I could never have found a better partner. Like any good marriage, we ve complimented each other nicely. Allen was a salesman he did a lot to help push and advance the firm. It was a great combination. Wally Cooper CRSA has designed many higher education projects, including the Agricultural Sciences Building at Utah State University in Logan. (top right) The stunning renovation of Ogden High School earned CRSA several design honors. (bottom right) Wally Cooper (left) and Allen Roberts have guided the firm through four decades of excellence. Kathy Wheadon (below) was named President of the firm in January 2014. (UVU by Paul Richer; Ogden by Dennis Mecham) Cooper, Roberts Continue to Set Tone at CRSA 40th anniversary marks a significant milestone for dynamic Salt Lake-based architectural firm. By Brad Fullmer As he reflects back four decades to the beginning of CRSA Architects, Wallace (Wally) Cooper has a hard time believing 40 years can pass by so quickly, while at the same time acknowledging how grateful he is at his firm s overall success and continuing progress. 26 UTAH CONSTRUCTION & DESIGN May 15
It s pretty remarkable, said Cooper, who started his career in 1965 and graduated from the University of Utah in 1969. I honestly thought when I started my company in 1975 that I would have 6 to 8 employees. To go from a vision of that, and end up with 55-60 people is an amazing leap. It happened over time and with tremendous people it s been a great ride. It s been good to work with so many talented people. Cooper s long-time business partner, Allen Roberts, echoes his feelings. It is like having kids it goes by so fast, said Roberts. The key has been having a staff with a passion for their work, that believes in the importance of good design, whether it s preservation or new design. Our people are committed to doing high quality work, understanding and satisfying client needs, and committed to the idea of advancing the profession in every project we do. Cooper founded Wallace Cooper Architects in 1975 in Salt Lake City after working for nearly a decade for people like Bob Fowler, Steven Baird and Jack Clausen. He initially worked as a one-man show before being joined a year later by Roberts, who had been working at the State Historical Society. They worked together for a few years before Roberts earned his professional license in 1983 and became a partner in the newly renamed Cooper Roberts Architects. The firm s first big job according to Roberts, was the Wheeler Farm Restoration in Murray for Salt Lake County, and the following year it got a contract with the State Historical Society and designed several preservation projects, while also becoming the first local firm to specialize in historical document planning. I could never have found a better partner, said Cooper. Like any good marriage, we ve complimented each >> May 15 UTAH CONSTRUCTION & DESIGN 27
The Swaner Preserve and EcoCenter in Park City was the first project in Utah to earn LEED Platinum certification. (right) The lobby of the Sutton Geology Building at the University of Utah. (Swaner by Dennis Mecham; Sutton by Paul Richer) None of us has any interest of pushing Wally or Allen out the door. What s exciting is they both have learned to step away and see the success of the next generation. They ve built a great foundation for us. Kathy Wheadon other nicely. Allen was a salesman he did a lot to help push and advance the firm. It was a great combination. I developed a loyal client base and Allen was out there bringing new clients to the firm. We ve been friends from the beginning, Roberts said of Cooper. We ve had a shared compatible vision on how to do things. He s a man of great integrity he s very committed to the firm. He s a people person. He cares about the firm like they re members of his family. He s got a very fatherly presence, but he s also very professional with everything he s done. The firm relied on mostly historical projects during the first half of its history, focusing on smaller projects like homes, commercial buildings and adaptive reuse projects, until branching out in the mid-90 s. Over the past 20 years, CRSA has become one of the most diverse architectural firms in Utah, with services that include an array of design and planning. Various in-house studios include Planning, Interior Design, Ecclesiastical, Government, Higher Education, Preservation and Sustainability/LEED. CRSA is licensed in all Western states, and currently has work in places such as Brazil, Mexico and Washington, D.C. In addition to its Salt Lake City headquarters, CRSA has offices in Idaho Falls (2001) and St. George (2005). The firm has come an enormous way in the 14 years I ve been here, said Kathy Wheadon, who was named company President in January 2014 and works mainly within the Higher Education Studio. It s interesting to look at 40 (years). The key for us has been understanding what it means to provide client services. We re becoming much more a firm of specialists that have diverse backgrounds and education. It s been a wonderful process to see the firm grow and build upon the principals of Wally and Allen. Wheadon said the firm has prospered in recent years and is fully recovered from 28 UTAH CONSTRUCTION & DESIGN May 15
