Meet Wanfang Long | Architectural designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Wanfang Long and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Wanfang, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?
During the past few years, I have been dedicated myself to utilizing my outstanding design ability to improve community and people’s life standard. Recently, I have successfully supported two distinguished nonprofit organizations by providing exceptional architectural design for a fabulous community café and a farmhouse school initiative, which was recognized by the Rome Design Awards, an international design competition judged by architects, educators, and design professionals, acknowledging excellence in architectural innovation and impact.

The UO Café project is located in a less-developed neighborhood historically impacted by urban blight, including drug activity and homelessness. The design introduces a life-changing community-focused café with cooking class spaces, a makerspace, and a greenhouse. Together, these spaces create an inviting public environment that encourages social connection and revitalizes the area. More importantly, the café’s operations support the local economy by creating new jobs and partnering with local suppliers. The café and greenhouse also increase access to fresh, organic food, promoting healthy living while reinforcing the project’s sustainability mission and reducing environmental impact.The UO cafe project is so welcomed that it has received significant support from the community and is widely known by the industry. It creates a positive impact and influences the fund-raising process for the organization which marks it as a milestone for the client.

The farmhouse school advances environmental education by connecting both youth and adults to the land and the ecological systems of their city. The project aims to (re)connect Black, Indigenous, and People of Color with local food, agriculture, and nature. It supports the development of diversified and sustainable funding models to strengthen infrastructure, expand programming, and build long-term organizational capacity. By leveraging its assets, the school intends to create immersive and culturally meaningful agritourism experiences that both generate income and deepen community engagement. Ultimately, the project helps cultivate the next generation’s skills, confidence, and leadership—empowering them to grow, create, and share their own contributions, even down to “making their own pies.”

These two meaningful projects set up my career keystone that helps me to stand out from most designers in the industry.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I began my career with two years of professional experience in residential design, but I quickly realized that I wanted to broaden my scope. I wasn’t content designing a single building type—I aspired to explore the full spectrum of architecture and challenge myself with diverse project types. I have always been eager to learn, experiment, and search for the best design solutions.

Today, I am grateful to be working on a wide range of project types, including commercial, civic, educational, and hospitality projects. What excites me most is that many of my projects directly support and transform local communities. Being able to contribute to spaces that uplift people and transform communities is deeply meaningful to me and aligns closely with my own purpose and values as a designer.

Getting to where I am today was not easy. My journey included completing a five-year Bachelor of Architecture in Oregon, followed by a Master of Architecture at the University of Pennsylvania where I pushed myself to explore experimental ideas, cross-disciplinary research, and socially responsive design. But my education was only the beginning. In practice, I continue to grow continuously—learning from complex real-world projects, collaborating with multidisciplinary teams, and responding to the challenges that each new design problem demands.

Whenever I encounter challenges, I make it a point to explore every possible way forward. One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is to never give up and to remain curious. I believe that great design emerges from seeing challenges not as limitations, but as opportunities for innovation. That mindset has helped me contribute to meaningful design solutions and serve as a reliable creative force within every team I join.

I also grew up watching my father, who worked as a façade consultant. Seeing his dedication and work inspired me from an early age. His support and belief in my path have played a significant role in shaping the designer I am becoming.

If there is one message I hope people take from my story, it is that my work is guided by a genuine dedication to learning, leadership, and creating architecture that brings measurable, positive change to the communities it serves. My goal is not only to design buildings, but to contribute to a built environment that is smarter, more inclusive, and more deeply connected to the people who inhabit it.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Philadelphia Museum of Art—The interior and the collections are amazing (Renoir, Van Gogh, Cézanne, Duchamp, and more).

Philadelphia City Hall- The architecture is stunning—think elaborate sculptures, grand staircases, and Beaux-Arts detail.

Independence Hall – where the Declaration of Independence & Constitution were signed.

Liberty Bell – An iconic stop, full of history.

University City – UPenn & Drexel campus architecture walks

Reading Terminal- Food market with all different kind of local food.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I am grateful to my design firm, Design Develop LLC, for its strong support of my professional growth. Since joining Design Develop, I have been playing an integral critical role in the architectural team by leading the UO Cafe project, farmhouse school and apartment project which generated a significant amount of attention and built wonderful client relationships for the firm. The firm has provided me with opportunities to contribute to a wide range of project types—including commercial, cultural, civic, residential, hospitality, educational, clinic facilities. Working across such diverse project scopes has allowed me to deepen my technical skills, strengthen my design sensibilities, and broaden my understanding of how architecture can serve different communities. These experiences have been instrumental in shaping me into a more versatile and confident architectural designer. In the UO Cafe project, I worked as a lead designer to create the schematic drawings and rendering images, and present it to the client and community. The design was created by Design Develop, an award-winning design firm that focuses on improving community and resident’s life. Established in 2007, Design Develop LLC is a client-centric architecture firm with offices in Charlottesville, VA and Baltimore, MD. Their expertise spans across various types of architecture and lies in seamlessly blending construction and design principles to tackle complex architectural challenges. Leveraging cutting-edge technology and fostering open communication, they collaborate closely with clients to transform their visions into reality through detailed 3D models and innovative solutions. Their commitment to excellence extends beyond design, encompassing entitlement, marketing, and investment guidance throughout the project lifecycle.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/loewie-long-arch0805

Image Credits
Sam Wu
Xingzheng Qiu
Han Yin
Alice Rambissoon
Khanh Uong