University of Arkansas School of Architecture Gets $3M Gift From Retired Industry Exec

Greg Roberts has donated one other $3 million to the University of Arkansas. (Provided)

Greg Roberts, a University of Arkansas alumnus and retired principal with WHR Architects of Houston, has donated $3 million to the college to proceed help for an endowed chair, set up an endowed scholarship and a program endowment, and supply for the naming of a studio area within the Fay Jones School of Architecture & Design.

Roberts beforehand donated $1 million to the college in 2020 to ascertain an endowed chair for the college’s Master of Design Studies focus in well being care and wellness.

Roberts, member of the Arkansas Alumni Association and the Fay Jones School’s Dean’s Circle, attended the college from 1966 to 1971. He grew to become shut along with his classmates within the Fay Jones School and maintains shut contact with many to this present day, the college stated in a information launch.

“I’m very excited about the direction the department has been going,” Roberts stated within the launch. “Particularly since Dean [Peter] MacKeith took over the helm, it’s made tremendous strides to become a notable school of architecture in the country.”

MacKeith is stepping down as dean of the Fay Jones School on June 30.

Roberts, initially from Fort Smith, is a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects and had a profitable profession in well being care design for greater than three a long time.

“This generous gift from Greg Roberts will significantly impact the ‘design futures’ of the Fay Jones School,” MacKeith stated within the launch. “His initial gift emphasizes and supports the important role design plays in shaping the built environment to the specific needs of health and wellness.”

Health Care & Wellness Design

Roberts stated within the launch that he believes it will likely be advantageous for structure and design college students on the college to check well being care and wellness design. The increasing subject of well being care has change into more and more vital, significantly in northwest Arkansas with organizations such because the Alice L. Walton School of Medicine and the Heartland Whole Health Institute.

“It’s one building type that has been very rewarding for me. It’s one type that really has an impact with people, not only on their wellbeing but on their longevity,” Roberts stated within the launch. “Early on in my relationship with MacKeith, we talked about how the school should develop a curriculum with a focus on healthcare and wellness. I’m hoping my gift will help nurture that direction.”

The present will increase the aforementioned $1 million deliberate present Roberts made in 2020 that created the Greg L. Roberts Endowed Chair in Health Care & Wellness Design. From this latest present, $1 million will likely be allotted to extend help for the chair within the following methods:

• Attracting and retaining extremely certified people to the place
• Supplementing college help for excellent school
• Providing the holder with the sources to broaden their contributions to educating, analysis and public service

Architectural Photography

Roberts additionally stated within the launch that architectural images is a crucial facet {of professional} architectural observe. It is useful for constructing an archive of labor, for advertising and marketing functions and for utilizing visible aids to assist clarify development and renovation processes to contractors.

During visits to the Fay Jones School, Roberts noticed college students utilizing cell telephones to {photograph} initiatives. $1 million of the present goals to enhance that course of.

Of this $1 million, $500,000 will set up the Greg L. Roberts Endowment for Architectural Photography & Visualization. The academic initiative highlights the significance of architectural images, image-making and visualization to the design occupation.

The funds will help skilled elective seminars, curated exhibitions, public lectures associated to architectural images, gear acquisition and upgrades, software program for renderings, digital actuality imaging gear and coaching, and amenities.

The remaining $500,000 will fund the Greg L. Roberts Architectural Photography & Imaging Studio, which is able to function the house of the brand new academic initiative devoted to architectural images, image-making and visualization. The fund will convert studio 019, situated on the backyard degree of Vol Walker Hall, into a brand new multipurpose area that facilitates photograph shoots, photograph and archival storage, and studio workstations.

Study Abroad

The final $1 million of Roberts’ present will create the Greg L. Roberts Endowed Travel Scholarships in Architecture and supply monetary help to college students pursuing a Bachelor of Architecture for the examine overseas element of the skilled diploma program.

Recipients of the scholarships should be enrolled full-time within the skilled observe structure program, have not less than a 2.75 grade level common, and be getting into their fourth or fifth yr of this system. Funds will likely be used for examine overseas and travel-related bills in finishing this system’s examine overseas requirement.

“We are grateful to Greg Roberts for his investment in the full arc of a University of Arkansas education — rigorous training, exposure to the world beyond campus and the tools needed to practice at the highest professional level,” Scott Varady, vice chancellor for development, stated within the launch. “By supporting faculty leadership, hands-on learning and global educational experience, Greg is helping ensure students are prepared to design environments that serve people, communities and health systems now and for generations to come.”