Ben Koush is a graduate of Columbia College and Rice University. He is a registered architect and interior designer in Texas with two decades of architectural experience. Ben is the founder and partner of Ben Koush & Associates, a firm focused on the uniqueness of the Houston area and incorporating that into their designs. He has a special interest in the preservation of modern architecture and is a founding member of Houston Mod, which has won numerous local and state awards. His architectural writing appears in Architects’ Newspaper, Cite magazine, and Texas Architect. He currently serves on the Houston Archaeological and Historical Commission.

Amy Walton has always looked for ways to build connection and community. For 30 years, she’s served in Dallas as a volunteer for social service, arts, social justice, and preservation issues. In 2018, she created modTEXAS, an Instagram-based initiative to celebrate midcentury design and the organizations working to protect it. Using #modtexas, collaborators across the state can share photos, research, or memories about design worth preserving. With 268K square miles to cover, it may be the largest midcentury survey ever undertaken. modTEXAS has received a Modernism in America Citation from Docomomo US, a Community Honors Award from AIA Dallas and an Advocacy Award from the Faith & Form international awards program for religious architecture. A native Texan, Amy spent over a decade in management with nonprofits including the North Texas Food Bank and Jewish Family Service. Amy is a graduate of the Business Council for the Arts’ Leadership Arts Academy and the Junior League

Stephen Knowles, AIA, moved to Dallas in 2020 to join HDR as a Design Principal for their architecture studio. A 35-year veteran, he started his architectural journey with Iowa State University to earn his Master of Architecture degree, after a career in graphic design. His career began at 2001 AIA Firm of the Year Herbert Lewis Kruse Blunck Architecture in Des Moines, Iowa. In addition to practice, Stephen supports future generations as an educator at UTA CAPPA and led the Curriculum Committee at the Dunwoody College of Technology in Minneapolis in creating a new accredited 5-year architecture degree program. Stephen is also an active Board Member of The Dallas Architecture Forum.

Stephen has a passion to connect and support HDR’s design excellence initiative to the firm’s projects throughout Texas. Having spent much of his career in the Midwest, he knows the importance of supporting local chapters of the American Institute of Architects and the Urban Land Institute, as well as cultural and academic institutions that focus on sharing knowledge that helps improve the built environment. Stephen is focused on engaging in a collaborative process that considers the technical, environmental, economic, and social impacts of his projects. He strives to advance innovative solutions that integrate the site, surrounding resources, craft, and local culture.

Stephen’s memorable accomplishments include two projects that received national AIA awards for design excellence; awards from Business Week magazine for helping clients achieve their goals through great design; his work as editor of Iowa Architect magazine; and speaking as a guest lecturer at Taliesin, Frank Lloyd Wright’s home and estate near Spring Green, Wisconsin.

PANELISTS:

Amy Bartell – As a leader in the Residential Studio at Studio Outside, Amy Bartell is responsible for coordination on high-end residential projects at all scales.

Her past experience in projects of all sizes including many years of residential design has put her in a unique position to usher projects along from design through to construction. She is involved in client development and communication. Amy’s presence on-site to answer questions for clients and contractors is part of Studio Outside’s commitment to design excellence. From plant selection to furniture selection, she is engaged and involved to ensure the best beginning and future for each garden.

Architect David Droese, AIA, along with his partner Lance Raney, has led the team at their namesake firm, Droese Raney Studio, for over 25 years. The full-service architecture and interior design studio specialize in the design of commercial, hospitality, and retail projects around the country. Focused on individualize approach to each client relationship, the firm has become known for developing creative, innovative design concepts, while addressing intricate needs of each project. Droese is also an ardent supporter of emerging artists and artisans. With his guidance, the DR Studio is not only an architecture studio, but also an incubator space for artists and fabricators.

With a roster of prestigious brands and clients such as Forty Five Ten, The Warehouse for Howard Rachofsky, Lucchese, The Conservatory, and CFDA-designer and award-winner Billy Reid, the DR team has evolved into a creative force in the architecture and interior design realms. The firm has been featured in numerous publications including Texas Architect, New York Magazine, WWD, VM+SD, DNR, Open: The World’s Best New Fashion Stores, D Magazine and numerous shelter publications. The West Dallas Chamber of Commerce presented Droese Raney with its Visionary Developer Award. In 2024, Droese Raney x Design was published by ORO Editions. The book, which has been recognized in various shelter publications, highlights key projects in the firm’s history, including first-person narratives by some of Droese Raney’s most cherished clients and collaborators. Droese resides in the Dallas Arts District with his wife, Suzanne.

Jean Liu is the founder and principal of Jean Liu Design, a full-service Dallas based interior design firm that specializes in high-end residential and commercial projects. The firm is a “party of five”, all of whom would do almost anything for a pretty picture–of interiors, that is. Jean leads the studio, all of whom are design aficionados whose talent, experience, and training equips them to work alongside clients, builders, and architects on all aspects of interior design, whether it is new construction, historical renovation, space planning, furniture sourcing, or staging.

Jean and her studio focus on creating modern, edited, comfortable, and inspired spaces. Jean’s projects have been featured in design publications includingHouse Beautiful, Town & Country, Architectural Digest, and The Wall Street Journal.

Ron Wommack Legacy Program
Tuesday, December 3
 Angelika Film Center
Mockingbird Station

The Dallas Architecture Forum was honored to present this special program celebrating the legacy of Ron Wommack, FAIA. Ron touched many lives as an architect, mentor, teacher, colleague, friend and family member. He was as open and humane as his architecture – focused on light, nature, modernism, neighborhoods and people. His work received many design awards, and Ron served in key leadership roles in the North Texas community, especially with AIA Dallas and The Dallas Architecture Forum.

Join us as Five of Ron’s friends and colleagues celebrated Ron’s legacy — a brilliant man with a big heart, a true philosopher who loved people as much as he loved design. Each program participant talked talk about how Ron influenced their lives and work, so that all attending could celebrate his remarkable legacy.

Program Participants will be:

Russell Buchanan, FAIA, LEED AP Buchanan Architecture
Max Levy, FAIA Max Levy Architect
Joshua Nimmo, AIA, LEED AP NIMMO
Dan Shipley, FAIA Shipley Architects

Moderated by:
Eurico Francisco, AIA, LEED AP Perkins&Will