Photograph by Jacqueline Ramseyer
Bibliotecture: Wendy Teague and her husband, Gil Garcia, designed San Jose's Biblioteca Latinoamericana, seen in the model behind her. The Willow Glen couple are the names behind Garcia Teague Architecture + Interiors.
Biblioteca designer honored at YWCA's 'Tribute to Women'
WG's Wendy Teague is partner in growing architecture firm
By Suzanne Barnecut
On March 10, Wendy Teague will see herself, along with several other women, on the big screen at the annual Santa Clara County YWCA Tribute to Women in Industry awards. She had pre-tape jitters as she stepped in front of a television news camera a few weeks ago to say a few words about herself to an audience she has yet to meet.
Her words--"Breathe, laugh at yourself, laugh at work. Be creative there is more than one way to do something"--are only the opening slice of what will be printed in the evening's program as her career advice to other women. She urges everyone to dream.
Teague is the design principal at Garcia Teague Architecture + Interiors, a company she built from the ground up with her husband, principal architect Gil Garcia. Garcia nominated his wife for the award, and it comes as no surprise to find her among the women who will be recognized for their professional achievement and community involvement.
"She's responsible for her success," Garcia said with proud assuredness. "That's for sure."
As a 10-year-old commercial architecture and interior design firm, Garcia Teague's projects range from small residential remodels to retail, historic renovation, urban design and affordable housing projects. The Biblioteca Latinoamericana and Washington United Youth Center in downtown San Jose have made them one of the fastest growing businesses in Silicon Valley.
If her professional life wasn't already glowing, Teague is also a commissioner on the Florence Sister County Commission, just returned from a delegation to Florence and currently at work on the upcoming Medici Masked Ball.
It is clear that both Garcia and Teague, partners in business and in life, agree that with success comes responsibility.
"If you've gained success," Teague said, "you need to support it. Everything we've accomplished and have is the result of hard work and dedication. I hope when people think of us, they think we are successful at making a difference in architecture, in a contextual way, and for giving back to the community."
It seems appropriate that Teague be honored for community involvement by an organization so committed to the same cause.
"YWCA is a wonderful organization," she said. "When there's a woman in need, they're usually first at hand." The YWCA offers many programs for children, rehabilitation and job placement.
As Garcia mentioned, the TWIN award represents a different sort of professional honor, as well. It seems easier, perhaps, to be both a woman and a standout in the corporate Silicon Valley life, but Teague says she is just doing what she loves.
"Wendy's not in the high-tech industry," he stated. "We don't have stock options. It's nice she's being recognized in the field she's in. There aren't a lot of women in design."
Design Duo: For Wendy Teague and Gil Garcia, their biggest project so far is the Biblioteca Latinoamerica on S. First Street. The library opened in November 1999.
Photograph by David Duncan Livingston
Back to the Drawing Board
Teague earned her bachelor of science degree in interior design from San Jose State University in 1988. Her undergraduate studies included a year in Florence, studying art history and architecture. Only one year later she was to meet her future husband at a small residential architecture firm in Campbell that is no longer in existence.
As they began dating, they moved on to different companies, only to end up working together, once again at another firm. Together, they took on a small bathroom remodeling job in Willow Glen as a side project together. The bathroom was featured in Sunset magazine. Thus, the birth of a company.
Garcia Teague began in what was once a live/work space on the Alameda in 1990. Gradually, the need for working space took precedence and in 1996, they expanded into the space next door, as well. Today they have seven employees. They own a home in Willow Glen, which they're remodeling with a custom design.
"We were really lucky. I never thought I'd be able to have a home in Willow Glen," Teague said. "The quality of life in Willow Glen is so good. We can walk downtown."
Teague is a third generation Glenite and a Willow Glen High School alumna. She has an intense love for physical homelands--both Willow Glen and Florence, Italy--and her family. It only makes sense that her profession should mirror and help foster these places of home and refuge.
While Garcia Teague is a commercial firm, the two balance out their repertoire with several custom residential projects each year. The work they've done on their own house has inspired several other remodeling jobs on their street.
"We take on projects in Willow Glen," Teague said, "because we want to help preserve the quaintness of Willow Glen. A lot of contractors are coming in for the buck and it's really unfortunate. We never approach a project thinking, How much square-footage can we fit?"
Teague is referring to the current trend toward expansive growth, with all the money in the valley and what she and Garcia have affectionately termed the "monster growth ordinance," otherwise known as the San Jose Design Review Guidelines. These guidelines help protect the historic homes and buildings of San Jose.
