About
Memberships
Registered Architect
Venue Magazine
Beautify Wyoming Historic Preservation Award
Design/Build Magazine
This Old House Magazine
Wilcox Architecture
Tom Wilcox
Best of Houzz Design Award
2017-2024
Best Additions
Wilcox Architecture was selected by readers of Cincy Magazine as the top architect in the category of Additions & Remodels: Additions for the Cincy Home Resource Guide 2024 Best in Home + Design Issue.
Q & A
Historic Preservation Award
The Wyoming Historic Preservation Commission and the City of Wyoming presented a Beautification Award to this renovation project in the Historic Preservation category. This award honors Wyoming property owners who have taken significant steps to restore, renovate, or construct an addition to a historic property while using extraordinary care to preserve the home's historic character.
The architectural design and renovation work consisted of the repair & replacement of a 2-story front porch on this turn-of-the-century Queen Anne home. Old School Craftsman, General Contractor.
Wilcox Architecture combines thoughtful, high-quality design with close personal attention from the architect to guide clients from the site and building assessment through the design and construction processes. Architect, Tom Wilcox, specializes in residential projects in all areas of greater Cincinnati including Amberley Village, Anderson, Blue Ash, Hyde Park, Indian Hill, Madeira, Mariemont, Montgomery, Mt. Lookout, Oakley, Prospect Hill, Terrace Park, Walnut Hills, Wyoming and Northern Kentucky, as well as Northern Michigan. Tom has extensive experience with new homes, additions, garages, renovations, kitchens, basements, porches, decks, and historic preservation.
Wilcox Architecture was launched in 2001 on West Street in Mariemont and moved in late 2010 to Hyde Park in Cincinnati. Tom had previously partnered with Dennis Malone in the firm Malone & Wilcox and worked several years for Reno F. Runck III, Architect in College Hill. Tom’s past work experience includes historic preservation, municipal projects, nursing homes, restaurants, railroad structures, and residential projects.
Tom has construction and real estate experience; he was the general contractor on several of Wilcox Architecture’s early projects and was also a licensed real estate agent. These experiences have served him well—he understands how buildings go together, assembles a very builder-friendly set of construction drawings, and knows what's important for resale. Tom visits his job sites frequently to make sure construction is progressing correctly, and also to learn from the tradespeople on the job—constantly improving his design and drawing skillsets.
Tom Wilcox is a thoughtful, creative, practical, and responsible architect that knows how buildings are built and designs that way. He values existing buildings—their design, construction, and history—and feels that it is important to bring their language into the design of additions and renovations. He also values existing land and feels that new construction should relate to and take advantage of the surroundings while having a minimal environmental impact.
A Licensed Architect since 1994, Tom is a Registered Architect in Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio. He is certified by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards.
Born and raised in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Tom graduated from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio with a Bachelor of Environmental Design. Since earning his Master of Architecture degree from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor in 1991, he has been living and working in Cincinnati. Tom has worked almost exclusively for small architectural firms, with a range of experience including healthcare, industrial, commercial, religious, municipal, and residential projects. In 2001, Tom started his own architectural practice, focusing on residential and small commercial projects.
Tom was a Licensed Real Estate Agent in Ohio and maintains connections with many realtors. His unique architect’s perspective provided valuable insight to homebuyers and sellers. Because of his past involvement in real estate and his experience with design and construction (including pricing), he’s the perfect person to help homeowners with a big decision many have—Move or stay and remodel?
Tom enjoys spending time with his wife and three children, exercising, and reading. He is a sports fan with a passion for college football. His service activities include volunteering for The Cincinnati Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (CABVI) and regularly donating blood to the University of Cincinnati Hoxworth Blood Center.
• Indiana
• Kentucky
• Michigan
• Ohio
Professional Experience
Before & After
Tom and Angela Wilcox brought back the beauty of this “painted lady” Queen Anne in Cincinnati, Ohio. Built in 1896, the house had lost the colorful vibrancy that defines this style of Victorian architecture. Its elaborate wooden porch and front railing had been traded in for a plain concrete stoop. Restoring the porch and railing was a painstaking process: All the posts and rails were custom-milled, and 600 turn-of-the-century spindles were hunted down at a remote salvage warehouse. A transom over the front entrance and a pair of properly sized two-over-two windows restored full harmony to the façade.
