MKM architecture + design has been commissioned by Fort Wayne Pediatrics to renovate a newly acquired campus into a modern care environment.
1. Where did you grow up?
My family is rooted in the Niagara Falls / Buffalo, NY region, but I was born in Detroit, MI. We landed in Fort Wayne while I was still a young lad, just before the U.S. Bicentennial. From there, I hit the ground running—Wildcat Baseball, Franke Park Day Camp, Big Orange Pride, etc.
2. Why did you get into architecture?
Ball State University started a summer honors program for high school students. It was a week and a half of architecture, college-style chaos, carpet cutter and cardboard model-making, a field inspection of the original Hoosier Dome under construction, and a tour of Columbus, Indiana (The Athens of the Midwest); all of it inspiring and unforgettable.
3. Where do you go when you’re looking for inspiration?
Fort Wayne’s Lakeside Park Rose Garden & Reflecting Pond. It’s a wonderful walk-able and bike-able area offering plenty of perspective. Trips to Chicago every so often are also vital.
4. Which projects are you most proud of having been a part of?
I was honored to be part of MKM’s tremendous effort at Westminster Village in Muncie, Indiana. We helped dramatically convert the overall exterior image and update interiors throughout that well-established senior care facility. From renovations to the existing assisted living apartment wings to an all new physical therapy unit addition, the project touched on nearly every aspect of senior living and care planning. After several years in the making, original architectural promise was delivered.
5. What’s your favorite place to visit?
I’ve had the good fortune of joining my wife on two of her educational field trips to Japan. It has an extraordinary amount of architectural fabric to appreciate, and I’m hoping to return very soon.
6. What’s the last good book you read?
A “History of Allen County” published in 1880. I came across this impressively detailed account by way of MKM’s role in The Landing project. The life and death of William Wells is must-read material, to say the least.
Fun fact: I’m a drummer, not a fighter.
Ric is a project manager and licensed architect. Coming to MKM eighteen years ago, he specializes in sustainable, technical, restoration, and adaptive re-use project design and planning. He received his Bachelor of Architecture and Bachelor of Science in Environmental Design from Ball State University. Ric is an active member of AIA Indiana and the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
