Meet Jeffrey Gunning of CallisonRTKL

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jeffrey Gunning.

Jeffrey, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
My history is based largely on two family circumstances that influenced my career. First, I grew up in a family of retailers who owned and operated a men’s and women’s clothing store in Enid, Oklahoma. Needless to say, the retail business was in my blood. Looking back now, maybe it’s no surprise that my career as an architect has been largely defined by architectural design of retail and mixed-use projects. Second, I’m the third of four children – all architects, although our skills and focus vary from project management to project administration to design to marketing. We all attended the University of Oklahoma College of Architecture, with our years of attendance overlapping during the late ‘70s and early ‘80s. The idea that we should start a firm and call it “Gunning, Gunning, Gunning and Gunning” was suggested so frequently that we made t-shirts, and the name is now on a plaque along with our story in the Gunning Family Classroom at the OU College of Architecture. We may have had the t-shirts made, but wisely didn’t start that family firm. We are all long-time employees of successful architecture practices: (Bob) Perkins + Will, Atlanta, (Beverly Pax) Fentress Architects, Denver, (Chris) Dekker/Perich/Sabatini, Albuquerque, and me at CallisonRTKL, Dallas.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
My story is unusual in that I’ve been employed by the same firm for nearly all of my architectural career. In some ways, that has made it a smooth road. The challenges have been in surviving a few economic downturns and in re-inventing myself along the way as the firm matured and grew around and with me. A wise urban planner with whom I once worked, John Gosling, used to say that architects need to re-invent themselves about every 10 years. I started out as a young designer, drawing and sketching ideas for senior designers in the studio, but was given the opportunity early on to have exposure with clients and to develop the presentation skills necessary to persuade and inspire approval of design ideas. I had some great mentors who gave me opportunities to prove and develop myself, and whose wise words still ring true today. Today, we still strive to give young architects that kind of exposure, and I hope I’ve become a mentor like those I had in my own career. My re-invention occurred as I was challenged to grow beyond the Dallas office and assume more firm-wide roles with what was then known as RTKL. My role has transitioned into leadership, marketing and operations, allowing me to become known beyond Dallas as a senior leader of a national, and now international, firm. When I started at the firm, we had two offices and today, we have more than 20 across the globe. When we began to venture outside the U.S. to work in Japan, China, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East in the ‘80s and ‘90s, I felt extremely lucky to have hitched my wagon to such a dynamic and forward-looking firm, rich with opportunity for an ambitious young designer from small-town Oklahoma.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about CallisonRTKL – what should we know?
CallisonRTKL is a global architecture, planning and design practice. When RTKL came together with Callison in 2014, it began yet another re-invention in my career. Our firm is known for projects of many scales, from the stores of some of the world’s best-known brands like Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus and REI, to architectural design of some of the world’s most successful shopping centers and mixed-use projects in Texas, Hawaii, Virginia, California and New York. I now lead the Commercial Practice Group in North America. Over the past 30-plus years, I’ve played a role in growing our Commercial business around the world, an accomplishment of which I’m extremely proud. But I started as a designer and still get excited on the occasions when I can conceptualize and draw alongside colleagues and clients.

As an architect, if you love to draw, you will always find satisfaction when you re-engage that basic design and communication skill. That said, I’m probably best known today among colleagues and clients as a presenter and relationship-builder. I try to bring a down-to-earth, persuasive and comfortable communication style to business conversations, just as my grandfather, uncle and father did when they were selling a Hickey-Freeman suit to a small-town lawyer, banker or farmer.

So, what’s next? Any big plans?
Despite my 33-year tenure with the same firm, I’m as excited as ever about the possibilities for the future of CallisonRTKL in Dallas and around the world. Our firm has been characterized by sound business planning, which involves strategic transition of leadership to the next generation. I’m focused on leaving a legacy in the form of future leaders I’ve helped to groom – just as I was mentored and groomed to stay and grow with a dynamic, ever-evolving design firm. With so much of my life invested in a firm, with countless relationships formed along the way, I want to ensure that, years from now, the next generation hears my words of mentorship and encouragement ringing true in their ears.

Contact Info:

• Address: 1717 Pacific Place, Dallas, TX 75201
• Website: www.callisonrtkl.com
• Phone: 214-468-7600
• Email: www.callisonrtkl.com/contact
• Instagram: @crtkldesign
• Facebook: CallisonRTKL
• Twitter: @CallisonRTKL
• Other: Vimeo: CallisonRTKL

Image Credit:
Neiman Marcus images (c) Charlie Mayer Photography courtesy of CallisonRTKL. All other images (c) CallisonRTKL Inc.

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