New chief of state group says architects add value
Organization's leader says profession applies research and thought to building construction
by George Hohmann
Daily Mail Business Editor
The new president of the West Virginia chapter of the American Institute of Architects hopes the chapter's community involvement will help illustrate how an architect can add value to projects.
"There seems to be a misunderstanding that architects are creative types and don't understand the practical aspects of construction, which is not true at all," said Thomas Worlledge of McKinley & Associates' Charleston office. "The work we do is central to the value of the project being built and upfront planning is critical. We're synthesizers of diverse information.
"Any good contractor can put a building up," he said. "But the value of that building is what's going to happen to it in 15, 20 years. We add long-term value to a building."
Worlledge became president of the state chapter of the American Institute of Architects in January. About 105 architects belong to the chapter. Worlledge figures that's more than 95 percent of the architects in West Virginia - the highest percentage in the nation.
Chapter members celebrated the national organization's 150th anniversary and the state chapter's 85th anniversary last year by linking with community organizations. The chapter sponsored the first "Canstruction Competition," which asked area architectural and engineering firms to design and build structures using canned food items. The structures were built in the lobby of the Clay Center. The cans of food used in the structures were donated afterward to the Covenant House's food pantry.
A second annual "Canstruction Competition" was held in January.
During the last year, the architects' organization also has participated in planning events with the Charleston Area Alliance's community development unit headed by Susie Salisbury; helped Fairmont design a more inviting gateway to that city; and worked with Huntington to draw more Marshall University students into the downtown.
"As an organization, we try to tell the community, 'We can add value to your building,' " Worlledge said. "Schools are an example." He said one of his focuses as chapter president is to make schools safer, more productive learning environments.
"We do a lot of work on environmental psychology - for example, how daylight can improve the ability of students to learn," he said. "It's not just about placing windows. It's controlling that light. That's what we do - research those things, apply thought and technology into a building."
The new president of the West Virginia chapter of the American Institute of Architects hopes the chapter's community involvement will help illustrate how an architect can add value to projects.
"There seems to be a misunderstanding that architects are creative types and don't understand the practical aspects of construction, which is not true at all," said Thomas Worlledge of McKinley & Associates' Charleston office. "The work we do is central to the value of the project being built and upfront planning is critical. We're synthesizers of diverse information.
"Any good contractor can put a building up," he said. "But the value of that building is what's going to happen to it in 15, 20 years. We add long-term value to a building."
Worlledge became president of the state chapter of the American Institute of Architects in January. About 105 architects belong to the chapter. Worlledge figures that's more than 95 percent of the architects in West Virginia - the highest percentage in the nation.
Chapter members celebrated the national organization's 150th anniversary and the state chapter's 85th anniversary last year by linking with community organizations. The chapter sponsored the first "Canstruction Competition," which asked area architectural and engineering firms to design and build structures using canned food items. The structures were built in the lobby of the Clay Center. The cans of food used in the structures were donated afterward to the Covenant House's food pantry.
A second annual "Canstruction Competition" was held in January.
During the last year, the architects' organization also has participated in planning events with the Charleston Area Alliance's community development unit headed by Susie Salisbury; helped Fairmont design a more inviting gateway to that city; and worked with Huntington to draw more Marshall University students into the downtown.
"As an organization, we try to tell the community, 'We can add value to your building,' " Worlledge said. "Schools are an example." He said one of his focuses as chapter president is to make schools safer, more productive learning environments.
"We do a lot of work on environmental psychology - for example, how daylight can improve the ability of students to learn," he said. "It's not just about placing windows. It's controlling that light. That's what we do - research those things, apply thought and technology into a building."
Some architectural firms focus on schools while others specialize in hospitals and some major in historic restoration. "Being in West Virginia, we're not all specialists," Worlledge said. "We can't be. The economy isn't such that we can focus on just one building type. Most of us in West Virginia have to be generalists." Worlledge's firm does everything from house additions to $50 million schools.
West Virginia doesn't have a school of architecture. The state does have reciprocity agreements with universities in Tennessee, Kentucky and Virginia. The agreements allow West Virginia students to attend those schools at the in-state tuition rate.
"I would like to see West Virginia have a school of architecture," Worlledge said. "There have been some rumblings about that. It's a difficult proposition. To get accredited you have to have a library of specialized books, studio space - which is usually a very large building with a lot of desks. It's a five-year program. It's a large commitment by a school to get it done."
Fairmont State University has an excellent architectural-engineering-technology program, he said. "That's about as close to a school of architecture we have in the state. They groom people to go on and get their master's." Students can attend four years at Fairmont and then two to three years out-of-state to become a licensed architect.
Worlledge said the hot topic in the architect community today is green design and sustainability. Worlledge, 47, said he was the first architect in West Virginia to become accredited by the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program. A total of 17 architects in the state have now achieved the accreditation.
Worlledge has been with McKinley & Associates since 1999. He works in an office at 1116 Smith St., the building owned by the Charleston Area Alliance. Worlledge has helped the alliance plan the building's fourth floor and has helped plan the redesign of the building's exterior.
McKinley & Associates is headquartered in Wheeling. The firm also has an office in Washington, Pa.
Worlledge succeeds Chris Campbell of Bastian & Harris as president of the West Virginia chapter of the American Institute of Architects. Roberta Guffey is executive director of the chapter, which has an office at 223 Hale St.