Reese Rowland, FAIA

Reese’s dedication to crafting meaningful spaces through innovative, sustainable architecture has been rewarded with over 60 National, Regional and State Design Awards.  He is one of just roughly 3000 architects nationally elected to the American Institute of Architects College of Fellows.  His Heifer International World Headquarters design received the Nation’s highest honor for architecture, the 2008 AIA National Institute Honor Award. The South’s first LEED Platinum building was also named a National AIA/COTE Top 10 Green Building in 2007. His Arkansas Studies Institute received one of just five 2011 National AIA/ALA (American Library Association) Awards of Excellence, which biennially honors the best library architecture worldwide.  In 2015, his Hillary Rodham Clinton Children’s Library won the same Award, one of just six projects.  Arkansas Business named Reese to its prestigious list of “25 Entrepreneurs & Innovators of the last 25 years” in 2009, crediting his work with helping transform downtown Little Rock. His designs have been published in 25 national and international periodicals, as well as 13 books. AY Magazine named Reese to its list of “12 Powerful Men in Arkansas” for having influence, making a difference, and serving others. Additionally, Arkansas Times Magazine named him as one of “50 Influential Arkansans” as well in 2012.  Each year, nationally recognized non-profit World Services for the Blind selects a distinguished Arkansan with a personal commitment to community to receive the prestigious “Vision Award”. This individual’s work must successfully orchestrates events that help better our society and impact for the broader good.  The 2013 recipient was Reese Rowland, the first architect ever selected, and just the 13th recipient in the award’s history.

He has designed some of Arkansas’ most recognized buildings, including Acxiom’s River Market Tower Headquarters, Bank OZK Headquarters, Heifer’s Education Center, and the Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce.  His reputation among clients is that of a strong collaborator and a partner in distilling their vision into physical, yet personal narratives.