Today we’d like to introduce you to John Roberts.
Hi John, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I was born and raised in Fort Worth. I studied Architecture at the University of Texas at Arlington, and I became a Registered Architect in 1987. I got my interest in photography when I was on the yearbook staff at R.L. Paschal High School. I have always been interested in the history of my city. In 1997, I decided to develop a website on the city’s architecture. The first generation of the site was a listing of the major buildings in Downtown, the date of opening, the architect, and their address. At that time, there were not any building photographs. I expanded the site by adding photographs of the buildings and finally by adding building descriptions. I later expanded the site to include architecturally significant buildings outside of Downtown. The site is a work in progress and I update it regularly. It also included an old school discussion board on anything relating to the city. Work on the site has led to me leading monthly architecture and history tours of Downtown, and a more than 20 year relationship of being on the Board of Directors of Historic Fort Worth, Inc., the city’s preservation organization.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has been a very smooth road and a lot of fun.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a Registered Architect in the State of Texas, but I also recently retired from Halbach-Dietz Architects. I was there 35 years. I have no field of specialty in architecture, but I love preservation projects. I have worked on schools, office buildings, warehouses, new construction, remodelings, and various other types of projects. I think the one that I am most proud of is the Fort Worth Zoo’s Wilder Vision project that featured the African Savannah, Elephant Springs, and the Predators of Asia and Africa. The architecture in this project featured the public buildings like a gift shop, restrooms, and concession stands. It also featured all of the “back of house” buildings that housed the animals and support services for the exhibits.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
One of the things that I would recommend is to travel and see the world, if you can afford it. If you are entering the field of architecture, you can use your travels to see how history has influence the field. There are many great cities in the world and in the United States. If you are interested in photography, keep taking pictures of all things. If you can’t carry a good camera with you, use your cell phone. The new models take wonderful pictures.
Contact Info:
- Website: Architecture in Fort Worth – https://www.fortwortharchitecture.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fortwortharchitecture
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ArchitectureFW
- Twitter: https://x.com/FortWorthForum
- Email: jroberts@fortwortharchitecture.com
