Raj Barr-Kumar

Raj Barr-Kumar
Born Colombo, Sri Lanka
Nationality American
Alma mater University of Ceylon
Occupation Architect
Awards

Sri Lanka Foundation:

2008- Exceptional Achievement for Sustainable Design and Green Architecture[1]

2014- Lifetime Achievement Award[2]
Practice BARR Group International, LLC
Projects 2002-2006 additions and modifications to the Byron G. Rogers Federal Building and United States Courthouse

Raj Barr-Kumar, FAIA, RIBA,[3] also known as Raj Barr, is a prominent American architect, author and 1997 national president of the American Institute of Architects.[4][5]

Life

Raj Barr was born in Colombo, Ceylon to Alexander Hamilton Barr-Kumarakulasinghe and Francesca Thanga-Ranee Winslow.[6]

Barr earned a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from the University of Ceylon, Master's degrees in Architecture in Urban Design from the University of Kansas and Architecture and Development Planning from the Bartlett School of Architecture at the University of London. He received and ArchD in Sustainable Design from the University of Hawaii.[7]

Career

Barr began his architectural career working with the firm Panditaratna & Adithya in Sri Lanka prior to attending architecture school. He later worked for Jon Prescott, RIBA in Hong Kong. Barr's US career began with Patty Berkebile Nelson Associates and Seligson Associates in Kansas City, and Barrett Daffin and Carlin in Tallahassee, Florida.[8]

In 1981 Barr founded BARR Group International, LLC, a residential and commercial architecture firm based in Washington, D.C.

In 1996, Barr was nationally elected to serve as the 1997 President of The American Institute of Architects (AIA) and became the first person of color to lead the organization in its 140-year history.[8]

Throughout his career as both a practitioner and an educator Barr has attempted to publicly champion the principals of sustainable design[9][10] as well as innovative approaches to addressing social problems including homelessness.[11]

Barr served on the faculty of School of Architecture at Howard University in the 1990s.

From 2003 to 2012 Barr served as Professor of Practice for the School of Architecture & Planning at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.

Works

Name City US State/
Country 		Completed Other Information Image
Altos Escondidos[10][12] Panama ongoing large-scale residential development
Eco-Maya Condominiums[13][14] Playa del Carmen Mexico
Embassy of Sri Lanka[13][15] Washington District of Columbia 2008 interior build-out and restoration
Embassy of Trinidad and Tobago[13][14][15] Washington District of Columbia 2008 interior build-out and restoration
World Bank Group Building[13] Washington District of Columbia

Bibliography

Textbooks

  • Green Architecture: Strategies for Sustainable Design[3][16]
  • Sustainable Design Strategies (2010)[3][16]
  • Fire Water Sound Motion: Re-thinking Mechanical Systems (2011)[16]

References

  1. ↑ , Asian Tribune, November 17, 2008, Retrieved 2015-06-17
  2. ↑ , Embassy of Sri Lanka Washington D.C.: News, December 2, 2014, Retrieved 2015-06-17
  3. 1 2 3 Royal Institute of British Architects USA: Contact Information
  4. ↑ American Institute of Architects: History
  5. ↑ , The Architect: The Journal of the Sri Lanka Institute of Architects, October 2011, Retrieved 2015-06-17
  6. ↑ Ceylon Tamils: Dr Raj Barr
  7. ↑ BARR International: About Us
  8. 1 2 Vosbeck, R. Randall. Legacy of Leadership: The Presidents of the American Institute of Architects. The American Institute of Architects, 2008. Print.
  9. ↑ Lee, Catherine. , Inside CUA, August 27, 2007, Retrieved 2015-06-13
  10. 1 2 Mendis, Cheranka. , Daily FT, August 30, 2012, Retrieved 2015-06-17
  11. ↑ Gardner, Marilyn. , The Christian Science Monitor, March 2, 1990, Retrieved 2015-06-13
  12. ↑ Altos Escondidos
  13. 1 2 3 4 BARR International: Projects
  14. 1 2 Diorio, Gina L. "Barr International." Green Business Quarterly, Winter 2009: p.154-155. Print.
  15. 1 2 wpengine. , Home & Design, November/December 2008, Retrieved 2015-06-15
  16. 1 2 3 Amazon.com Author Page: Raj Barr-Kumar

External links


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