Pub. 2 2014 Directory

15  — continued on page 16 T hose words are on the first page of the AIA Fellowship application. An architect must submit the 45 page application documenting their accomplishments as well as seven letters of recommendation from peers or colleagues. Then, the applicant waits. It takes over three months for all submissions to be read and vetted by the Jury of Fellows. On January 31, 2014, Randy Hafer, President of High Plains Archi- tects in Billings, Montana received the letter: “Congratulations! It is our sincere pleasure to inform you that you have been elected to The College of Fellows of The American Insti- tute of Architects. The Jury of Fellows selected you for elevation to Fellowship in the Institute because of your notable contributions to the advancement of the profession of architecture.” How It All Started With a lifelong passion for architecture and strong belief that it can change the world for the better, Randy always knew he wanted to do more than design buildings: he wanted make his communi- ty a better place to live. Randy is a licensed architect and LEED Accredited Professional with a Building Design & Construction specialty. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Architecture from Stanford University and a Master of Architecture degree from Yale University. After spending 11 years of his professional career in Chicago, Illinois, Randy returned to his hometown of Billings in 1992. He rekindled his love for the High Plains, a unique land- scape that requires an equally unique style of architecture, and opened the doors to High Plains Architects in 1999. When Randy started High Plains Architects, he set about renovat- ing a 1918 downtown warehouse where he relocated the office in 2001. The renovated warehouse is now listed in The National Reg- ister of Historic Places. The building also contains the first “loft” style residential apartments to be built in Billings and set an example for future High Plains’ projects. Since that first redevelopment, he has developed numerous additional downtown projects in Billings and other Montana cities. As the business continued to grow, Randy decided to renovate another building and moved High Plains Archi- tects into the Klos Building, an 1893 former saloon, in 2008. Luckily, the move was only across the street. The Klos Building received U.S Montana Architect Elevated to Fellowship “Advancement to fellowship is one of the highest honors. The American Institute of Architects can bestow upon a member. Elevation to fellowship not only recognizes the achievements of the architect as an individual but also elevates before the public and the profession a model architect who has made a significant contribution to architecture and society.” From left: William Stanley, FAIA – Chancellor of AIA, College of Fellows; Randy Hafer, FAIA, LEED AP BD+C, President of High Plains Architects; Helene Combs Dreiling, FAIA, 2014 AIA President Randy Hafer: Photo Courtesy of High Plains Architects