Bio:

As principal and market leader for cities and places at Jacobs, the Great Designer Dan Kirby leads multi-disciplinary teams in a practice that applies design and technology in the creation of connected, sustainable and inclusive places. A longtime voice on diversity issues, he is Vice President/President-Elect of the Architects Foundation. He was the first African-American to serve as President of the AIA Florida. In 2020, Dan was recipient of AIA Florida’s Honor Award for Social Advancement of the Profession. Prior to joining Jacobs, Dan was director of development services for Hill International, director of development for Capital Development Group and was design studio director for Farmer Baker Barrios Architects. His work includes significant domestic and international projects. Dan previously served a member of the Strategic Council for the American Institute of Architects and is a Past President of AIA Florida. From 2008 - 2017, Dan has served as a member of the Orlando Utilities Commission, the five-member governing board of Florida’s 2nd largest municipally-owned utility, including 2 terms as President. In addition, he served as an advisory member of the national board of directors for the American Planning Association and Chair of the Alumni Board of Governors for the Taubman College of Architecture & Urban Planning at the Univ. of Michigan. At the local government level, Dan also served as a member of Mayor's Downtown Strategic Transition Team, Historic Preservation Board, 3-term Chair of the Maitland Planning & Zoning Commission, and as Vice Chair of the Orange County Urban Design Commission. Dan is a recipient of the AIA Florida Gold Medal, Silver Medal, AIA Orlando Medal of Honor, and Nils Schweizer Award.

 

How did you first learn about architecture and when did you decide that built environment profession was an area of interest for you?

When I was about 7 years old, I saw a rendering of the church I attended transformed as a part of a planned renovation.

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What do you do?

I lead the Cities and Places practice for Jacobs in Florida & Puerto Rico. This work encompasses our A/E practice and planning for cities. My professional and volunteer leadership work is at the nexus of design, equity, and digital transformation.

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What excites you in the work you do?

Working with diverse user groups across multi-disciplinary teams.

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Who or what inspires you professionally?

Creating spaces that enable people to thrive!

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What is your proudest professional accomplishment or achievement?

Besides being a teacher and mentor to successful architects, it has been being one of a small group of people that have been honored with Fellowship in both AIA and AICP.

 

Object:

Object Five - Alternative career, volunteer work with organizations not directly connected with the built environment, or service to society

 

Year of Elevation: 

2016

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Featured Project Name: 

OUC St. Cloud Operations & Maintenance Center

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Featured Project Location: 

St. Cloud, FL

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Featured Project Completion Date: 

January 2024

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Role in Featured Project: 

Design Principal

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Featured Project Description:

The new Orlando Utilities Commission St. Cloud Operations and Maintenance Center is a 24+ acre net-zero energy campus that includes an Office Building, Warehouse Building, Fleet building, and various other site structures. This new campus addresses sustainability at a holistic level, prioritizing the health and safety of the occupants, while optimizing the buildings performance and utilizing technology that turns the buildings into power plants.

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Photography Credit:

Jacobs