Rowe Architects Incorporated Celebrates 50 Years



(TAMPA, Fla. – September 29, 2015) – Rowe Architects Incorporated, an architectural design firm in Tampa, is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

Rowe Architects Incorporated is a nationally recognized architectural design firm based in Tampa, Florida. The firm, founded in 1965 by the late H. Dean Rowe, FAIA has an award-winning history of providing quality professional architectural services on educational, institutional, commercial, multi-use and historic preservation projects throughout Florida.

Rowe Architects is a member of the American Institute of Architects and a member of both the National and the Florida Trusts for Historic Preservation. The firm offers full architectural, master planning, programming, building analysis, and LEED certification services. Rowe Architects’ work has been recognized both nationally and regionally for design excellence and energy conservation.

Rowe Architects Incorporated Names New Principal



(TAMPA, Fla. – August 28,2015) – Rowe Architects Incorporated, an architectural design firm in Tampa, has promoted Angela Hendershot, AlA, LEEP AP to Principal.

Rick Rowe, President and Principal of Rowe Architects, is confident in Angela’s abilities and is happy to have her as a co-Principal of the firm. “Angela has quickly established herself as a leader at Rowe Architects, within the profession and amongst her peers. Her intellect and passion for architecture, enthusiasm for her craft, and willingness to learn, coupled with her general, good-natured, friendly personality and sense of humor are a perfect fit for Rowe Architects.”

During her seven years with the firm, Angela was the Project Manager for William R. Hough Hall, the new Graduate Studies Building for the Warrington College of Business Administration within the historic district of the University of Florida campus, as well as the City of Tampa’s new Water Works Park, both multi-award winning projects.

She is currently serving as the Project Manager for the Marchman Technical Education Center for the District School Board of Pasco County and a classroom addition to Sulphur Springs Elementary School, which will transform it into Hillsborough County’s newest K-8 school. She also recently completed the Weimer Hall Expansion and Renovation project for the College of Journalism and Communications at the University of Florida.

Angela is a graduate of the University of South Florida School of Architecture and Community Design (SA+CD). Angela has been an adjunct professor and active alumna at SA+CD, teaching courses in design and physics to aspiring architecture students. As well, Angela is the current President of the Board of Directors for the Tampa Lighthouse for the Blind, serving as a Board Member since 2009.

When asked about her promotion, Angela said, “I am delighted to have my name and my career associated with Rowe Architects, which has for decades been synonymous with design excellence and project service.”

The firm was founded in 1965. This year marks its 50th anniversary.

For more information about Rowe Architects Incorporated, please visit their website at www.rowearchitects.com.

Rowe Architects Incorporated is a nationally recognized architectural design firm based in Tampa, Florida The firm, founded in 1965 by the late H. Dean Rowe, FAIA has an award winning history of providing quality professional architectural services on educational, institutional, commercial, multi-use and historic preservation projects throughout Florida. A member of the United States Green Building Council, Rowe Architects offers full architectural, master planning, programming, building analysis and LEED accreditation services. The firm’s work has been recognized both nationally and regionally for design excellence and energy conservation. For more information, please visit www.rowearchitects.com.

Tom Hammer of Rowe Architects Leads Presentation on the Historic Preservation of old Polk County Courthouse



(BARTOW, Fla. – January 31, 2015) – Thomas A. Hammer, AIA, Principal at Rowe Architects Incorporated was invited to give a presentation at the old Polk County Courthouse on Saturday. Hammer was the primary architect during the restoration of the courthouse.

His presentation, “Promoting Preservation: National Register of Historic Places, Historic Districts, and Heritage Tourism Marketing” was the third and final presentation in a series. It was also the conclusion of Preservation Celebration Month at the Polk County History Center, formerly called Polk County Courthouse.

Introductions and a presentation on “Heritage Tourism” were by Historic Preservation Manager Myrtice Young. There were more than twenty visitors in attendance, including Polk County Commissioners John Hall and Edwin Smith.

Hammer discussed the National Register of Historic Places, which is a list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects significant in American history, architecture, archeology, engineering, and culture. He went into detail about what a listing means, what it does not mean, listing requirements, as well as listing process.

After Hammer’s presentation, there was a tour of the beautifully restored building. Hammer and Commissioner Hall guided the tour together and discussed the history and the restoration of the courthouse. Hall was an employee of the county and held various roles during the restoration.

The courthouse was originally built in 1908. The restoration took place from 1988 to 1996 in four phases: the restoration of the exterior of the building, installation of the HVAC system, restoration of the genealogical library, and restoration of the history museum. The old courthouse is now called the Polk County History Center. It is comprised of both the Historical Museum and Genealogical Library, with free admission to the public.

