LEGENDS Timothy F. Thomas, AIA INTERVIEWED BY FRAN PRUYN, CPSM As part of our ongoing series of interviews with architectural legends, we are proud to present this interview with Timothy F. Thomas, AIA. We spoke about his lengthy career in architecture and the projects he’s most proud of. We hope you enjoy learning more about Tim as much as we did. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. Tim Thomas is a very well‑regarded architect who specializes in medical and laboratory research facilities. A former president of the AIA Utah, he was one of the founders of Thomas Petersen Hammond, a firm known as research facility designers and planners. Spurred by a desire to widen their client base(s), Thomas Petersen Hammond and Jensen Hammond partnered to pursue a project at the University of Utah Medical Center. That successful venture led to the eventual merger of the two firms that became Architectural Nexus. Since Tim is widely known in the community for his generosity and humanity, it makes sense that his body of work is so user-focused. When did you decide to become an architect? In high school. My father was an architect, and I enjoyed being around his office, his clientele and the individuals that worked for him. Even though my father did not want me to become an architect, I persuaded myself that it was a profession I wanted to invest my life in. Did I realize then the scope of what the profession entailed? I had some idea. But over time, I became aware of the good things and some of the more difficult attributes of practicing architecture. Why did he not want you to become an architect? I don’t have a really good answer. I do know that he did not want me to become an architect and thought I should become a structural engineer. But you convinced yourself, if not him? Yes. The next interface I had with architecture was at the University of Utah School of Architecture. The very first day at the school, an individual was talking to a group of 45 students entering the first year. He said to us, “Look to your right, to your left, and upon graduation, these individuals will not be here because of the rigorous nature of the school.” What inspired you to keep going? I enjoyed the process. I enjoyed being given a client who had a list of needs and wants and learning the differences. The critiques and the dialogues with the instructors in the college were meaningful. I was always excited about graduating and entering the profession. I think I ultimately graduated first in my class. Of the 45 that I started with, there were seven who graduated. This calls into question the effectiveness of the schooling process. Perhaps if it were more effective, there may have been more 12 REFLEXION
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