Thomas ‘Al’ Whitley, AIA, MBA
Throughout his career spanning nearly 40 years, Al Whitley served the architectural community as a pioneer of computer aided design and drafting in San Diego. In addition to his successful practice, Whitley Consulting Group, Al served as founder and CEO of the Virtual Design & Construction Institute (VDCI), which continues to provide career education for the AEC community today. A beloved teacher and mentor, Al felt a self-imposed responsibility to encourage, empower and educate young professionals
Al graduated from the College of William and Mary with a bachelor’s degree in business administration in 1977. Upon graduation, Al began his career as a U.S. Naval Supply corps officer, but his aspirations to pursue architecture remained. When he left the Navy in 1984, he went to work for his first architectural employer.
A leader in technology in architecture, Al was one of only ten architectural interns to use AutoCAD Version 1.0 in San Diego. In 1991, Al became a licensed architect, an amazing feat considering that he had no formal architectural education and gained his experience as an apprentice.
In 1997, Al founded cadteacher as an extension of the client support services of his architectural practice, Whitley Consulting Group. Cadteacher, now the Virtual Design & Construction Institute (VDCI), continues to grow as an independent educational institution in architectural technology, gaining multiple national educational accreditations.
Al spent his professional career tirelessly mentoring professionals in the industry, empowering people to pursue their dreams and providing opportunities for them to succeed. Many of his staff began their careers under Al’s guidance, and would identify his leadership as the key to their professional journey. Al reveled in the successes of the many careers that he could claim to have played a part in launching.
Al Whitley, MBA, AIA, 64, passed away unexpectedly at home on August 1, 2020. Al will always be remembered for his generosity, caring nature, and optimism, and for creating a lasting impact within the architectural profession.
