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  Roy Ward, Architect and principal of E.H. Danson Associates. |
 North Star Journal May 2001 E. H. Danson Associates Changes Hands by Terry Hoffer Roy Ward is a designer. He’s a certified building designer, a registered architect. Ward joined the St. Johnsbury architectural firm of E.H. Danson Associates in 1995. St. Johnsbury was a long way from his native Florida, but after advanced training and 15 years working under the bright lights of Boston Ward saw the chance to move his family to Vermont as absolutely appealing. He was on the staff at M.I.T. responsible for 145 campus buildings and their compliance of with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act. At the time, Steve Danforth was the principal architect in the firm of E.H. Danson. Danforth advertised for a senior project manager to join him, and Ward laughs today, "The ad was written for me." Five years later after managing projects all over Vermont and northern New Hampshire ranging from simple basement renovations to the $6.5 million Caledonia County Courthouse expansion, Ward purchased the St. Johnsbury firm and has become, as the formal announcement reads, "head honcho." Ward is an easygoing professional. He’s as comfortable in blue jeans and a hard hat as he is in a suit and tie. He is confident about his own talents, but he demonstrates a pleasant modesty and understands well the value other members of the firm and clients themselves bring to any project. In a recent conversation with Ward he described the architectural process as one of collaboration and teamwork. Ward graduated from the University of Florida and later the Boston Architectural Center with degrees in design and architecture. "Architect," he says, "is from the Greek for master builder, and there have been in history ‘architects’ who moved onto a site, pitched their tent and literally did everything as the master builder." "Today architecture is different," Ward says. "In my observation there are two tracks people can take coming out of architectural school. Neither is wrong or better than the other. I think it’s a function of the process. There are great designers who can express forms, three dimensional shapes and create art out of building materials. We all do it to some extent, but some can really do it." He looks around his office at framed photographs of examples of the firm’s work, and he goes on. "Then there are others who seem to have a more logical understanding of specifications and the construction process and an appreciation for the way a building is going to work before the first hole is dug in the ground." And again, he says, "We all do it to some extent, but some can really do it." Ward pauses to look out through the sunny window and says with a smile, "It’s like there are great short stops and there are great pitchers. Both play great baseball, but some can really throw an inside curve ball. My vision has always been to create the right mix of people to do what I can do well, and," he says, "I think I’m getting pretty close." Ward is convinced that he and his associates have found a balance and a means to give clients a service that merges financial considerations with scheduling and a quality of visual design. In addition to Ward the firm includes Mark Wheeler from Lyndonville and Kevin Grenier and Arthur Wood, both from St. Johnsbury. The second floor office in one of the old Fairbanks buildings on Western Avenue is a gallery of photographs of finished projects. Most are within 20 miles of St. Johnsbury, but in addition to Vermont and New Hampshire Ward’s license includes Massachusetts, and still known as E.H. Danson, the firm has accepted projects in western Massachusetts. "We’re a Northeast Kingdom business," Ward says, "and we have no intention of becoming specialists or straying from our strengths and our reputation. We can offer a service and a value for people in a way that we can be busy doing what we do best without getting far from our roots in St. Johnsbury." When asked about a favorite project or one he might hang over his mantle piece if he could, Ward laughs and tells a story attributed to Frank Lloyd Wright. Wright was the Babe Ruth of architecture, the Roger Clemens of structural design. Wright was also famous for his ego. It was described by some as bigger than any building he ever designed, and Wright would often answer the question about which was his favorite building saying, "My next one." Ward’s manner is far from self centered, and he points to another photograph nearby. "I’m really proud of the school we designed in Belvidere (VT). They came to us thinking they needed a floor plan far beyond what they could afford. We worked with the building committee and the State Department of Education and ended up with a design that fit the town’s budget and is, all things considered, really wonderful." He reaches for another photograph and describes an addition to a camp, a former hydro-power building on the Wells River. "This project was only 140 square feet, tiny by comparison to some, but the old camp, the addition and this porch out over the river were just so sweet. Maybe this would be the one. It came together beautifully." Ward is project manager for the firm on the remodeling and expansion at the Caledonia County Courthouse. He laughs again. "This wouldn’t work over the mantle. It’s the biggest project we’ve had and the most complex. There are four courts, sheriff’s offices, historic preservation concerns, security issues and a site that was intended in the 19th century to be used as a cemetery. It’s like the World Trade Center on a postage stamp." "They’re all different and, each in their own way, they’re all really fascinating," he says. Ward speaks briefly to one of his designers and leans back into his conference room chair. "I’ve wanted to be a part of a team like this since I was in high school in Florida. I’m really excited about the changes in the firm, and it’s a privilege to be a part of it." Back to News |
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