VLK Announces Hunt and Novak as New Associates
Fort Worth and Houston, Texas - VLK Architects proudly announces the appointment of Richard Hunt, AIA, LEED AP and John Novak, LEED AP as new Associates. Both of these individuals have provento be experts in their field and have demonstrated an unwavering dedication to the mission and values of VLK.
To become Associate, individuals must be self-motivated and consistently demonstrate the initiative, talent, and commitment of assuming additional responsibilities and leadership roles. They also must show exceptional understanding of the many facets of architectural practice, develop and strengthen relationships with our clients and business associates, guide and enhance the development of staff, and contribute to the advancement of the firm through innovative ideas and efforts. At VLK, we value our employees and realize that they are our single greatest asset. In appreciation of that, we strive to provide a work environment that fosters professional development and allows our staff to excel in the practice of architecture.
Hunt joined VLK in 2013 as a project designer and has made a significant impact with the design of Houston ISD's Condit Elementary, Arlington ISD's Career and Technical Center, and Keller ISD's Thompson Road Middle School. His leadership in the design of these projects resulted in solutions that responded to each client's distinctive values and ideals. He has an exceptional skill of creating an open dialogue with the client that fosters imaginative, cost effective solutions. What makes Richard a great mentor for VLK is his willingness to recognize that great design must align with the client's budget from the very beginning. This leadership relies on the strength of his team members to explore the appropriate balance of ingenuity and practicality. Additionally, Richard is steering VLK to think about the importance of branding in today's school environment and is guiding us to integrate this thinking in our design product, our client service, and our vocabulary.
Novak started at VLK in 2008 and applied his enthusiasm for architecture in the built form as a dedicated Construction Contract Administrator.John's willingness to take on the most challenging of projects, and 'outside the box' thinking, steers him to effectively collaborate with contractors, clients, and project teams on educational and commercial projects.He is a believer in quality control standards and mentors the office through his daily observations in the field.John is a valued resource and leader for construction matters and has become a fundamental contributor to the culture at VLK.
'The future of our firm relies on the creative insight of leaders like Richard and John,' said Leesa Vardeman, VLK Partner. 'They bring a unique voice that compels us to think differently with regard to the advancement of our client service. We value their perspective.'