Bruce A. Hawtin, FAIA, NCARB, Principal Architect Bruce started his own office, Bruce Hawtin Architect, in 1971 in Jackson, Wyoming, following work experience that took him overseas to Denmark and northern Virginia. He completed 12 years as a member of the State Board of Architects and Landscape Architects, serving as president for five years. He is a past president of AIA WY and was made a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects in 1998. He has won four recent AIA Merit Awards. Bruce has served on several nonprofit boards, including being elected to four terms as a St. John’s Health trustee. He has served on the board of directors for Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance and the Latino Resource Center (One 22), Center for the Arts, and Habitat for Humanity & Senior Center of Jackson Hole. He holds a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Oklahoma. In 1997, Arne Jorgensen, a longtime employee, became a partner, and they became Hawtin Jorgensen Architects. After nearly five decades in Jackson Hole, Bruce feels a greater sense of connection to the valley. This sense of belonging translates to his relationship with clients. He takes tremendous pride in the projects his firm has completed, feeling that each has made a positive contribution to the fabric of the Jackson Hole community. At the age of 88, Bruce has not slowed down. On any given day, you can find him in his office, working with clients and designing projects to their specifications. We recently had a chance to sit down with Bruce and learn more about his career, his body of work and his thoughts on the industry. It was a pleasure speaking with Bruce, and we thank him for his time. The following are excerpts from our conversation. When and why did you decide to become an architect? During the 1950s, I was attending college and was not sure what I wanted to do. I was floundering. At the same time, every male had a military obligation, so I dropped out of college and volunteered for the draft. The Army sent me to post-war Korea. That two-year experience turned my life around. I found focus and decided that I wanted to be an architect. Upon leaving the Army, I moved to Oklahoma. I remember entering the University of Oklahoma’s registrar’s office to apply for school. The lady there said, “Mr. Hawtin, we’re not letting you into the school due to your past academic credentials. We’re letting you in because you’re a veteran.” I replied, “Whatever it takes.” Attending the University of Oklahoma was a very good decision. It’s an excellent school. After five years, I graduated with a degree in architecture. I spent a year practicing architecture in Denmark before returning to the U.S. A former acquaintance from college, who had been offering me a job for a while, reached out to me again and said, “This is the last time I’m offering you a job.” Thirty days later, I was in Jackson Hole. Insights From an Energy-Efficient Architecture Expert 36 WYOMING ARCHITECTURE .24 | www.aia-wyoming.org
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