeen relocated from the Oklahoma City office to Kansas City, he brought valuable leadership and deep industry expertise. His arrival marked a meaningful shift for the team. “There’s been a real sense of re-energizing and connection,” Doug reflects. “Having local leadership helped reinforce that ‘One Wallace’ mindset – where the team feels fully integrated and engaged as part of the broader firm.”

Today, the civil engineering department focuses primarily on site development across retail and industrial sectors, complementing the structural team’s specialty projects and creating a more diversified portfolio for the office. This successful integration demonstrates Wallace’s commitment to thoughtful expansion and adaptation to meet evolving client needs in the Kansas City market.

 

The Wallace Design Collective Culture

What has allowed the Kansas City office to thrive for three decades is the strength of its culture and leadership succession model. Steve credits Tom Wallace’s foresight: “From the beginning, Tom made it a priority to transition ownership to existing partners and invest in developing younger leaders. Unlike some firms where founders hold on too long and succession becomes a challenge, Tom intentionally stepped back and encouraged new leadership early on – and that approach has continued ever since.”

Darcey describes the office culture as dynamic and diverse, reflecting various individuals, approaches, and project types. This environment of diversity is what initially attracted her and has kept her engaged for 22 years: “The diversification of project types was exciting – we have very small projects and large ones, but none so massive you’re stuck on them for 10 years. The diversity and potential for pivoting to something new is really attractive.”

 

Legacy of Growth and Development

As the Kansas City office enters its fourth decade, leadership is focused on developing the next generation while maintaining exceptional client service. 

Darcey emphasizes the importance of investing in younger team members: “We’re trying to grow their skill sets and help them build strong relationships. We lean on the experience of our senior staff while encouraging our younger leaders to bring fresh ideas and perspectives.”

For both Darcey and Doug, the greatest reward is seeing others succeed. “My favorite project,” Darcey says, “is seeing someone’s face at a groundbreaking when they feel ownership and pride.” Doug echoes this: “It’s about watching people move up and grow within the company.”

The office’s evolution from a small team focused on theater projects to a diverse practice with nearly 30 professionals across multiple sectors represents remarkable growth. “Where we started to where we are today is a pretty impressive story,” Steve reflects. “Everybody involved should look back and be very proud of what we’ve accomplished over 30 years.”

 

Building the Future with Gratitude

As the Kansas City office looks to the future, one thing remains constant: our foundation is built on strong relationships – with clients, partners and the community.

The company’s success is built on these enduring connections. With strategic hires and strengthened community ties, Doug anticipates “tremendous growth in Kansas City in the next three or four years.” The office continues to balance national specialty work with an expanding local presence, creating diverse opportunities for team development.

Darcey expresses this gratitude beautifully:

“I have always appreciated our clients and the owners and the people that we serve – not just for the projects we’ve done together, but for the relationships we’ve built over time. I’m also thankful for the opportunity to mentor and work with our community. I greatly value what we’ve built together.”

As we celebrate this 30-year milestone, we extend our deepest thanks to all the clients, partners, and team members who have been part of our journey. Your trust, collaboration, and support have been instrumental in our success.

Here’s to three decades of design excellence – and many more years of growth, innovation, and impact in Kansas City and beyond.

Thank you for being part of our story.