Reese Rowland (B.Arch. ’90), FAIA, is a licensed architect and a principal at Polk Stanley Wilcox Architects in Little Rock. During this conversation, he discussed how keeping an open mind to new ideas leads to better architecture, and he shared the importance of providing a positive influence for youths.
How did you first become interested in architecture?
I came to architecture through a love of drawing. I was the kid who filled school pages with sketches and realized that it might be a strength once I started getting attention from classmates for those drawings. Teachers would start to scold me for not paying attention, then see the drawings and begin encouraging me. Those were real teaching moments as well. The first building I ever took serious time to study and draw was an old barn, where I found the texture and grain of the weathered wood and its interaction with light fascinating. Wood has played a huge part in the buildings I have designed. My brother and I also built forts and treehouses on my grandparents’ farm, so I loved creating structures. My mom was an office manager for a small construction company, while my dad worked for a brick manufacturer, so I was around construction my entire life. I recognized early on the intelligence it takes to not just design, but to build, and found great respect for the people doing the actual construction.
Why did you decide to go to the University of Arkansas and/or the Fay Jones School?
While architecture was on my mind since junior high school, I started out at another university considering a major in commercial art but didn’t find it as compelling as I had hoped. A fact-finding Christmas break visit to the UA my sophomore year with a tour through the design studios led by Professor Ernie Jacks, plus his encouragement after seeing some of my work, led me to transferring that very day. I felt energized, challenged and at home. I never considered attending architecture school anywhere else. While the actual transition to a new school wasn’t easy initially, it felt right rather quickly.
What unique experiences or perspectives do you have that make you stand out as an architect?
I think I have the ability to distill large amounts of information into a clear, singular vision that borders on storytelling. Architecture is so personal and should have meaning, just as a person’s life or chosen craft should have meaning. The key is identifying how the story supports the use of the building, and helps it rise to a level that can be considered architecture. I was fortunate to be mentored by two fantastic architects in Tommy Polk and Joe Stanley, both very different, but both very passionate about architecture. Tommy believed in the power of natural light to enliven space and spirit, and Joe in honesty of materials and how we practice, which are all ever-present in my work.
What are some of your interests and involvements outside of architecture?
For the last 20 years it has mainly been being a dad and trying to have a work/life balance to support my two sons – basically being there for them and enjoying this short season of life. I’ve also enjoyed being a mentor to young men in our church. While I got involved because of my son years ago, I quickly realized the positive influence we can have on other youth at a critical age. Beyond that, I love to travel, with a goal of seeing a game at every Major League Baseball park along the way. I have 17 or so checked off so far, with Fenway and Camden Yards at the top of the favorites list.
What do you enjoy the most about being an architect?
When my son was small, he would tell people, “My dad gets to draw and color for a living.” It is true, and I find great joy in the process of sketching ideas from thought to hand, hand to paper. I enjoy getting to know a client and understanding who they really are, and their personality showing up in the architecture we create together. I am still fascinated with the construction process, and greatly value the interaction in the field with the people who actually build the sometimes crazy ideas we have, and the pride we all share together when it is completed. I have been fortunate to work on many civic and non-profit projects that can be visited years after they are finished. I like being just another patron and watching people use and enjoy the spaces. Complacency is born from a lack of curiosity or willingness to learn, so I am always interested in what was successful or not, and how to grow so that the next project can be better.
What has been the most challenging project you’ve worked on?
While most would think it’d be Heifer International’s Headquarters, since it was the first LEED Platinum building in the south and an incredible learning experience, the most challenging was definitely the Arkansas Studies Institute for the Central Arkansas Library System. That project combined three buildings from three different centuries (1882, 1914 and a new 2009 addition) and three construction types (wood, concrete and steel) into one library for history and research. Nothing aligned, and the buildings were in disrepair, with their foundations totally deteriorated and walls on the verge of collapse. But the spark of each building’s story made a compelling narrative worth saving; once the buildings are gone, the history and stories seem to fade away. Every site meeting offered a new challenge, but the two-year construction was well worth the effort, and the project cost was still much less than new construction. The ASI was wildly successful functionally, with more than 75,000 visitors per year to its galleries and research floor, and it was recognized with one of six National AIA/ALA Library Building Awards in 2011. Even better, the building was recently renamed for our client at the time, Dr. Bobby Roberts. I’m proud that he thought enough of the building for it to have his name.
What is your favorite part of working at Polk Stanley Wilcox Architects?
We have a fun, engaging atmosphere where everyone has a voice. We don’t take ourselves personally too seriously, but we take the work very seriously. I am working with friends who are also very talented professionals, which allows an openness of ideas and discussions that lead to better architecture. While good design might be born with the initial spark of the idea, true architecture is revealed in successful, thoughtful execution of details. My belief is every person on the project team is designing, from that initial spark of an idea through the final documents, so we take pride in all having ownership of the work.