NEWS // 10.09.15
Texas Tech University College of Architecture names Chris Huckabee 2015 Distinguished Alumni
Chris Huckabee has been named the 2015 Texas Tech University College of Architecture Distinguished Alumni. The Architecture Alumni Association presents the award annually to graduates who have clearly defined excellence in their profession, as well as shown dedication to the field of architecture.
Chris graduated from Texas Tech University’s College of Architecture in 1991. Upon graduation, he joined Huckabee full-time, having already spent the majority of his life learning about the field from his father, Tommie. Shortly after, Chris became President, and in 2001 took over as Chief Executive Officer. Under his leadership, Huckabee has grown from a 5-person shop to a more than 180-employee, multi-discipline firm with offices across Texas. It is one of the fastest growing architectural / engineering firms in the nation.
In addition to his business acumen, the Distinguished Alumni award recognizes Chris’ leadership in the community and his belief in developing a firm-wide culture of philanthropy. As a community leader, Chris served on the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board where he worked to improve the quality and access of higher education to all Texans. He recently stepped down from his role, when he was appointed to the Board of Regents at Texas Tech University. Chris also serves on the Board of Trustees for Cook Children’s Medical Center in Fort Worth and as the Chair of the Board of Directors for the Community Foundation of North Texas.
Through his family’s Huckabee Community Excellence Fund, Chris and the firm have given more than $1,000,000 to organizations that support education, health, community programs, arts and cultural affairs. Huckabee also routinely provides support to education foundations, local causes and continuing education opportunities, as well as encourages its employees to give back through volunteering and through the donation of goods and funds.
Chris is one of the foremost CEOs in Texas, both within his field and as a business leader. His philosophy focuses on empowering employees and inspiring innovation, with the goal of providing the best-quality service to his clients. Chris also developed one of the top internship programs for recent college graduates, providing them with first-hand experience as they develop into successful architects and engineers.
As a testament to his leadership, Huckabee consistently appears on top industry lists for growth, workplace environment and innovation. In 2015, Zweig Group voted Huckabee the “Best Firm to Work For,” placing number three on the list for architecture firms and number one for structural engineering firms. Zweig Group also named Huckabee as a 2015, “Hot Firm.” Other recent recognitions include Engineering News Record’s “Top 500 Design Firms,” and Building Design + Construction magazine’s 2015 Giants 300 list as a “Top 10 K-12 School Sector” firm, among numerous school design awards.
The Architecture Alumni Association will make the announcement during a special presentation at the Texas Society of Architects Convention in November. Chris is the 34th alumni to receive the honor, joining a list of individuals who have made significant contributions to the field of architecture.