Hammer was very impressed by how well the building has been maintained. “It looks as good today as it did when we finished the restoration 20 years ago. For John and I, it was a walk down memory lane.” Myrtice Young was so thoroughly impressed by Hammer’s presentation that she invited to come back to present next year.
Hammer participated in a Lunch and Learn at the History Center a week earlier, “Preserving Polk Pride: Researching and Promoting Polk County’s Historic Sites Preservation Celebration Panel”. It was a discussion on restoration projects in Polk and Osceola counties and included a distinguished panel of speakers from both counties. Hammer discussed the history and the process of restoring the courthouse in collaboration with Mark Donald, Facilities Project Engineer at Polk County BoCC, PE. Donald was the director of facilities during the course of the project.
These events were also featured in the recent issue of Art-i-facts magazine, a publication of the Polk Arts Alliance.

For more information about the Polk County Courthouse and additional projects, please visit Rowe Architects’ website at www.rowearchitects.com.

Rowe Architects Incorporated wins two additional design awards for building at the University of Florida



(TAMPA, Fla. – December 17, 2014) – Rowe Architects Incorporated, an architectural design firm established in Tampa in 1965, is the recipient of two recent design awards for the design of William R. Hough Hall for the Warrington College of Business Administration at the University of Florida in Gainesville.

The firm was recognized with a 2014 Merit Award for Excellence in Architecture from the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Tampa Bay chapter.

AIA Florida also awarded the firm a 2014 Merit Award for Masonry. In addition, Hough Hall was a 2014 AIA Florida People’s Choice Award Finalist as well as a recipient of an Honorable Mention in the Green Buildings category from the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation.

“To be able to contribute in such a meaningful way to the built environment at your alma mater is a true honor,” said Rowe Architects Principal and Design Director Rick Rowe, AIA. “To be recognized by our peers for our team’s work on Hough Hall is validation of a job well done.”

Judges for the awards with AIA Tampa Bay and AIA Florida spoke highly of both award wins.

“A remarkable contribution to a predominately collegiate gothic campus fabric,” commented a judge from AIA Tampa Bay. “[The building is] a successful contextual addition to the campus with unexpectedly open and dynamic interiors.”

“This project is the perfect example of the flexibility that can be achieved with masonry. While new, the building is gracefully open and successfully sited in the context of an historic campus,” said a judge with AIA Florida.

William R. Hough Hall is a LEED Gold certified graduate classroom and office building that opened in May 2010.
Located at the de facto “front door” to the University, Hough Hall is visible from the 13th Street entrance in the Historic District. The massing, detailing and materials of red brick, clay tile and cast stone, are compatible with nearby facilities on the National Register of Historic Places, yet Hough Hall is also modern and “of its time,” presenting an appropriate esthetic from all angles. The project hopes to be a catalyst to the redefinition of this area of campus by providing and enhancing the existing paths of travel, gathering spaces and connectivity throughout the Warrington College of Business and university campus.

Housing one-100 seat and four-75 seat classrooms, seminar and meeting rooms, study/lounge spaces for graduate students, and staff office and support spaces, Hough Hall is a student-oriented building designed to meet the needs of demanding professional programs. Students have a wide variety of spaces in which to learn, study, gather and collaborate, from formal classrooms to informal “intellectual collision” spaces. Classrooms, lounges, breakout rooms and offices are distributed on all floors, encouraging faculty / student interaction.

A grand three-story open interior court, set along a strongly axial corridor, is capable of hosting special events and helps to visually orient visitors to the building. This space spills into a generous exterior court creating a gathering space at the heart of the College of Business campus. State of the art technology permeates the building, promoting both individual and team-oriented discussion, research, and interaction.

Hough Hall was designed by Rowe Architects Incorporated as Architect of Record and Sasaki Associates, Inc. as Associate Architect and built by Ajax Building Corporation as Construction Manager.

Additional awards and honors received by Hough Hall include:

  • LEED Gold certification, United States Green Building Council
  • Florida Educational Facilities Planner’s Association, FEFPA First Place Award, Architectural Showcase, Higher Education, 2013
  • Article, University of Florida’s William R. Hough Hall: Lasting Dividend, High Performing Buildings, Spring 2012
  • Article, Rowe Architects, Inc.: Restoring Quality (featured), Architecture Leaders Today, July/August 2011
  • 2011 City Beautification Award, City of Gainesville Article, Business-Class Perks, The Gainesville Sun, July 15, 2010
  • Eagle Award for Excellence in Construction, Associated Builders & Contractors, Inc.

For more information about Hough Hall and additional projects, please visit Rowe Architects’ website at www.rowearchitects.com.