IN MEMORIAM
BUFORD WOODROW DUKE JR.
Buford Woodrow Duke Jr., associate
professor of architecture at The University of Texas at Austin, died
on February 3, 2000, after suffering a heart attack.
Buford joined the School of Architecture
in fall 1981 as a visiting associate professor, bringing to the University
a background in architectural practice in the design and execution
of large, complex building projects. A registered architect in eleven
states and the District of Columbia, he had served as senior corporate
vice president and principal designer of the Benham Group. He specialized
in sustainability, energy, and resource conservation and became known
as a pioneer in the Green Building Movement in architecture. He was
promoted to associate professor in 1983.
Professor Duke was born on June
17, 1938, in Dallas, Texas, to Buford and Mildred Duke. He was the
eldest of five sons. He attended UT Arlington before transferring
to the University in 1959, where he received a bachelor's degree in
1962. In 1958 he married Ruth Stout and they had two daughters, Tanya
and Belinda.
Considered an innovative teacher,
Buford emphasized practice-based, design team approaches employed
by architectural firms. In one instance, he led students on a field
trip to Ruidoso, New Mexico, to work at the site of architect David
Smith 's Studio III Art School to design a master plan for turning
the school into a full-scale living art community. In another instance,
Buford developed and taught a current events topics studio. The class
worked on a unique Peace Corps training center and hosted Peace Corps
officials to lecture and review their work. In addition, Buford had
his students work on large, urban-scaled projects that explored economic
issues and sustainable architecture. This included a downtown Austin
multi-use project near the Convention Center, a riverfront development
in New Jersey, the Triangle Development in Austin, and a children
's home in Kenya. Buford also led his students in developing master
plans for the cities of Florence, Kemah, and Port Aransas, Texas.
He encouraged his students to participate
in design competitions. In a major competition sponsored by Acme Brick
Company, his students won prizes for design in load-bearing masonry.
In 1990, Buford sponsored the top three winning student entries in
the Solar-90 Conference for the Texas Solar Energy Society. The projects
were judged for originality and energy concepts.
Buford's own architectural designs
were significant. As principal designer with the Benham Group, he
oversaw the creation of the Sacramento State Office Building, which
featured underground earth-tempered architecture, natural sources
of light, and a six-story solar wall with 12,000 square feet of solar
collectors. Considered one of the pioneering energy-efficient office
buildings in America, the design was honored with three awards: the
1978 State of California 's award for design of an energy-efficient
office building, an Owens Corning energy award, and the Department
of Energy Award. He also designed the 1.2 million dollar Setty residence
in Vienna, Virginia. The advanced state hybrid energy systems in the
7,200 square foot house included a groundwater heat pump with a passive
heat recovery backup, a pool-connected heat sink, and a radiant heat
system. His other architectural projects of merit included the Barcelona
Condos in San Antonio, the Ron Duke residence in Canyon Lake, and
the restoration of the Allan W. Nalle residence at Lake LBJ.
In addition, Buford worked on various
public service oriented projects with his colleagues and students.
With Professor Lance Tatum he worked on a design feasibility study
for the Austin community nursery schools and the East Austin Center
as well as on a relocating and rebuilding plan for the American Daylily
Company. With Professors Richard Swallow and Michael Garrison, and
their advanced design students, he worked on low-income housing for
a colonia along the Texas border with Mexico. The project was carried
out for the State of Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs.
Buford served as a design consultant
to architects O 'Neal Ford and Frank Welch, for whom he helped develop
the $45 million dollar Center for Energy Related Studies at the University
of Oklahoma. He also worked with Dr. Les Boyer from Oklahoma State
University on collaborative measurements and evaluation of "The
Application of Daylighting in Commercial and Industrial Buildings."
As an expert in his field, Buford
served as an invited juror for the Air Force Systems Command Awards
Program in 1983 and 1984. He was appointed a member of the Building
Types Energy Performance Standards Committee of the U.S. Department
of Energy, Oak Ridge National Laboratories, in 1985. He was named
special environmental planning expert for the United States Air Force
(USAF) Office of Scientific Research and also served as a design consultant
for the USAF Systems Command Advanced Air Base Planning "React"
Team. He was presented the USAF Award of Merit for his work with
Advanced Air Base Planning Programs at Bolling Air Force Base in Washington,
D.C.
Buford was a valued colleague and
friend to the School of Architecture for more than 19 years. His contribution
to the academy of architecture was important and his place in history
as a pioneering member of the energy and architecture field is secure.
He influenced countless numbers of architecture students who will
undoubtedly carry the lessons of his teaching into their own careers.
Buford was one of those rare people
who had strong-principled ideals and yet remained grounded in the
importance of acknowledging real-world constraints and needs. He was
also a professional who believed in service to the community and generously
helped his family or others. We will all miss his gentle spirit, his
kind nature, and his sense of humor.
<signed>
Larry R. Faulkner,
President
The University of Texas at Austin
<signed>
John R. Durbin, Secretary
The General Faculty
This memorial resolution was prepared
by a special committee consisting of Professors Lance E. Tatum (chair),
Michael L. Garrison, and Richard P. Swallow.