the recession, which offered significant challenges for a few years, yet steeled everyone s resolve. The bonus for us (during the recession) was having clients we had worked with for many decades, said Wheadon. It gave us an opportunity to serve them even if projects were smaller. We made a very concerted effort to broaden our base to other regional markets and to compete on a larger and broader scale. Some of our staff members were able to reach markets beyond the Wasatch Front. We ve broadened and diversified our work. It hasn t always been that way. Cooper said after the Savings and Loan crash in the early 90 s, he knew the firm was fairly limited with its service offerings, confined to working on smaller projects, and in need of a shot in the arm. It started with Allen and the Marriott Library project at the University of Utah, said Cooper. It was way outside our expertise, but he put together a team and landed it, and that started a strong relationship with the U of U. In 1994, Soren Simonsen (the S in CRSA) joined the firm and helped establish its Planning Studio and Landscape Architecture Studio, which he ran until leaving in 2009 (it s now headed up by Kelly Gillman). Simonsen s influence was positive, and he expressed appreciation for his 15-year tenure. I was there during the expansion period, and I still have great relationships with a lot of colleagues and friends there, said Simonsen. Wally is an incredible mentor and he wants to see people >> May 15 UTAH CONSTRUCTION & DESIGN 29
succeed. They created a culture that is very innovative, and lets people explore opportunities. It s outstanding to see how successful they ve been, even through a few tough years this past decade. Cooper, who oversees the firm s Ecclesiastical Studio, said another boon to the firm over the years is its relationship with the LDS Church. Indeed, CRSA has designed a plethora of LDS temples and other special projects like visitor centers and historic buildings. He personally enjoys religious projects, even if the clients are demanding. The (LDS) Church is a difficult client, but they acknowledge that, he said. They re great people to work with, with a lot of talent and good vision, and a desire to get it right. That s unusual in a client. There are a lot of people involved in the decisionmaking process. It s a different atmosphere and requires a different approach to designing buildings. CRSA s current project list illustrates its vast diversity and geographical range, including: Parley s Way Corridor Plan; Unified State Labs Module 2; Afton Readiness Center; BYU-Idaho Science & Technology Building; Colorado Mesa University Academic Classroom Building; Idaho Falls Multi-Purpose Events Center; Mexico Tijuana LDS Temple; Hurricane Middle School Remodel; USU Uintah Basin Campus Master Plan. Significant past projects include Ogden High School Restoration (which earned an award from the National Trust for Historic Preservation), Miner s Hospital in Park City, and serving as lead architect on structures report for the Utah State Capitol Restoration. Both Cooper and Roberts realize their careers are waning, although both are currently elbows deep in a number of different projects and are as busy as they ve ever been. Retirement for both will likely happen within the next five years, but for now, there is plenty of work to be done. I ve got a lot of work on my plate and Allen does also, Cooper said. It s fun to do the architecture, but it s even more enjoyable to think about the people I ve had the chance to work with. We ve always prided ourselves on taking care of the people who work for us. Retirement happens when it s no longer enjoyable, or the people here are so good that my being here is an impediment to their progress. There are things I want to do I want to write more books for one, said Roberts, who has written more than 20 books along with numerous professional articles. I might retire gradually, a little each year, and keep my hands in the marketing side to help the firm bring in projects. The firm is in great shape for whenever that transition happens. None of us has any interest of pushing Wally or Allen out the door, said Wheadon. They are critical to our culture in our office; they really do make this place feel like home. They have done a great job of building future leaders and have been exceptionally generous in sharing their information. What s exciting is they both have learned to step away and see the success of the next generation. There is a lot of great work in our office and they re excited to be here. They ve built a great foundation for us. n 30 UTAH CONSTRUCTION & DESIGN May 15