Technology & Acoustical Design Solutions
We have a legacy of creating innovative user experiences, pushing the boundaries of possibilities, and making sure those we partner with succeed. Looking forward, we’ll hold true to our values and the culture that make us SM&W.
Learn more about our services:
A Broad Global Reach
Shen Milsom & Wilke was started in 1986 and has grown to become an international company with a worldwide staff of over 230. Behind each solution are the people who help conceive them and work to see them become reality. Meet some of our people.
Visit our global offices:
- New York
- Beijing
- Chicago
- Denver
- Greater Philadelphia
- Hong Kong
- Houston
- London
- Princeton
- San Francisco
- Shanghai
- Singapore
- Washington DC
Our Mission and Purpose
SM&W’s core purpose is to provide guidance and creative technology solutions to make the places we work, play, and live more functional, safe, and welcoming. Find out more about SM&W’s corporate vision, our values, and our mission here.
MBE Certified
SM&W is certified as a minority-owned business in the states of New York, Illinois, New Jersey and Wisconsin and in the cities of Philadelphia and Boston, and we are registered as a certified minority business with National Minority Supplier Development Council, which includes 24 regional affiliates.
Fred Shen
Reflecting on 30 Years of Innovation. When SM&W was founded 30 years ago, there were two forces that shaped the vision of the firm: the emerging global economy, and the convergence of the specialty disciplinary services in building designs. To meet the first, SM&W set out to build a global footprint. To meet the second, we worked hard to join all the interrelated disciplines together to provide a single source of responsibility to serve our clients efficiently.
1986
Shen Milsom & Wilke was founded in 1986 by Fred Shen and Denis Milsom as an acoustical consulting firm in New York City. 
1987
The team realizes early on the value of offering multi-discipline services. Hubert Wilke joins the firm which expands its services to include AV design. 
1988
SM&W designs the first dual-discipline project, The Franklin Institute’s Future Forum Video Wall with Acoustic and AV services. 
1989
SM&W opens its first international office in Hong Kong, collaborating with IM Pei on the Bank of China. 
1991
SM&W opens its London office to work on the Canary Wharf development and Goldman Sachs, among others European projects. 
1993
SM&W expands to include the IT discipline. The firm’s first major tri-discipline project is Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, with Cesar Pelli. 
1996
SM&W opens a Washington DC office to support significant large scale projects including Federal Triangle, Bell Atlantic, and World Bank. 
1997
SM&W responds to clients’ request to open a Chicago office. Within a decade, the firm partners with world class architects and artist Juame Plensa on the Millennium Park Crown Fountain. 
1998
SM&W opens an office in the heart of San Francisco in response to demand from Silicon Valley and institutional clients such as the renowned de Young Museum with Herzog & de Meuron. 
2002
SM&W adds its fourth discipline, Security. Design and construction begins on the firm’s first quad-discipline project, the Comcast Center in Philadelphia, PA, with Robert AM Stern. 
2007
SM&W adds its fifth discipline, Medical Equipment Planning. SM&W designs its first quintuple–discipline project for Stanford University’s Li Ka Shing Center for Learning and Knowledge, the most advanced simulation center of its time. 
2016
SM&W appoints Tom Shen to be President & Chief Executive Officer. 
2016
Today SM&W has a staff of over 230 dedicated individuals in 14 offices on three continents. Our network enables us to deliver robust, reliable results to clients around the globe. 
Sunrise 1942 - Sunset 2016
Our beloved Founder passed away suddenly on Tuesday, May 31, 2016. Fred was a mentor and friend to all those who have worked with him during his career. He spent the last 30 years as the visionary behind SM&W’s success. He was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award at the firm’s 30th anniversary celebration at Carnegie Hall. Read more