Higher Education: Get to Know Gary Ferguson
Category: Higher Education
Written By: Valerie Edgren
Date: November 3, 2021
Gary Ferguson, AIA, is a Principal and Senior Practice Leader in Parkhill’s Higher Education Practice. With Parkhill, he has completed administrative, student use, general-purpose and focused educational, housing and dining, and research facility projects on many higher education campuses. Gary has served as president of the Lubbock Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, Lubbock director of the Texas Society of Architects, chairperson for the City of Lubbock’s Urban Renewal Agency and Neighborhood Redevelopment Commission, and a member of the City of Lubbock’s Model Codes and Construction Advisory Board.
Q: What values set Parkhill apart for you?
Personal Ownership, Inspired Contribution and Life Balance.
Q: What project has given you a passion for your expertise?
It is difficult to choose a specific project but the Animal and Food Sciences Project at TTU is probably one of the most rewarding projects I have worked on. The excitement and true appreciation for their facility touched me in a significant way. Even though it has been nearly 20 years since its completion, most of the faculty is still with the department. They recently provided a lengthy tour of the facility to help one of our laboratory programming staff members gain a deeper understanding of their operations to help us prepare for an upcoming interview — a fantastic example of enduring relationships.
Q: What innovations have you helped with or seen at Parkhill?
One of the most rewarding innovations I have been fortunate to be involved with was the development of the BIM committees, which evolved into our current Architectural Technology Group. Watching the team collaborate and contribute to the development of the technologies we utilize today was inspiring. They have put us at the forefront of top firms in the industry.
Q: What do you think is the next challenge in your field?
I believe the next challenge in architecture will be evolving to embrace the forthcoming automated processes in the areas of design and construction of facilities.
Q: Looking forward, where do you see your industry going in the next 20 years?
It will be interesting to watch, but I believe AI and automated process innovations in the design and construction fields are in their infancy, and I am excited to see where that takes us in the future.
