UW-Milwaukee’s Greenstreet shaping minds (and the city)

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Funny story about how Bob Greenstreet got into architecture.

“My father was an exhibition designer for the British government, and he expressed an interest that I go into architecture or the Royal Navy. Since I’ve never been keen on having a haircut, I chose architecture. It’s not the most uplifting reason to get into architecture,” Greenstreet deadpanned.

His vanity, apparently, has served him well.

As dean of the School of Architecture & Urban Planning at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Greenstreet has spent nearly 30 years helping shape the city’s students. He’s also had a hand in shaping the city itself, working as a member of the Milwaukee Plan Commission for 15 years and as the city’s director of planning and design for five.

Recently, the London native and 2013 Topaz Medallion winner was named a 2017 fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects.

“That, to me, was a fantastic honor. Somehow when you get an award in your home country, where you haven’t really done much, it makes you want to go back to your old faculty and say, ‘See, I wasn’t stupid,’ ” Greenstreet laughed.

It’s a (half-hearted) ‘I told you so’ decades in the making.

“I came out of a fairly elitist system that gave a small percentage of people a chance,” Greenstreet said.

So, in the late 1970s, he came to the U.S. When he came to Wisconsin in 1981, starting at UWM as an assistant professor of architecture, he didn’t think he’d stay long. But the inclusive and open nature of the school was appealing.

“I really liked that Wisconsin gave everyone a chance to prove themselves,” Greenstreet said. “… Thirty-five years later there has never been a reason to leave.”

In fact, Greenstreet said, he’s found plenty of reasons to stay.

“Milwaukee is a great city. I teach at a great university, and I have the best students I’ve ever had.” Plus, he teased, “We’re the only architecture school in Wisconsin and, therefore, kind of important.”

That wasn’t always the case.

When Greenstreet joined UWM the architecture program was only 10 years old and had yet to find its niche.

“I’ve tried to take the university into the city,” Greenstreet said.

Today, the school consults with city and state officials on dozens of projects each year, particularly through the school’s Community Design Solutions group, which has helped with the development of the former Park East freeway spur property.

“We try to stimulate ideas of what the world can be. That’s the role of the school of architecture and urban planning. That’s the role of the university,” Greenstreet said. “We explore ideas, throw them out there and try to be a catalyst for change in the city.

“It’s a real privilege to look at the skyline of Milwaukee and see the impact that our students, faculty and staff have made. We like to make a difference,” Greenstreet added. “Our school likes to be a force for positive physical change, so we get involved wherever we can — on the campus, in the city, in the neighborhoods, in small towns. We are a fairly relentless positive force.”

The Daily Reporter: What surprises you most about your work?
Bob Greenstreet: I’m constantly amazed at the enthusiasm and optimism of my students. They annoyingly stay the same age as I get older, and they still manage to bring a freshness and optimism to the future. And that’s a continuous joy, especially this millennial generation. My job is to train as many people as possible to get me out of the way. That’s the goal of leadership — to make yourself redundant, so that continual level of optimism is a surprise, but a delightful surprise.

TDR: What would you change about the construction industry?
Greenstreet: My Christmas wish to Santa (was) that every building — and I don’t mean just City Hall and art museums, but garages, gas stations, big box — would be done a little better than the drawings suggest. Every building is important. Every building makes a change to our environment. Every building doesn’t have to be designed by (Santiago) Calatrava, but every building is important. It doesn’t have to be an award-winner, but can we make things a little better. Make the pedestrian world better. Plant a few more trees. My ambitions are modest, but if everybody bought into it every city would be better.

TDR: What other job did you consider trying?
Greenstreet: I think we’ve explored the two options. I’m quite comfortable with the choice.

TDR: What profession would you not like to explore?
Greenstreet: I admire people like the roofers who, just days ago, put a new roof on my house in this weather. They did not complain; they just did the job. I could not do that. I also admire my dentist because she looks down people’s throats every day, and I’m not sure I could do that.

TDR: What would you never wear?
Greenstreet: Anything plaid.

TDR: If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
Greenstreet: I think if I went back in time I probably would not be a West Ham (United) supporter. It’s a London soccer team that ensures its supporters understand bitterness and disappointment for their entire life. I think West Ham and Cubs fans have a lot in common (until this year); we understand abject failure. Maybe that’s a good life skill?

TDR: What would your colleagues be surprised to find out about you?
Greenstreet: Probably that to celebrate my 60th birthday I ran with the bulls in Pamplona in Spain. So they might be surprised I’m more stupid than they thought. It was a massively stupid thing to do. Standing in a small medieval street with 12 pissed-off bulls coming at you is not the smartest thing I’ve ever done. But I’ve lived a quiet life and I wanted to do something.