Amber Wendland

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Ayers Saint Gross

Amber Wendland is a senior architect and planner at Ayers Saint Gross, where she leads the firm’s practice in community design and large-scale urban planning. She serves as adjunct faculty in the School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation at the University of Maryland.

“The most important lesson I’ve learned is the power of consensus-building—elevating community voices and rallying people around a shared vision,” Wendland said. “As a planner and designer, I’ve found that success doesn’t come from pushing forward a singular idea; it comes from listening, aligning values, amplifying marginalized voices and fostering trust. In Maryland, especially in Baltimore, I’ve learned that process matters just as much as the product—and that durable, meaningful change comes through partnership.”

A committed advocate for racial and gender equity in the built environment, Wendland identified the underrepresentation of women in architecture, planning, development and construction as a significant challenge in Maryland. “While this isn’t something one person can fix, change has to be intentional and this happens through mentorship, advocacy and deliberate leadership,” she explained. She mentors women across the field.

“My work is grounded in design justice and the belief that the built environment must serve everyone,” Wendland noted. She advocates for planning and development strategies promoting equity, inclusion and sustainability. She gives back through community work with the Baltimore Tree Trust, board service with the Greater Baltimore Committee and teaching at the University of Maryland.

Wendland recently finished designing a modern, eco-friendly house for her parents that will start construction next year. “It’s been an unbelievable opportunity to apply my professional expertise to something deeply personal, creating a space that truly reflects their needs and lifestyle while co-designing with my dad who is a landscape architect,” she said. “It’s a reminder that good design, whether for a single family or an entire community, always starts with truly listening to the people who will call that place home.”

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