No armchair architect here
Cunningham's hands-on style produces winning designs

[Published in the Second Quarter 2001 edition of Construction Paper, the newsletter of Andres Construction Services.]

By David Stewart
Hovering above the heaving landscape of the University of Dallas like an alien spacecraft, the new art history building in the Haggerty Art Center exemplifies the down-to-earth design philosophy of architect Gary Cunningham.
“He’s a very hands-on architect,” said Bob Galecke, University of Dallas vice president who oversaw the construction project. “He understands the need to work directly with the client.” In addition to Galecke, the University of Dallas was represented by John Russell, the facilities manager, and by four art professors.
“We thought it was important to include the faculty,” said Galecke, “so we would be clear on the needs and functionality. We didn’t want to have a beautiful building that didn’t fit the needs of the faculty and students.”
Cunningham enjoys working with clients on projects that might befuddle other architects. “I don’t like cookie-cutter jobs,” he said. “I like variety and I enjoy dealing with interesting clients.” Cunningham noted that a recent Half-Price Books project featured a lot of extraordinary characters as do the series of projects he has designed for the South Ute Indian tribe in Colorado.
During the pre-construction phase of the UD project, Cunningham and project architect Lonnie Burns met frequently with Warren Andres of Andres Construction. They explored possibilities based on preliminary sketches and hammered out a budget. The budget that was finalized during this process served the project to the end.
“The great thing about Gary is he is a realist,” said Andres. “He knows what things cost. He has a great sense of what the client can and cannot afford to do. Then he designs buildings that are really fun to build.”
A three-phase project, the Haggerty Art Village includes the 13,000-square-foot art history building, a new 7,000-square-foot sculpture building, a 5,000-square-foot art foundations building, and the remodeling of two older art buildings.
“We wanted to capture the feeling of the existing buildings,” Galecke noted, “and to blend the new buildings in and to form them into the environment. Gary and Lonnie did this beautifully, taking full advantage of the topography.”
“Gary’s design for the new buildings fits neatly into the terrain. It is connected to the university by walkways and sits very attractively amid the landscape. In the summertime you won’t even know it’s there,” said Galecke.
Cunningham’s simple materials and straightforward design fit the client’s needs and budget. But there were complications and Cunningham was there to deal with the details.
“Our approach is one of a preoccupation with thoroughness, leaving no gaps in the process of design and building,” Cunningham said.
“Gary enjoys meeting the field crews that actually perform the work. He works with them on the fine details of the job. That is very unusual for an architect of his stature,” Andres said. “Gary develops a unique camaraderie between the tradesmen and the architect. The tradesmen respond very positively to this kind of attention and they do their best work for him.”
“Gary is not an armchair architect,” Andres added.
On this project, that trait became especially important because of the number of technical difficulties.
First among these difficulties was the Eagle Ford shale beneath the university. “It is the worst soil on the planet,” said Cunningham. Concrete poured in the summer might grow over three inches by February. The soil problems quickly led to the elevated design.
In addition to the soil problems, the site’s steep grade and numerous trees posed major challenges. Andres Construction ordered special equipment to perform jobs in tight spaces between trees.
“On this project, I was especially glad to work with Andres Construction,” Cunningham said. “Warren holds his ground in meetings. He is flexible but he wants to make certain the project is built to last and that the client is satisfied over the long term.”
“We have worked with them on many projects and we have a great relationship. They do whatever it takes. It’s a personal attitude toward life and work. They won’t back off their commitment to the client. That’s why Andres has so many repeat clients. They are loyal to their clients and that makes their clients loyal to them,” Cunningham said.
The teamwork between the two firms did not escape Galecke’s attention.
“Cunningham Architects and Andres Construction work together beautifully,” Galecke remarked.
“They have a chemistry and a bond of understanding. They are both dedicated to satisfying the client,” he added. “They work in concert.”
“They are accustomed to working with a broad range of personalities and psyches and producing a final product that satisfies just about everyone.”