From some of BR&P’s first projects in Springfield, Missouri (the Financial Center Office Park, the Galleria Shopping Center, and National Avenue Medical Buildings), to those across the country, we’ve had the pleasure of working with amazing clients on a variety of designs and have certainly learned many lessons along the way! While there have been many outstanding projects over the last 40 years, this month our partners share a few of their memories, talk about design challenges faced and how they were able to overcome them.
“In more than 40 years I have had the privilege of working on many different types of projects with varying levels of complexity and satisfaction when they are done. Each one has had learning opportunities. I have always said that the beauty of my job is that I get to learn about every one of my clients’ businesses. I have to learn how they work in order to design the project. For example, an Ambulatory Surgery Center has the patient flow dictated by efforts of infection control and the doctor and staff flow has to work a certain way. Understanding that allows us to design the project for best efficiency in compliance with state regulations. Architecture is much more than zoomy designs.” – Geoffrey Butler, BR&P Partner
“I’ve had many memorable projects! One of them has been the Jordan Valley Park Maintenance Facility. It had several challenges due to the mixed uses and the requirements for each space. Our focus was to make the solutions appear simple. We worked to blend two different structural systems as well as the typology of a warehouse and a park pavilion. Another challenge was to blend this with the materials and context of the other buildings in Jordan Valley Park. Also, the building had to have a small footprint so as not to disturb the existing greenway trail or existing parking. The project also achieved LEED Silver designation and an AIA Springfield Design Award!” – Chris Swan, BR&P Partner
“A project that stands out to me was the Hotel Contessa in San Antonio, TX because of its overall complexity. The project was designed and built very early on in my professional career, and this particular project afforded learning opportunities every day. While being a great building architecturally, it was very valuable for my professional growth.” – Benjamin Van Eps, BR&P Partner
“A memorable project for me has been the historic renovation of our office building, 319 N. Main. Obviously, we had two positions: as architect and as client/owner. There was definitely enjoyment and a bit of anxiety in planning every detail!” – Angie Way, BR&P Partner
“One of the largest projects that BR&P has completed, the Glendale Renaissance and Media Center, included a 320-room hotel, 88,000 sq. ft. conference center, 35,000 sq. ft. expo hall, a 940-space parking garage and a 40,000 sq. ft. media center, the first center of its kind. This was one of many JQH projects, who was also a great client and team to work with. Likewise, there have been many outstanding projects with HCW Development, including the Hilton Garden Inn, Conference Center and Parking Garage in Manhattan, KS. This project was designed to fit the historic character of the downtown area and in conjunction with other city projects as part of an overall urban redevelopment of the area.” – David Hess, BR&P Partner
“There are many memorable projects; one that comes to mind is the Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World in Denver, CO. I think it was one of the best-designed stores we worked on with our client. Another project is the Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium. It’s a game changer for Springfield and Missouri!” – Mike Harned, BR&P Partner
Juanita K. Hamons Hall, Credit: Missouri State University Photo Services
“I think the most challenging projects tend to be the most rewarding. Those are the ones where there are land development issues, zoning, infrastructure, facility planning and construction processes. After struggling through a tough project and solving all the problems on the way to completion, the rewarding part is seeing your client move into the completed project and using it as intended.” – Geoffrey Butler, BR&P Partner
“All of my Embassy Suites Hotel projects stand out to me – beginning with the first one in 1995 in Charleston, WV, to the Saratoga Springs, NY Embassy Suites Hotel, to my first LEED Embassy project in Denton, TX and to the current one in Jonesboro, AR. These projects take three to four years to complete, including traveling to the job sites every couple of months or more, so they really have an impact on my life. There are also my local projects that allow me to work with local clients and contractors, like the Missouri State University Greenwood Laboratory Addition, which was my first LEED project, and the renovation of Holy Trinity Catholic Church.” – Gerri Kielhofner, BR&P Partner
“Each project I’ve worked on had something memorable to it – ask me about a project I’ve worked on, and I’ll tell you a story! Most of the projects that stand out do so because of their impact on people or a place or both – projects like the renovation of Park Central Square, the restoration of the Gillioz Theater, Springfield Brewing Company, the renovation and addition to First and Calvary Presbyterian Church and the Boone County Courthouse in Columbia, MO. It’s interesting that all of these also involved taking something good and making something better.” – Tim Rosenbury, BR&P Partner
“The greatest challenges in any project for me is watching out for our clients’ money. How the project is budgeted and how do we prevent budget overruns or change orders during construction. We always have to work hard to assure the client’s money is properly cared for and spent. From my professional service standpoint, this begins and is often times overcome with well-coordinated and thorough construction documents.” – Benjamin Van Eps, BR&P Partner
Also in the June Newsletter: Denton Embassy Suites Wins Golden Trowel Award Jonesboro Embassy Suites Celebrates Groundbreaking