David M. Harper
Encyclopedia
David Harper is an American architect
and design/build entrepreneur. He is President and CEO of HADP Architecture, Inc., with offices in multiple cities, including Miami, Atlanta, and Houston. Founding his own practice in 1979, Harper's architectural business development and designs are focused in select business sectors: Educational (from K-12 to University, Research, Graduate, and Professional schools), Airports, Military projects, Correctional facilities, and Multi-Family Housing.
Harper is recognized by industry professionals such as the American Institute of Architects, in which he was named "Fellow" at the age of 27, as well as by universities and community organizations for his work (see Awards section below).
Industry publications including Architecture Magazine, Architectural Record
, Progressive Architecture, Florida Architect Magazine, Florida Trend, and Inc. Magazine have all interviewed Harper for architectual advice and educational information throughout his career.
Harper has served on the Citizens Board of the University of Miami, and was recently asked to serve as a Visiting Faculty member of the School of Architecture at Florida International University (F.I.U.) where he also has serves on the University President’s Council. Harper also served on the Board of Trustees of the Historical Association of South Florida (now called HistoryMiami), which is responsible for the Historical Museum of South Florida and the Woodrow W. Wilkins Architectural Archives section of the Museum.
In Atlanta, Harper served for 10 years on the Board of Trustees of the North Metro Miracle League, where he provided the pro-bono design for the “Family Center” part of the Adaptive Sports Complex located in Alpharetta, Ga.
Two projects headed by Harper are LEED Silver Certified: Meredith College in North Carolina, and Florida Gulf Coast University in Ft. Myers, Fla with more being Registered and seeking Gold or Silver Certifications, such the University of Georgia-East Campus Village,Building 1516. LEED Registered project at Georgia Institute of Technology-North Avenue Apartments renovations are seeking LEED EB O&M Gold Certification.
Other higher education sustainable designed projects led by Harper utilize LEED Principles, such as the University of Houston-Wheeler Housing (Cougar Village I), New College of Florida-Residence Halls, Armstrong Atlantic State University-Winward Commons, Kennesaw State University-University Village, and Florida Institute of Technology-Harris Village Suites.
(UM) in just four years, and at age 21, passed the Florida Architect Registration Examination (ARE), becoming the youngest licensed architect at the time in Florida.
While a student at UM, Harper served as President of the Student Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, and launched the student architectural newspaper AIM, becoming its first editor. He also served the entire undergraduate student body in Student Government as Chairman of Community Affairs, forming the Gardner-Harper Commission to serve as a bridge between the university and the City of Coral Gables. After Harper’s graduation from UM, The Gardner-Harper Commission retained David’s name and continued to stand for a decade as a body providing a forum for problem solving.
During his senior year, Harper was selected to sit on the Coral Gables City Commission for a one-year term to a special appointed seat. During this time, Harper’s work with the city enabled the university to obtain a zoning variance to construct an on-campus restaurant/bar and entertainment venue, including a needed beverage license. The UM “Rathskeller” was voted approved to be built on the campus during Harper’s tenure on the City Commission. Today, the “Rat,” as it is commonly called, continues to serve as a significant student destination on the UM campus.
Harper was also awarded First Prize in a design competition for the new Miami Dade County downtown public library. The competition recognized the top designer at the university for his/her senior year architectural design project. Miami-Dade County then presented Harper’s project to the public during the process of planning for the new county library.
The Institute for Architecture and Urban Studies (IAUS) invited Harper to spend his thesis year in New York City. The IAUS functioned under the direction of Architect Peter Eisenman
who developed its curriculum and began its undergraduate education program in 1973. The program was open to an élite group of invited students from a consortium of distinguished liberal arts colleges and schools of architecture. Harper was selected as the first student from UM to attend the IAUS program in New York. Harper worked closely with and under the tutelage of Peter Eisenman along with 11 other students from different universities.
Harper's experience at the IAUS served to help shape both his understanding of diverse design ideas and his vision of the role of architects on the world stage; architects such as Rem Koolhaas
, Aldo Rossi, Charles Gwarthmey, Frank Gehry
, Robert Stern, and Bernard Tschumi, all who attended IAUS. As a result of the diversity of ideas and architectural talent involved, the IAUS helped shape much of the autonomous theoretical discourse that dominated architectural culture in the last 30 years of the 20th century.
Upon his graduation from the University of Miami, Harper was awarded the Alpha Rho Chi Medal. He was the university’s first student to receive the national honor, voted for by the faculty of the university.
