BRP Architects partner retires after 4 decades with firm

BRP Architects partner Mike Harned has retired after nearly four decades with the Springfield architecture firm.

Harned joined the firm in 1986 and became a partner in 1997, according to a blog post this morning from BRP Architects. Harned's last day was Dec. 31, said Morgan Mateja, marketing coordinator at BRP Architects.

"Throughout his distinguished career, Mike has not only shaped the firm’s legacy but has also made an indelible mark on the architectural landscape," the blog post reads. "Mike’s versatility and dedication to each project have made him a cornerstone of BRP’s success."

Harned's architectural portfolio includes work in themed entertainment and retail, hospitality resorts, theaters, high-end residential and corporate office buildings. A registered architect in Missouri and South Carolina, Harned has bachelor's and master's degrees in architecture from Oklahoma State University, and he's served as a member of the American Institute of Architects and as an adjunct faculty member at Drury University’s Hammons School of Architecture.

BRP Architects now has four partners, said Mateja.

In 2023, firm founder Geoffrey Butler exited after starting the firm in 1978, according to past Springfield Business Journal reporting.

BRP Architects ranked No. 7 on SBJ's 2024 list of the area's largest architectural firms. For the list published March 18, the company reported 15 architects and architects in training, nine licensed architects and 21 total staff members.