Bo Hagerman, Hagerman New Urbanism

My full title, which is very long, is director of art, architecture and urban design. (We) have licensed architects, interior designers and master planners, and we design and build buildings. The company employs 11.

Do you focus on a certain type of building?

We mostly do educational and religious facilities, although we have done a wide variety of other buildings.

Hagerman New Urbanism, founded by you and your father, opened in 2003. What would you say has been your biggest challenge since opening shop?

Our firm has such a wide range of responsibilities and things that we do that I think the biggest challenge is just keeping up with it all. In a construction project – for example, on the Ozarks Technical Community College south campus – we have over 40 designers that are taking part in that. Different kinds of engineers, architects, interior designers, and making that all come together as one nice project is a big coordination effort.

So the firm routinely teams up with other professionals?

Yes. We’re just architects. We subcontract to other firms (for) our engineering.

What goals are you pursuing?

Right now, one thing I’m working on is a new master plan for the city of Ozark. It’s kind of up in the air right now, but my concept is to link their downtown to the Finley River. What I’d like to do is have that river give it a stronger sense of identity.

How did you end up doing this type of work?

I went to architecture school at the University of Kansas. I worked for some firms in Kansas City, and then I came down here and joined my father. I have an architecture degree but have not yet finished all the tests for licensing. I think the reason I wanted to do this is because it’s a way that you can use your creativity and you can use your business sense and affect the world in a very positive way. Some professions, you work, but you don’t really necessarily feel that you’re doing something good for the people around you and doing something good for the community … and also for yourself.

Aren’t you also an artist?

Yes. I paint, and my family also has a gallery in the basement of our building. I usually do watercolors and oils. Some of (my paintings) are more in-depth, and some of them are just studies. We usually do the Art Walk and the gallery is pretty much open all day.

Are you able to intersperse your art and your work?

Right now, what I’m doing is a rendering of a building, so sometimes (my work) is literally doing a painting.

Have you been pleased with the decision to open your firm downtown?

Yes. I like to think we were part of the reason downtown is continuing to be successful. Hopefully, sooner or later, it’s all going to come together and we’re going to have a lot of new things going on down here.