In 1979, Harper established his firm, "Harper & Buzinec," and by 1984, had a staff of 47 and nearly $82 million worth of designs in various stages of production. His professional growth is accredited to his aggressive marketing techniques, good design sense, and knowledge of business management and diplomacy. In 1980, Harper's regional and national design work gained recognition with the winning remodel design of the FA/AIA Headquarters Building in Tallahasee. The project was completed in early 1982.
Former partner Paul Buzinec was quoted as saying, "David's at the top of the pyramid. His imagination and enthusiasm keep him up." George Allen, executive vice president of the Florida Association of the American Institute of Architects said, "David has a unique capability in the field of architecture." And mentor Ed Grafton, who handpicked David as a protege said, "I thought he was very bright and quick. And that's the whole business of personal service. You're not baking bread and your're not making automibiles. The whole is people's minds - that's what you sell."
Harper and his firm also designed and incorporated the first known use of "tilt-up" concrete construction on a school project in the United States. Although prevalent at the time for use in industrial construction, the technology had not yet been used in constructing schools. The Mandarin Middle School project in Jacksonville, Fla. was completed successfully in 1990. Harper repeated similar applications where "tilt-up" could be incorporated for school designs in Jacksonville and later in four schools located in St. Augustine, Fla., including Alice B. Landrum Middle School in Ponte Vedra Beach. In 1995, Harper facilitated the first use of the "tilt-up" technology for school construction in Miami-Dade County schools, such as at John I. Smith K-8 Center. By the year 2010, what was first thought of as revolutionary has become the standard of the industry in school construction in Florida and in other regions of the Southeastern United States.
More recently in 2010, Harper’s leadership as Design Principal-in-Charge on the design/build team for the creation of an on-campus student residence hall at the University of Houston (UH) resulted in one of the first applications of the use of "tunnel-form" concrete construction on a campus student housing project in the United States. As a result, the seven-story 291000 square feet (27,034.8 m²) University of Houston Cougar Village project was completed in record time and at a cost of approximately $75 per square foot below the most recent campus student housing project at UH.
American Institute of Architects
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
and design/build entrepreneur. He is President and CEO of HADP Architecture, Inc., with offices in multiple cities, including Miami, Atlanta, and Houston. Founding his own practice in 1979, Harper's architectural business development and designs are focused in select business sectors: Educational (from K-12 to University, Research, Graduate, and Professional schools), Airports, Military projects, Correctional facilities, and Multi-Family Housing.
Harper is recognized by industry professionals such as the American Institute of Architects, in which he was named "Fellow" at the age of 27, as well as by universities and community organizations for his work (see Awards section below).
Serving and educating the public
In the aftermath of Hurricane Andrew in 1992, Harper served as Chairman of the Building Code Committee which was responsible for rewriting the South Florida Building Code. CNN News, The Miami Herald, and numerous other major media have interviewed David Harper about architecture and disaster response, especially in conjunction with the architectural strength of buildings in South Florida during a hurricane.Industry publications including Architecture Magazine, Architectural Record
Architectural Record
Architectural Record is an American monthly magazine dedicated to architecture and interior design, published by McGraw-Hill Construction in New York City. It is over 110 years old...
, Progressive Architecture, Florida Architect Magazine, Florida Trend, and Inc. Magazine have all interviewed Harper for architectual advice and educational information throughout his career.
Harper has served on the Citizens Board of the University of Miami, and was recently asked to serve as a Visiting Faculty member of the School of Architecture at Florida International University (F.I.U.) where he also has serves on the University President’s Council. Harper also served on the Board of Trustees of the Historical Association of South Florida (now called HistoryMiami), which is responsible for the Historical Museum of South Florida and the Woodrow W. Wilkins Architectural Archives section of the Museum.
In Atlanta, Harper served for 10 years on the Board of Trustees of the North Metro Miracle League, where he provided the pro-bono design for the “Family Center” part of the Adaptive Sports Complex located in Alpharetta, Ga.
Sustainability and renewable energy
David Harper's firm, HADP Architecture, is a member of the U.S. Green Building Council, which supports energy and environmental conservation objectives. Harper holds the certification LEED Accredited Professional BD+C, as do many of his employees. LEED-certified buildings have healthier environments, which in turn contribute to higher productivity and improved health and comfort to residents and staff.Two projects headed by Harper are LEED Silver Certified: Meredith College in North Carolina, and Florida Gulf Coast University in Ft. Myers, Fla with more being Registered and seeking Gold or Silver Certifications, such the University of Georgia-East Campus Village,Building 1516. LEED Registered project at Georgia Institute of Technology-North Avenue Apartments renovations are seeking LEED EB O&M Gold Certification.
