Hear Award-Winning Architect Rick Joy at The 2nd Annual Frank Welch Memorial Lecture

Rick Joy, founder of Rick Joy Architects (Studio Rick Joy), will speak at the Dallas Architecture Forum‘s Second Annual Frank Welch Memorial Lecture at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 23, in the Horchow Auditorium at the Dallas Museum of Art. Joy’s renowned Tucson, Arizona, firm is recognized for sensitive, thoughtful approaches to site, observation, process, landscape, and building, with projects ranging from trend-setting single-family homes to large-scale resort projects throughout the globe. 

Joy’s designs offer a striking parallel to Frank Welch‘s body of work. Welch, who died in 2017, worked under the tutelage of the legendary O’Neil Ford and was considered one of the most recognizable and prolific among Texas Modernist architects. Dallas is home to a significant number of Frank Welch designs, which painstakingly incorporate the natural surrounding elements to create a harmony between site and structure. Many of these homes have hosted Dallas Architecture Forum events. 

“All of our studio’s work is rooted in developing an understanding of a ‘place’ and how the house design will be integrated in harmony to its surroundings,” Joy told CandysDirt.com. “We investigate the ‘culture’ of other well-designed buildings in the area, and use that as a basis to develop a design appropriate to the natural environment of that site.”

Joy’s studio has been widely published and recognized, with work appearing in Cereal, Architectural Record, A+U, Architectural Digest, Travel + Leisure, The New York Times, and Vogue. 

“Rick Joy’s focus on simple and thoughtful design in careful harmony with the project site is true to the legacy of Frank Welch, which makes him the perfect choice to present The Dallas Architecture Forum’s second Frank Welch Memorial Lecture,” stated Forum Executive Director Nate Eudaly.  “Rick Joy is known for looking to the specific environment and physical landscape of each project to reveal and celebrate its special features, while using natural and passive energy-saving techniques and unusual materials. We believe Mr. Joy will present what is sure to be a program of great interest.”

Frank Welch’s family has designated The Dallas Architecture Forum as one of the charities to which memorial donations in his honor can be made. Donations will be used to fund the annual Frank Welch Memorial Lecture, paying homage to one of the most influential Dallas architects our city has known. Last year’s inaugural Frank Welch Memorial Lecture was presented by Ted Flato, co-founder of Lake | Flato Architects.

“Though I never had the privilege of personally meeting Frank Welch, his work is widely admired as the Dean of Texas Modernists,” Joy said. “I am honored to be speaking in honor of Frank at such as prestigious organization as The Dallas Architecture Forum.”

The lecture begins promptly at 7 p.m. Jan. 23, with a complimentary reception beginning at 6:15 p.m. No reservations are needed to attend Forum lectures.Tickets are $20 per lecture for general admission and $5 for students (with ID). Dallas Architecture Forum members receive free admission to all regular Forum lectures as a benefit of membership, and AIA members can earn one hour of CE credit for each lecture. For more information on the Dallas Architecture Forum, visit www.dallasarchitectureforum.org or call 214-764-2406.

RICK JOY, FAIA

FOUNDER, RICK JOY ARCHITECTS (STUDIO RICK JOY)

TUCSON, ARIZONA

7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 23 2018

Reception and check-in from 6:15 to 6:55 p.m.

Dallas Museum of Art, Horchow Auditorium