Mary Frances Wilkes

Mary Frances is a born and raised West Virginian who resides in Charlotte, North Carolina. She joins the team as the third member of the Cone Charlotte office. Growing up in the hills of West Virginia, some of her earliest memories included spending time with her architect-father as he taught her about construction, craftsmanship, and woodworking. This influence sparked a lifelong interest in design, spatial exploration, and building science. In 2022, Mary Frances received her Master of Architecture degree from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, where her interest in architecture was further cultivated. There she discovered a deep interest in the way urban spaces impact humanity. She has found a love of understanding human behavior in urban settings and how the built environment can enhance the lives of humankind. To her, architecture is more than designing great spaces, but should include an understanding of how humanity and space are deeply intertwined and how architecture and urban design can have a profound impact on inhabitants. Mary Frances is passionate about work that improves and equalizes communities, as well as work that inspires connectivity amongst all people. She is thrilled to be a part of such an innovative team at Cone and is inspired by Cone’s commitment to holistic design.