IU architect prepares for renovations

David King, IU’s architect for new master plans, will oversee plans for building and renovations on all IU campuses for the next 11 months.\nBut King is used to life on the move.\nHis father was in the U.S. Air Force, and his family lived in places all over the world. He has spent the greatest part of his life in San Antonio, Texas, the city he considers his home.\nArchitecture has been King’s passion, who has always had the makings of a brilliant architect. Since childhood, he found himself interested in building, artistic adventures and seeing different parts of the world. He received his undergraduate education at the University of Texas and received his master’s degree from Harvard University. From there, he apprenticed at a number of firms, a path he described as typical of aspiring architect.\nHe began his career in San Antonio but wanted more opportunities for bigger projects. He packed his bags and moved to New York City, where he met his wife and established a successful career.\nEventually, he moved to Washington, D.C., and rose to a leadership position at his firm, JJR. That firm merged with the architectural company SmithGroup in 1996. He is currently an architect for the joint company, SmithGroup/JJR, which remains based in Washington, D.C.\n“Well, I think in any line of endeavor, it involves a lot of hard work and talent and luck and meeting nice people,” King said. “It’s never one ingredient that helps you obtain your professional goal, it’s always a mixture. They all have a lot to do with it.”\nKing is currently overseeing IU’s plans for building and renovation. He has worked on other projects for the University, including the new School of Law building in Indianapolis and the Informatics building in Bloomington.\nVice President and Chief Administrative Officer Terry Clapacs said King was chosen because he best understood the needs of IU and where it is headed during the next 10 years. Clapacs also noted King’s experience, background and knowledge of master planning in addition to his role in a major design firm. King will be responsible for site choice, scale, mass of building, the way traffic will work, the infrastructure and utilities.\n“This is a very beautiful campus, and (the buildings) need to add and contribute in an important way,” Clapacs said. “But more importantly, they will provide much-needed space for the core mission of the University; space for faculty and students to come together.”\nA project of this magnitude needs many people, including groups that work for the University, for the facilities on campus, committees of faculties and deans, partners to bring professional skills to the project and specialists. It will take about a year to develop the two formal master plans, one for Bloomington and one for Indianapolis.\nWhat inspires King most in design is the cultural diversity throughout the United States, and how each location is different from the next. \n“I like how we can create plans and places that complement (the locations),” King said.\nHe said while planning for projects, the use of buildings needs to be considered along with satisfaction of the University’s needs from the standpoint of the program. There are also budget constraints that need to be assessed to come up with an affordable solution. \nAssistant Vice President and University Architect Robert Meadows previously worked with King on other projects that he has done for the University.\n“He’s a good listener,” Meadows said. “He’s very articulate. He’s very intelligent. And he’s very experienced.”\nAlthough his hours are long and often involve nights and weekends, King said he tries to maintain a positive attitude. He has had to find balance with family, including a wife and two sons, but he explained that most architects tend to marry other architects or people in creative fields who understand the type of involvement it takes in order to succeed.\n“I got into this career to not only make a living, but to allow me a chance to be creative and to practice the profession that I was trained for and I’ve seen a lot of success doing that,” King said. “It’s very easy to stay enthusiastic when you’re able to secure a good position, good projects and then deal with wonderful people.”