Stockdale brings résumé of high profile projects

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Architecture isn't just lines and diagrams, not for Robert Stockdale, architect with The Wischmeyer Architects. "From my experience, it's the people I've met, the people I've been able to work with, who have been a real joy," Stockdale said. And it's getting to create an art form and make a living doing it.|ret||ret||tab|

"I've never been a very good artist as far as painting or sculpture, but it's neat to do what I guess could be called three-dimensional art; sculpture for people in other words, building environments for people," he said.|ret||ret||tab|

Stockdale's design talent began developing in childhood. He would "take pieces from various toy models and put them together to come up with something new and different."|ret||ret||tab|

After graduating from Kansas University with a bachelor of arts degree in architecture, he "mentored under Gyo Obata, the founding partner and lead designer at Hellmuth, Obata & Kassabaum in St. Louis the largest architecture firm in the country." |ret||ret||tab|

There he worked on high profile projects, including The Florida Aquarium in Tampa, the Thomas F. Eagleton Courthouse in St. Louis, and the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Temple in Independence.|ret||ret||tab|

Several buildings he helped create won recognition. The awards aren't the sole achievement of one man, Stockdale said. "Most of what we do is a team effort. The projects have won awards and are completed because of a lot of people's efforts."|ret||ret||tab|

However, Stockdale has held the leadership role in many design projects.|ret||ret||tab|

"I believe a good designer is like a good chef. We can cook up a great meal if we understand the ingredients that are going into it. I had never designed a federal courthouse, yet the building we did in St. Louis won an AIA Citation for Excellence in Justice Design," he said.|ret||ret||tab|

The 28-story building posed special design problems. For security purposes, the courthouse had to be planned so that prisoners, judges, staff, and the public had separate ways to travel through the building.|ret||ret||tab|

The Florida Aquarium in Tampa remains one of Stockdale's favorites. "What many aquarium designers did when they approached the project was develop these big concrete cubes and glass pyramids. Then they tried to come back and fit the exhibits within the structures. Instead, we worked together to get all the exhibits arranged and diagrammed. Then we wrapped it with the building so the building became a life support system to the exhibits," he said.|ret||ret||tab|

The temple is his other favorite. |ret||ret||tab|

"The outside is kind of a yin and yang. It's very crisp and masculine and hard and machined on the outside. But inside, it's very feminine and soft." |ret||ret||tab|

The temple was an opportunity to use computer imaging at a time when three-dimensional computerized design was new. "I actually had to write a formula which allowed us to enter certain parameters, and it would generate various shapes of the spiral."|ret||ret||tab|

Three-D imaging has altered the way architects work allowing clients to view finished projects before construction begins. Stockdale said he has seen other changes.|ret||ret||tab|

"The biggest has been the effect costs have had on construction," Stockdale said. "When budgets are tightened, design is one of the first things to suffer. It forces us to be even more creative and resourceful. Civic architecture has been particularly hard hit. As communities work within tighter budgets, they can no longer afford the great civic architecture seen in many of our more significant historic structures.|ret||ret||tab|

"Construction materials have also changed. Stone and brick are too often put aside for cheaper alternatives the result is a cheaper building. Few of our contemporary buildings will withstand the test of time. Much like our computers and cars, we are faced with built-in obsolescence in our buildings. We're not leaving much for civilization 200 years from now to appreciate," he added.|ret||ret||tab|

Another difference Stockdale sees is that "architects have, to a large extent, lost the respectful status they once had. Too many of us throw together poorly done buildings for cheap fees in response to the demands of our economy for fast and cheap." |ret||ret||tab|

Stockdale drew a comparison between the percentage paid to a Realtor for selling a house 6 percent and the fee to a designer 3 percent of the cost of construction. "For that fee, we incur forever the liability for failure in the structure and the resultant life-safety of the occupants," Stockdale said.|ret||ret||tab|

Despite these changes in his chosen field, Stockdale holds the life philosophy: |ret||ret||tab|

"Leave more than you take. |ret||ret||tab|

Give more than you get.|ret||ret||tab|

Create beauty in everything.|ret||ret||tab|

Be fair always."|ret||ret||tab|

Stockdale is now working on designs for the Fayetteville Youth Center, Discovery Center master plan and the Republic Police Station for The Wischmeyer Architects. |ret||ret||tab|

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