“Why do I come to work?”
“Why am I doing this?” 
“Why did I choose this?” 

For Wigen Tincknell Associates (WTA) Architects’ president and Delta College alumnus Paul Haselhuhn, knowing his “why” has guided his nearly 30-year career in architecture. He shares this philosophy with his team in every project they approach. 

“Daily, I try to ask myself what I need to do to help my staff be better at what they do,” Haselhuhn said. “To face challenges they might run into and trying to keep them thinking big while staying focused on the bigger picture.”

Haselhuhn, a Freeland native, began his career at WTA Architects where he has been for 26 years after college. He earned his associate in science degree from Delta College in 1993. He attended Texas A&M University and the University of Michigan, earning a Bachelor of Environmental Design in Architecture and a Master of Architecture, respectively. 

His career pivoted from initially pursuing culinary arts during college in Charleston, North Carolina. He soon realized that despite his love for cooking, the cons of the consuming workload outweighed the pros – including wanting to start
a family.

“I do remember asking myself, ‘Is this what I want to do for the rest of my life?’” he recalled.

As he navigated his college career at Delta College, he was fortunate to meet two Delta professors of art who left an immeasurable mark on him: Larry Butcher and Russell Thayer.

“I learned a lot from Larry and took many of his art classes. He was somebody who, over the years, while I was in school and early in my career, I kept in touch with,” Haselhuhn said. “Russell taught me architecture. He talked about it through a sculptor’s eyes and it just excited me. He taught me that it’s not just about buildings, but also the environment and everything we touch.”  

A day in the life of an architect

On August 9, Possible Dream students participated in a field trip where they experienced a day in the life of an architect and interior designer at WTA Architects in Saginaw. Wendy Zolinksi, business development director; Megan Thomas, interior designer; Jordan Johnston, project manager; and Courtney Reitz, marketing coordinator, led the activities.

The seventh through 10th-grade students learned about the company's history, role in the community and participated in an interior design project where four teams sketched their dream bedrooms. Each team presented their sketches to Zolinski and Reitz, who "hired" the winning designers and awarded them gift cards.

The trip concluded with a presentation and special tour of the Downtown Saginaw Center led by Delta College alumnus and WTA Architects President Paul Haselhuhn, who engaged the students with a question-and-answer session.

Fun fact: WTA Architects developed the look of the Downtown Saginaw Center, which opened in 2019.

The Possible Dream Program provides cultural and educational opportunities for students in the Great Lakes Bay Region to help broaden their horizons. For many, going to college may feel like a far-off dream, but the program’s goal is to keep students on the path to college.

To learn more, visit delta.edu/possibledream. 

Fast facts

• Since 1992, over 2,519 students have participated in this program.
• 78% of Possible Dream graduates attend college.
• 50% of Possible Dream graduates attended Delta College.