The Honorable Wolfgang Klien

About Consul Emeritus Klien

Honorary Consul Emeritus
US DEPT. OF STATE: 2004-2019

SPOUSE: Jean Klien

Wolfgang Klien is an architect in his own practice who has lived in the Phoenix area for 40 years. He holds Registration Licenses in Arizona and California with a Certificate from the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards. He formed Klien & Associates in 1986 and has been involved in the design of numerous custom homes, multifamily projects and a variety of commercial structures including retail facilities, churches and restaurants.

Wolfgang has also worked as consultant to developers and in the fall of 2010 finished a guest ranch near Tombstone for a German investment group, where he acted as architect and project manager. With his wife Jean he collaborated over the last 20 years on the interiors for custom homes, restaurants and the guest ranch designed to revive a Western Victorian style.

Prior to starting his own company Wolfgang worked for a large local architectural firm and an Austrian development company with offices in Phoenix and San Diego designing commercial projects, schools, hospitals and multifamily projects. But his most interesting time he spent working for an American Indian owned architecture and engineering firm, living for 3 years in Window Rock, capital of the Navajo Nation, and commuting between offices in Phoenix and Window Rock.

Wolfgang Klien came to the United States in September 1968 shortly after receiving a Masters Degree in Architecture and City Planning from Vienna Technical University and worked for an architect in Columbus, OH for 2 ½ years. But the allure of “Cowboys and Indians” drew him to the Southwest and he came to Phoenix in 1971. He has since traveled to see not only almost all the states, but extended travels took him to Alaska as well as most of Central America, all by car from Phoenix. His hobbies are hiking, skiing, photography and back country exploring.

His appointment as the Honorary Consul of Austria in 2004 is based on the enduring love for his country and his understanding of its history and culture as well as its position as a contemporary partner in a growing global community.