Bob Steele’s creative engagement in Richmond, Virginia sparked an awakening in the area’s arts community. Now one of the country’s most vibrant places to live, Richmond’s desirability can be traced to Bob’s enduring community leadership.

Everywhere one looks in Richmond, it is evident that the arts and culture ‘scene’ is a catalyst for economic development and community revitalization. Steele has had a major hand in bringing Richmond, Virginia to this place of superior livability and effervescent quality of life. His involvement has run the gamut of arts and culture organizations. During his tenure on the Public Arts Commission, more than a dozen installations of major public sculpture were placed. Art in other forms – temporary installations, building murals, large paintings, and the like – were also provided to various parts of the city. “Many of the Public Arts Commission’s pioneering programs have become examples for other cities of similar size and small locales in Virginia, such as the “Percent-for-Arts Initiative”. Dozens of other communities used this initiative, along with several other ingenious projects. The collective efforts of the Commission with Bob as its visionary, served as a catalyst for the revitalization of certain depressed neighborhoods and forgotten parts of the city”.

Richmond is a ‘happening place’ and has been featured in many recent publications as one of the country’s most exciting cities to inhabit. Young people are flocking to the city, or want to stay here upon graduating from Virginia Commonwealth University, as Richmond is known for its vibrant arts and cultural landscapes. The rebirth of the arts in this city - and the ‘rise of the creative class’ - can be traced to Steele’s visionary guidance in a multitude of organizations. Each of these institutions is still vibrant, thanks to the many strategies, initiatives, and policies Steele put in to place. Moreover, Steele’s leadership across the spectrum of arts organizations has elevated the quality of life for the residents of Richmond and well beyond. Everyone who visits this city benefits from his abiding influence.

As well as contributing to the community, Steele also gives back to fellow architects. Steele joined the James River Chapter AIA in 1986. During his many years of active membership Steele has helped launch many programs, projects, and initiatives for both AIA Richmond and AIA Virginia. Steele has taken it upon himself to give back, over and over, to his profession, and architects across the Commonwealth have been the fortunate beneficiaries of his contributions, support, and advocacy on their behalf.

EDUCATION

Post Graduate Studies

Harvard University Graduate School of Design Summers 1989, 1990, 1992, & 1995

Bachelor of Architecture

Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University, 1982

PROFFESIONAL SERVICES

Beyond Ordinary Boundaries (B.O.B.) Architecture Richmond, Virginia, 1988-present

Joseph Boggs Studio Washington, DC & Richmond, Virginia, 1986-1988

Davis & Carter McLean, Virginia, 1984-1986

Ward/Hall Associates Fairfax, Virginia, 1978-1984

AWARDS, HONORS, AND RECOGNITIONS

Jack Loftus Outstanding Citizen Award Bon Air Community Association, 2002

Distinguished Achievement Award AIA Virginia, 1994

Marcellus Wright, Jr. Award AIA Richmond, 2009

AIA College of Fellows AIA, 2018

The James Beard Foundation Design Award elements Restaurant, Princeton, NJ - Finalist, 2009

Historic Richmond Foundation Preservation Citation Woodside Plantation, 2000 & James Albert Building, 1990

Southern Living Magazine’s Southern Home Award Woodside Plantation, 2000

AIA Richmond Design Awards Merit Award - 2019 - Saunder’s Station Honor Award - 2018 - Potomac Creek Residence Merit Award - 2018 - Cornell St. Addition Merit Award - 2016 - Uptown Alley Honor Award - 2013 - Northampton Residence Honor Award - 2012 - Hoyle Lane Residence Honor Award - 2010 - Urban Studio Merit Award - 2009 - elements Restaurant Merit Award - 2008 - Newquay Lane Residence Merit Award - 2008 - The Old Gas Plant Merit Award - 2004 - 1708 Gallery Merit Award - 2003 - Echo Ho Lane Residence Honor Award - 2002 - In Your Ear Music & Recording Studio Merit Award - 1998 - Bullet’s Restaurant Honor Award - 1996 - Bruce’s Super Body Shop Design Award -1992 - Rothesay Circle Residence Design Award -1990 - The James Albert Building

PROFFESIONAL SERVICE

American Institute of Architects (AIA) Member, 1986-present Fellow, 2018-present

AIA Virginia Design Committee - Member, 1989-1999 & 2004-2016 Design Forum - Co-Founder, 1992 Art by Architects - Founder, 1994 Board of Directors - Director, 1994-1997 & 2014-2016 Honors Committee - Member, 1996-2003

AIA National Convention 1989-1998, 2000-2016, 2018 & 2019 Delegate - 1991-1998, 2000-2004 & 2007-2013

AIA Richmond Board of Directors - Member, 1989-1998 & 2011-2014 President - 1995-1997 Honors & Awards Committee - Member, 1995-present Honors & Awards Committee - Chair, 1996-2004 Design Awards - Chair, 2017-present

CIVIC INVOLVEMENT AND VOLUNTEER WORK

Monument Avenue Centennial Committee Co-Chair, 1990

City of Richmond Public Arts Commission Chair, 2000-2003 Member, 1998 -2008

City of Richmond East End Transformation Committee Chair, 1990-1994 Member, 1990-1998

Building Better Communities Co-Founder, 1992 Chair, 1992-1996

1708 Gallery Board of Directors President, 2001-2002 Member, 1994-2004

The Branch Museum of Architecture & Design Board of Trustees, 2015-present Chair, 2019-present Development Committee, Chair, 2015-present

Bon Air Community Association President, 2011-2016 Chairman, Board of Trustees, 2016-present Board Member, 1998-present

United Way Campaign Section Chairman, 1994-1995