Deborah A. Burkhart has 28 years experience as an Architect managing and designing projects for the public: schools, libraries, post offices, museums, courthouses, community spaces and transportation facilities.
Debbie started her career by earning a Bachelor of Architecture from Ball State University and then returned to school after working five years to attain a joint degree, Masters of Architecture and Masters of Business Administration, from the University of Illinois. Debbie is a licensed Architect in Indiana and Illinois and holds an NCARB certificate.
Her Architectural experience covers all phases of design for a variety of institutional project types, sizes and complexities, ranging from a $10,000 duck blind for a Girl Scout camp to the multi-billion-dollar multiphase Umm Al Qura University, in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. She was the Principal-in-Charge of the Federal Campus in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, the office building to replace the Murrah Building, bombed in 1995.
Debbie's firm management responsibilities have included negotiating fees and contracts, calculating future staff loads, hiring staff and staff assignments, estimating design fees, reconciling design budgets with schedules, overseeing AP/AR, managing support staff, writing employee manuals, monitoring project profitability, and marketing.
Debbie has taught Professional Practice at the School of Architecture, University of Illinois and Masters-level Design Studios at the College of Architecture, Illinois Institute of Technology. She is a member of the American Institute of Architects; the Treasurer of the Construction Specifications Institute, Chicago Chapter; and a member of the Oral Histories Project for the Chicago Women in Architecture. In 2005, she was awarded the Ball State University, College of Architecture and Planning Alumni Award of Outstanding Achievement.
For 15 years, she was with Ross Barney Architects, an award-winning woman-owned Chicago-based Architecture firm with a national project and client base. As a Principal of the firm, she managed projects and the office. In 2007, Debbie joined the Education Group of OWP/P where she is a Sr. Project Manager and Associate on diverse projects, such as a $100mil High School, and a Training Facility for Plumbers and Plumber's Apprentices.
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Qualifications
NCARB Certification, 1986, #33962
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Professional Experience
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Academic Experience
Illinois Institute of Technology, School of Architecture,
Graduate Design Studio, Assistant Adjunct Professor, 2005
University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana,
Professional Practice Class, Guest Lecturer, 1988 - 2000
Professional Practice Class, Graduate Teaching Assistant, 1986 - 1987
Building Technology, Graduate Teaching Assistant, 1985
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Memberships
Professional Practice Committee, 1987-88
Board of Directors, 1984-85
Design Concepts Lecture Chair, 1983-85
Design Awards Banquet Chair, 1983-84
Indiana Society of Architects,
Board of Directors, 1984-85
National Women's Task Force,
East States Regional Director, 1984-85
Oral Histories Committee, 2005-06
Chicago Chapter, 2003 - present
Board Member, Treasurer, FY 2006 - 2009
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Education
Business Management Academy, City of Chicago, 2002
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Exhibits
International traveling exhibit, 2004
“Building the Legacy….CAP is 40”,
College of Architecture and Planning, Ball State University, 2005.
Architecture / Gender & Women's Studies 424
Gender & Race in Contemporary Architecture
University of Illinois, Fall 2002
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Presentations
"Building Community through Design",
2006 Professional Development Conference, AIA Chicago
Division 10: Architectural Design
Chicago Architectural Foundation, 2007
Chicago Women in Architecture,
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Publications
The Oral Histories Project,
Chicago Women in Architecture & The Art Institute of Chicago, 2006.
"A Creative Constellation, Celebrating Twenty Five Years",
Chicago Women in Architecture, 1999.
"Climbing Jacob's Ladder",
Architectural Record, November 1897.
"A Flight by Light",
Architectural Record Lighting, November 1995.
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Awards
Ball State University, College of Architecture & Planning, 2005
President's Award,
The Chicago Chapter, Construction Specifications Institute, June 2008
Award of Excellence,
The Chicago Chapter, Construction Specifications Institute, June 2008
The Chicago Chapter, Construction Specifications Institute, June 2007
The Chicago Chapter, Construction Specifications Institute, June 2006
Certificate of Appreciation,
The Chicago Chapter, Construction Specifications Institute, June 2007
The Chicago Chapter, Construction Specifications Institute, June 2006
Creative and Performing Arts Fellowship,
University of Illinois, 1986-1987
Who's Who in the Midwest, 1987
Gargoyle Architectural Honor Society,
University of Illinois-Champaign, 1986
Most Valuable Player Award,
Indianapolis Chapter AIA, 1984