Mark Dewalt was an architect. For him, that meant several things—being a designer, problem solver, tinkerer, renovator, mentor and occasional mischief-maker.
A founding principal of the firm Valerio Dewalt Train, he was the “better call Mark” guy anytime a client or a project was in a tough spot.
There was the time Underwriters Laboratories needed a building in Northbrook for testing appliances. It had to have no electronic interference, so steel construction was bad. David Rasche, principal at Valerio Dewalt, recalled that Mr. Dewalt chatted up a swimming pool manufacturer and came up with a building that was all plastic above the foundation. He borrowed a design for recessed swimming pool lights to use in the building.
“He was the nicest guy in the room,” he said of Mr. Dewalt. “He was definitely a builder of teams. Whatever the problem was, he would find a way to get the parties together and fix it.” He did it with modesty, a quality not always found in architects with a name on the door, and good humor.
For the complete obituary, visit https://chicago.suntimes.com/obituaries/2022/5/11/23067651/mark-dewalt-architect-and-co-founder-of-a-firm-dies-at-70