"It was a challenge to learn them and go over them with clients at first," Teague continued, "but there's no other way to control what goes on in your community."
Photograph by Tom Banner
Community Architecture
There are some ways to control the nature of the architectural growth in a community that sometimes rely on strokes of luck.
With a sense of grounded humility, Teague said, "We have incredible luck sometimes of just meeting people and being in the right place at the right time."
It is more than luck, however, that made Garcia Teague the right firm for the right job--that of the Biblioteca Latinoamericana and Washington United Youth Center on First Street in San Jose. The project is sort of their baby. It is not only their largest commission to date, but garnered coverage in a recent issue of Architectural Record. It presented a challenge in the quality and complication of the design, from the outer structure to the interior functionality--right down to the orange easy chairs dispersed throughout the library that Teague picked herself.
"It's really a great library," Teague said with pride. "You go there and people will sit down in a chair for eight hours and won't leave." The Biblioteca and youth center were funded by the Redevelopment Agency and later turned over to the city of San Jose.
Approximately 30 architectural firms bid for the job. Only four were interviewed, and one team chosen. Garcia Teague teamed up in January 1997 with Steven Ehrlich Architects, a group with previous experience in designing libraries. They completed their design and drawings within 10 months, which Teague says was "record time." The Biblioteca opened in November 1999.
"The most significant thing about the project as for as its social impact," Garcia said, "was the influence it had on people's lives in a neglected area." Garcia admitted to "detouring" by the Biblioteca only the other day, "And I smiled because I thought to myself, 'Wow, people are actually enjoying themselves." He noted the kids sitting outside and the kids sitting inside using computers or reading magazines.
Teague agreed, "It is a good example of the way redevelopment funding works in a positive way. It's a youth center and a library--that's feeding the body and feeding the soul. It was wonderful to work with the community."
The project was aggressive. Garcia Teague came in on budget, within the demanding timeline, but the two admittedly gave up a year of their lives working long days and weekends. They credit their full-service firm with helping to save costs by keeping both the interior and exterior designs in the same hands. They also are quick to point out their gain from the experience. For example, they are able to now choose their jobs, based on what's interesting and challenging, rather than what will build their name or pay their bills.
Photograph by Jacqueline Ramseyer
Garcia/Teague of Their Own: Wife-and-husband architect team Wendy Teague and Gil Garcia have been running their own firm since 1990. The pair met while working at a custom residential design firm in Campbell.
Learning a different lifestyle
As committed to her career as she is, Teague also volunteers many hours outside of work. With her husband she works with First Community Housing to volunteer time and professional expertise on designing community lobbies or rooms in low-income or "affordable" housing projects. She noted that today's "affordable" homes are usually intended for families with a median annual income of $70,000. Such is the state of Bay Area real estate.
She is also the former chair of the Florence Sister County Commission, during which time she implemented scholarships for studies in Florence for students at Santa Clara University and San Jose State.
As a current commissioner, Teague recently returned from a delegation visit to Florence. She and Garcia spoke to the architectural staff and student body at the University of Florence about Santa Clara County architecture, design and construction methods.
The delegation also served to forge business alliances and hopes to bring a Leonardo DaVinci exhibit to the Tech Museum of Innovation.
Currently she works on the organization's newsletter and is helping with the Medici Masked Ball, a fundraiser to be held on April 7 at the Fairmont Hotel. The funds raised will help support the student travel abroad scholarships.
Photograph by Tom Banner
Teague's involvement in the commission and for all her many visits to Italy, speak as much for her love of Italian culture as for her desire to contribute to her own environment and her profession.
"I think traveling is really important," she said. "It lets you see how different people live in a different place. Since we're in the design profession, it keeps us fresh. I just love Florence, and I think Santa Clara County can learn so much from their way of life."
Teague says she is inspired by the Italian approach of working only to live, and it is a reminder that, despite her thriving and busy professional life, there are times to say no as good projects keep popping up during a healthy economy.
"The big difference between Italy and here," she said, "is that they take care of their families. Here we ship them off to convalescent homes."
It is her family, and specifically her grandmother, that Teague credits for giving her the building blocks that have led her to where she is today.
"Gil and I come from supportive families, but have always been urged to go the difficult way and to appreciate it more. We have worked for everything we've attained," she added. "I hope young people coming out of school realize hard work, honesty and integrity pay off. If you stick with those qualities, you'll be successful at whatever you do."
Willow Glen, California Since 1992
