Fawley Bryant Architecture names new principals

Fawley Bryant Architecture is widely known for its vision.

So much so that once the firm was invited to a New York Fashion Week event just for "its way of thinking."

However, owner/design architect Stu Henderson admitted he was spending so much time with the conceptual visions for his company's projects that he might have been "a little late" looking within.

So earlier this month, Henderson and his partners fixed that oversight, promoting Kirk Bauer and James Hugglestone to firm principals.

"We love what we do," Henderson said. "These guys are champions of our culture. We have fun while we work."

On Fawley Bryant's website is a description of its values. Included are the words, "Be ruthlessly positive."

At a gathering to discuss the newest path of the firm with Bauer and Hugglestone moving into new leadership roles, it was smiles all around.

"In elevation, we have expectations (for Bauer and Hugglestone)," Henderson said. "They have new responsibilities. And I am going to love my role. I expect to develop more on the vision side. And not just projects, but the vision side for the business. We have goals financially. We are looking for growth to evolve."

In his new role, Bauer will be the director of sports, responsible for overseeing the design and delivery of sports-based projects. Hugglestone will manage the municipal and education market sectors.

"Their dedication and expertise have been extremely influential in our recent success," said Amanda Parrish, the company's chief operating officer and partner, in a release.

Photo by Jay Heater

While Henderson said both have "extraordinary talent in design," he noted that both are great facilitators in getting a job accomplished the way it is planned.

"Kirk takes my silly 'what ifs' and makes them happen," he said.

Bauer said that while Fawley Bryant designs projects as a team, he enjoys a role of finding design solutions.

"One of our biggest issues has been the supply chain," he said. "What is the lead time to get equipment? What is the price of construction. You need to find solutions for cost increases. You have to find alternatives."

He also said that he has to take concepts and translate them into technical documents.

"Architecture isn't just design," he said.

Hugglestone concurs.

"I am very similar to Kirk in that after we come up with the design as a team, I like solving the puzzle," Hugglestone said. "I get the charts, and I need to find out how to solve (the client's) problems."

Bauer has 21 years of experience in the industry in design, project management and client relations. He will be overseeing a fast-growing sector of Fawley Bryant's business. He has been with Fawley Bryant 11 years.

Fawley Bryant has designed the Binghamton (New York) University baseball complex, the spring training complex for the Atlanta Braves, the St. Louis Cardinals' Batting Tunnel, and the PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Sports Performance Center in Pueblo, Colorado.

The firm has designed several projects on the IMG Academy campus in Bradenton, including the Sports Science and Performance Center and the IMG Academy Fieldhouse.

The most viewed Fawley Bryant sports-related project is the finish tower at Nathan Benderson Park.

All those projects have attracted new clients.

"One of the things we are doing now is less day to day (project management)," Bauer said. "We are creating more business relationships and networking. Right now, we are working with the Baltimore Orioles (on a potential project)."

However, he said he will continue to get the joy and satisfaction of turning a concept into reality.

"It's like working on the IMG Sports Science and Performance Center, they were a great client and they challenged us," he said.

When the project is finished comes another payoff for Bauer.

"I was there the day the Braves opened (CoolToday Park)," he said. "I looked around and saw the kids. We were helping to create memories."

Hugglestone, who has 27 years of experience in the industry and five years with Fawley Bryant, is currently overseeing the Lakewood Ranch Library project, but like Bauer, he will be doing less day-to-day management.

"I'm looking forward to helping Fawley Bryant grow by continuing to develop our team, diving deeper into process development, and ensuring our clients and partners are taken care of," he said.

Like Bauer, he enjoys the result of finished projects.

"I love the projects that have an impact on the community, such as the Bradenton Christian School and Waterside projects," he said. "It's a part of the place where I live and work. I feel pride."

Fawley Bryant was established in 1994 by original owners Rick Fawley and Mike Bryant. Fawley died in 2015 and Bryant retired in 2018. The partners now are Henderson, Parrish and Steve Padgett. The firm has 25 employees.

"(Hugglestone and Bauer) are going from doing a role, to leading the role," Henderson said. "The rest of the company will see a new path."