Other higher education sustainable designed projects led by Harper utilize LEED Principles, such as the University of Houston-Wheeler Housing (Cougar Village I), New College of Florida-Residence Halls, Armstrong Atlantic State University-Winward Commons, Kennesaw State University-University Village, and Florida Institute of Technology-Harris Village Suites.
Early studies and career (1971–84)
Harper completed the five-year professional degree program at the University of MiamiUniversity of Miami
The University of Miami is a private, non-sectarian university founded in 1925 with its main campus in Coral Gables, Florida, a medical campus in Miami city proper at Civic Center, and an oceanographic research facility on Virginia Key., the university currently enrolls 15,629 students in 12...
(UM) in just four years, and at age 21, passed the Florida Architect Registration Examination (ARE), becoming the youngest licensed architect at the time in Florida.
While a student at UM, Harper served as President of the Student Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, and launched the student architectural newspaper AIM, becoming its first editor. He also served the entire undergraduate student body in Student Government as Chairman of Community Affairs, forming the Gardner-Harper Commission to serve as a bridge between the university and the City of Coral Gables. After Harper’s graduation from UM, The Gardner-Harper Commission retained David’s name and continued to stand for a decade as a body providing a forum for problem solving.
During his senior year, Harper was selected to sit on the Coral Gables City Commission for a one-year term to a special appointed seat. During this time, Harper’s work with the city enabled the university to obtain a zoning variance to construct an on-campus restaurant/bar and entertainment venue, including a needed beverage license. The UM “Rathskeller” was voted approved to be built on the campus during Harper’s tenure on the City Commission. Today, the “Rat,” as it is commonly called, continues to serve as a significant student destination on the UM campus.
Harper was also awarded First Prize in a design competition for the new Miami Dade County downtown public library. The competition recognized the top designer at the university for his/her senior year architectural design project. Miami-Dade County then presented Harper’s project to the public during the process of planning for the new county library.
The Institute for Architecture and Urban Studies (IAUS) invited Harper to spend his thesis year in New York City. The IAUS functioned under the direction of Architect Peter Eisenman
Peter Eisenman
Peter Eisenman is an American architect. Eisenman's professional work is often referred to as formalist, deconstructive, late avant-garde, late or high modernist, etc...
who developed its curriculum and began its undergraduate education program in 1973. The program was open to an élite group of invited students from a consortium of distinguished liberal arts colleges and schools of architecture. Harper was selected as the first student from UM to attend the IAUS program in New York. Harper worked closely with and under the tutelage of Peter Eisenman along with 11 other students from different universities.
Harper's experience at the IAUS served to help shape both his understanding of diverse design ideas and his vision of the role of architects on the world stage; architects such as Rem Koolhaas
Rem Koolhaas
Remment Lucas Koolhaas is a Dutch architect, architectural theorist, urbanist and "Professor in Practice of Architecture and Urban Design" at the Graduate School of Design at Harvard University, USA. Koolhaas studied at the Netherlands Film and Television Academy in Amsterdam, at the Architectural...
, Aldo Rossi, Charles Gwarthmey, Frank Gehry
Frank Gehry
Frank Owen Gehry, is a Canadian American Pritzker Prize-winning architect based in Los Angeles, California.His buildings, including his private residence, have become tourist attractions...
, Robert Stern, and Bernard Tschumi, all who attended IAUS. As a result of the diversity of ideas and architectural talent involved, the IAUS helped shape much of the autonomous theoretical discourse that dominated architectural culture in the last 30 years of the 20th century.
Upon his graduation from the University of Miami, Harper was awarded the Alpha Rho Chi Medal. He was the university’s first student to receive the national honor, voted for by the faculty of the university.
In 1979, Harper established his firm, "Harper & Buzinec," and by 1984, had a staff of 47 and nearly $82 million worth of designs in various stages of production. His professional growth is accredited to his aggressive marketing techniques, good design sense, and knowledge of business management and diplomacy. In 1980, Harper's regional and national design work gained recognition with the winning remodel design of the FA/AIA Headquarters Building in Tallahasee. The project was completed in early 1982.
Former partner Paul Buzinec was quoted as saying, "David's at the top of the pyramid. His imagination and enthusiasm keep him up." George Allen, executive vice president of the Florida Association of the American Institute of Architects said, "David has a unique capability in the field of architecture." And mentor Ed Grafton, who handpicked David as a protege said, "I thought he was very bright and quick. And that's the whole business of personal service. You're not baking bread and your're not making automibiles. The whole is people's minds - that's what you sell."