This Old House magazine, September 2003
National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB)
Custom Residential Architects Network (CRAN)
Tau Sigma Delta - Honor Society in Architecture and Allied Arts
Cincinnati Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (CABVI) - Volunteer
Best Residential Architects in Ohio
Wilcox Architecture, based in the heart of Cincinnati, assists its clients throughout the entire residential design and construction process. Clients may expect close personal attention and a highly hands-on approach while working with the firm. The Wilcox team is experienced in every aspect, from the site and building assessment to closeout and finishing touches. Some of the firm’s work is found in the most desirable communities in greater Cincinnati. The firm has completed projects in Amberley Village, Anderson, Blue Ash, Hyde Park, Indian Hill, Madeira, Mariemont, Montgomery, Mt. Lookout, Oakley, Prospect Hill, Terrace Park, and Walnut Hills, as well as outside Ohio, in Wyoming, Northern Kentucky, and Northern Michigan. The firm has been in business since 2001 and is personally led by its founder, Tom Wilcox. His past experience includes historic preservation, municipal projects, nursing homes, restaurants, railroad structures, and residential projects.
This sunroom and patio addition to a mid-19th century house won the Beautify Wyoming Award for Historic Preservation in the Wyoming neighborhood of Cincinnati, Ohio. Project challenges included supporting an existing second-floor overhang and making adjustments for an existing cistern.
Tom Wilcox, architect and owner of Wilcox Architecture, was selected by Pella and the Venue magazine staff to be featured in the article: Introducing the Leading Influencers in Architecture & Design in Greater Cincinnati for 2019.
Where do you find your inspiration for a project?
Most of what I do is additions to & renovations of existing houses. For these projects, I find inspiration in the existing house itself, especially if it’s an older home with some character. The neighborhood influences me too—I want to design something that fits in. Also, the homeowners usually have some specific requirements that I like to focus on as a starting point, and they’ll usually have images of what they like (from photos they’ve collected, magazines, books, Houzz, Pinterest, etc.) that provide a stimulus for the design. I rarely say something like, “I saw this in a magazine and I’d like to try it on your house,” or, “This is what’s trendy now, let’s make it part of your design.”
Wilcox Architecture
Cincinnati, OH
2001 to present
Malone & Wilcox
Cincinnati, OH
2000 to 2001
The Malone Partnership Inc.
Cincinnati, OH
1999 to 2000
Reno F. Runck III, Architect AIA
Cincinnati, OH
1992 to 1999
Architecture & More Inc.
Grand Rapids, MI
1990
University of Michigan Engineering Services
Ann Arbor, MI
1989 to 1990
MHB Design Group, Inc.
Grand Rapids, MI
1989
John Savage & Associates, Architects
Alexandria, VA
1988
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“Painted Lady” Dazzles Neighborhood
This Victorian House in Cincinnati, Ohio is “dressed to impress” after some loving restoration by owner-architect, Tom Wilcox.
Built in 1896, the house lies in the historic Columbia Tusculum neighborhood which is filled with Victorian Homes known as “painted ladies” for their bright colors.
With its drab exterior and missing porch, the Wilcox home lacked a certain charm. It was also slightly out of architectural sync since its original front wood windows had been replaced long ago with low, wide steel windows that were totally out of proportion with the house.
To remedy the situation, Wilcox started measuring neighboring houses to determine the correct size and shape of a turn-of-the-century porch. Then, he went on a hunt to find a source for correctly-proportioned porch posts and brackets.
Eventually, he located a company, Pagliacco Turning and Milling, that could manufacture the redwood newel posts and railings. As luck would have it, Wilcox stumbled across 600 period spindles in an old warehouse and used them at the top of the porch and as balusters below the railing.
Wilcox, with the help of family and friends, hand-made the brackets out of poplar. Their contractor did a superb job of assembling all the pieces and even created some of the poplar trim, innovating when necessary.
New wood windows matching the originals were installed in the correct locations and a transom was added over the front door.
A professional painted the body of the house while Wilcox and friends handled the painting of the intricate decorative details.
The result? A new “painted lady” on the block worthy of her peers!
Architect′s Perspective
“When we bought our house, it was a very plain Victorian with a missing front porch, some poorly-proportioned window ‘improvements’ and bad siding. By taking cues from the surrounding neighborhood, we were able to bring the house back to, and probably beyond, its original appearance. The new porch is a good example that you can ‘built it like they used to’ if you’re willing to put in the time and thought necessary in both the design and construction phases.”
Thomas Cole Wilcox
Architect & Owner
Type of Project: Exterior Restoration
Architect: Thomas Cole Wilcox
Contractor: David Costa General Contracting
Painter: Tim Welsh Painting
Specifications
Roofing: Owens Corning
Siding: Masonite Hardboard Siding
Paint: Coronado
Windows: Semco
Porch Posts, Newel Posts & Caps, Railing: Pagliacco Turning & Milling
Design/Build magazine, February 1999
Selected as a Houzz award winner in the architectural Design category for 8 consecutive years. Click the badge below to visit the Houzz site.
“We’re so pleased to award Best of Houzz to Tom Wilcox of Wilcox Architecture,” said Liza Hausman, vice president of Industry Marketing for Houzz. “Each of these businesses was singled out for recognition by our community of homeowners and design enthusiasts for helping to turn their home improvement dreams into reality.”
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What or Who is the greatest influence in your work?
I’m not big on any particular past or current architect or style—though I do like some more than others. I’m usually taking cues from the existing house, so I guess the original house’s architect or builder has the most influence on each particular project. Beyond that, in general, my greatest influence is my family. I’m very proud of where I came from, and I want to provide a good example for my kids, so I really want to do a great job, every time. That’s plenty of motivation.
Featured in an article by Home Builder Digest listing their ranking of the Best Residential Architects in Ohio. Home Builder Digest is a national online magazine dedicated to the residential housing industry. The magazine celebrates the best luxury home builders, remodelers, and architects throughout the country and works to be a trusted source for recommendations about construction professionals.
Education
Master of Architecture
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, MI
1991
Bachelor of Environmental Design
Miami University
Oxford, OH
1989
Architectural Consortium Program
Virginia Tech
Washington-Alexandria Architecture Center
Alexandria, VA
1988
Q What are some design trends that are hot right now in the Greater Cincinnati Area?
A Well, like everywhere, I think first-floor master suites are increasingly in demand. I’ve been designing a lot of “outdoor living” spaces too—covered patios or decks, screened porches. A design trend that’s big on the east side of Cincinnati is tear-downs—replacing an existing house with a new one or multiple new ones. Occasionally the original house is in terrible shape and really needs to go, but for the most part, I’d like to see more preservation and less razing of good-quality homes.
Venue magazine, Fall 2019
Overall, how would you describe your style?
I always tell people my style changes depending on the project. What doesn’t change is that it’ll be creative, human-scaled, approachable. Complementary to the existing house and neighborhood, which means (usually) a traditional style and (hopefully) fitting in seamlessly. I’m not a cutting-edge architect by any means!
What has been your biggest struggle?
Currently, my biggest struggle is keeping up with construction costs, which keep rising. I’m very upfront about the process with potential clients—timing, fees, construction cost, schedule, etc. For the type of project I do the most of I’ve got a pretty good idea of how long it’s going to take and what it’s going to cost. I feel that people want to know these things right away (I would!), and I’m being disingenuous if I don’t share my knowledge on these matters. Of course, I’m not right all the time, but I don’t duck the questions.
What has been your proudest achievement in architecture?
Designing homes for family members up in Michigan. It’s so rewarding to see them happy in something we worked together to create and to actually get to spend time in these houses during holidays and vacations. A bonus is I get to see how the structures are aging and what works well (or not) over time.
What is your ultimate goal when it comes to your work?
Delivering a creative, timeless, functional design that delights and is well-built. But the real bottom line for me is happy clients. I want them to have a hand in the design, enjoy the process, and feel that their homes and lives have been improved by using me as their architect.
What are some design trends that are hot right now in the Greater Cincinnati Area?
Well, like everywhere, I think first-floor master suites are increasingly in demand. I’ve been designing a lot of “outdoor living” spaces too—covered patios or decks, screened porches. A design trend that’s big on the east side of Cincinnati is tear-downs—replacing an existing house with a new one or multiple new ones. Occasionally the original house is in terrible shape and really needs to go, but for the most part, I’d like to see more preservation and less razing of good-quality homes.
Do you take environmental sustainability into your planning and designing process?
I think environmental sustainability in my field starts with really looking at the possibility of renovating rather than razing existing houses, so I’m usually going to push for that. I support high-efficiency mechanical systems, windows, sustainable materials, etc.—it’s good general design—but I typically don’t go after “green construction” certifications unless the homeowner wants that.
What is your process?
For my typical project—an addition to a house with the associated renovation of existing spaces—I’ll do zoning research before I meet with the homeowners, then meet with them to discuss what they do and don’t like about their house, what their hopes/dreams/goals are, timeframe, budget, etc. I do a lot of listening. Depending on the project and the lot, we might have a frank discussion about zoning and constructability. Then I go through my process, fee structure, timing, likely construction cost, and schedule. I send them a proposal for architectural services within a day, and hopefully, I’ll send them a contract soon thereafter. Once I start the work, it’s Schematic Design (measuring & documenting the existing house, sketching design solutions), Design Development (detailed drawings for construction pricing), Construction Documents (drawings suitable for permits and construction), Construction Consultation (job site visits, answering questions, etc. as needed).
What are your non-negotiables?
My schedule: I work for myself, so I’ve got a backlog. I don’t put anyone in front of anyone else—I work on projects in the order they come in.
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