Innovative design/build technologies (1985–present)
During the 1990s, Harper served on the Board of Directors of Eagles 3 Group, Inc., a Delaware-based corporation which created, licensed and owned construction technology companies utilizing patented concrete forming technologies. Harper’s role in the company was as senior advisor to create building applications for the utilization of this machine-formed "concrete box technology," and to explore architectural design solutions utilizing the technology.Harper and his firm also designed and incorporated the first known use of "tilt-up" concrete construction on a school project in the United States. Although prevalent at the time for use in industrial construction, the technology had not yet been used in constructing schools. The Mandarin Middle School project in Jacksonville, Fla. was completed successfully in 1990. Harper repeated similar applications where "tilt-up" could be incorporated for school designs in Jacksonville and later in four schools located in St. Augustine, Fla., including Alice B. Landrum Middle School in Ponte Vedra Beach. In 1995, Harper facilitated the first use of the "tilt-up" technology for school construction in Miami-Dade County schools, such as at John I. Smith K-8 Center. By the year 2010, what was first thought of as revolutionary has become the standard of the industry in school construction in Florida and in other regions of the Southeastern United States.
More recently in 2010, Harper’s leadership as Design Principal-in-Charge on the design/build team for the creation of an on-campus student residence hall at the University of Houston (UH) resulted in one of the first applications of the use of "tunnel-form" concrete construction on a campus student housing project in the United States. As a result, the seven-story 291000 square feet (27,034.8 m²) University of Houston Cougar Village project was completed in record time and at a cost of approximately $75 per square foot below the most recent campus student housing project at UH.
American Institute of ArchitectsAmerican Institute of ArchitectsThe American Institute of Architects is a professional organization for architects in the United States. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the AIA offers education, government advocacy, community redevelopment, and public outreach to support the architecture profession and improve its public image...
– Design Awards
- The Florida Association of the American Institute of Architects
- Award of Honor – AIA Headquarters Building
- Award for Excellence in Architecture – U.S. Coast Guard Station
- Award for Excellence in Architecture (Harper Carreño Mateu, Inc.) – Miami Job Corps Center
- The Miami Chapter of the American Institute of Architects
- Award of Excellence Built Category (Harper Carreño Mateu, Inc.) – Student Apartment Facility at Florida Atlantic University
- Award of Merit for Design – Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center
- Award of Honor in Architecture – PSB/UPH Building, U.S. Coast Guard Base
- Award of Merit for Unbuilt Category (Harper Carreño Mateu, Inc.) – U.S. Coast Guard Station at Hobe Sound
- Award for Excellence Built Category (Harper Carreño Mateu, Inc.) – Miami Job Corps Center
- Alpha Rho Chi Medal in Architecture, University of Miami
- Merrill Lynch/Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year – Finalist
- INC. Magazine CEO – Top 500 private companies
- Price Waterhouse-South Florida Magazine Up & Comers – Award
- Lou Tassee Award – For outstanding contributions to community education
Selected Projects
- American Airlines World Gateway Terminal, Miami, FL
- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport Expansion, Atlanta, GA
- Florida International University Student Housing Village, Miami, FL
- Beijing Oriental Hotel, China
- Biltmore Hotel Conference Center of the Americas, Coral Gables, FL
- United States Coast Guard, Miami Beach, FL
- US Department of Labor Job Corps Center, Miami, FL
- Turner Guilford Knight Center, Dade County, FL
- FA/AIA Headquarters Building, Tallahassee, FL
Higher Education Notable Projects
- University of GeorgiaHousing at the University of GeorgiaHousing at the University of Georgia is managed by the Department of University Housing. On campus housing for undergraduate students is divided into seven communities, and for graduate students into three communities.-Freshman high-rises:...
, Building 1516 of East Campus Village – LEED Registered seeking GOLD Certification, 2011 Student Housing Business Innovator Award: Best Use of Green and Sustainable Construction/Development - Meredith College, The Oaks – LEED Silver Certification
- University of Houston, Cougar Village
- University of Alabama, Ridgecrest South I & II
- University of Alabama in Huntsville, New Residence Hall, Dining Facility, and Parking Garage - LEED Registered seeking Silver
- Armstrong Atlantic State University, Winward Commons
- Florida Gulf Coast UniversityFlorida Gulf Coast UniversityFlorida Gulf Coast University, also known as FGCU, is a coeducational public university located just south of the Southwest Florida International Airport in the South Fort Myers region of unincorporated Lee County, Florida, United States. The university belongs to the 11-campus State University...
, South Village Biscayne Hall – LEED Silver Certified - Florida International UniversityFlorida International UniversityFlorida International University is an American public research university in metropolitan Miami, Florida, in the United States, with its main campus in University Park...
, Student Housing