Gregory L. Stock

Registered Architect in the State of Missouri since 1985

2911 Salena Street, Saint Louis, MO 63118, H: 314-776-1209, W: 314-725-2927 

Interview.

How has dealing with MD affected you during your life and career as an architect?

I have a form of Muscular Dystrophy 'MD', specifically. I wasn't diagnosed until I was almost through my junior year of College and I didn't change any of my plans when I found out.  The MD I have isn't particularly debilitating, and I wasn't counseled to change professions or anything. Most firms put me behind the scene, which disappoints me, and it is never clear whether they do it consciously because they are embarrassed, or they think they are doing me a favor by screening me from the public.  One firm didn't train me on the computer because they didn't think I could type, with my dystrophy, but they never asked me.  I found out during an exit interview, complaining that I never got to use the computer there. One firm held up my start date while the management considered a doctors evaluation that I might not always be able to climb up on the roofs of their properties.  That would have been a facilities management job for a major corporation that paid much better than I was getting, working for architects.

What are some of your favorite designs, designers or architecture projects?

My favorite projects have been the ones I had the ability to shape and design, and I would guess that includes the Zion Church(even though our contract was terminated), the Laclede Gas Building Lobby, the Federal Reserve Bank Auditorium(while at HOK), the Mark Twain Museum(again it was just conceptual but fun), the Missouri Baptist MOB addition(I worked on it for over 4 years, from schematic thru CD's) and the projects I have done at Blessing Hospital in  Quincy. I have won some lighting awards, having worked with the lighting department at HOK as my introduction, then designing at Answers Inc. for the First Bank Lobby in clayton and the Outpatient area at Columbia Regional Hospital. Hospital projects with indirect lighting are good candidates for lighting awards, of which my work includes a few good projects. I have entered a few design competitions over the years, they are satisfying because I can explore ideas that my clients or my supervisors don't appreciate.  I am proud of the Art Center I did with Albena and her brother, as well as the library for mattson that was exhibited in Chicago

How has your perception/ function of space has been altered as your physical limitation increased?

Living in a historic district with lots of 3 story homes with tall stairways up to the front doors can be difficult. I wrestle constantly about the idea of designing one story homes for others and myself because multistory volumes and facades are much more interesting to me than a one story home, without level changes. I have wondered what I can do to make a one story home interesting volumetrically. I think there are some big cultural biases that people have yet to resolve in their own minds, and the challenged are frustrated that their lifestyle has to cost more than an able person. .  I for instance hire people to do all sorts of things that my neighbors can do themselves. I also try to put more light fixtures within reach on walls etc, and less on the ceiling so I can change them. On of the great love affairs architects have is with the opportunity to design a neat stair in each project. This in a tough paradox for us physically challenged architects to resolve in our own minds

As a student in architecture did you face any issues of discrimination? If yes then how did you overcome these?

I seemed rather popular enough in college, my teachers saw how well I did and encouraged me.  I had friends in the dorm and in the Architecture school too, to do things with on the weekend, etc.  I did get elected as the AIA student president in college too, so I felt pretty well liked. I think the fact that I had to work my way through college put more distance between my classmates and me than my disabilities.  As I was never available to go anywhere with my classmates, outside of the late night studio runs for 3 AM food or breaks.  I worked a few nights each week on a financial aid work-study program in the student union.

EMPLOYMENT

CHRISTNER INC., St. Louis, MO - May 1993-present

ANSWERS INC., St. Louis, MO - June 1987-May 1993

SELF-EMPLOYED, St. Louis, MO - Oct. 1986-June 1987

SAINT LOUIS ARCHITECTS, INC. (formerly LaPlante Associates), St. Louis, MO - Nov 1985-Oct. 1986

HELLMUTH, OBATA AND KASSABAUM, INC., St. Louis, MO - Feb. 1984-Nov. 1985

PEARCE CORPORATION, St. Louis, MO - Aug. 1982-Feb. 1984

BROWNSTEIN ASSOCIATES, St. Louis, MO - Dec. 1981-May 1982

THE HOFFMANN PARTNERSHIP, INC., St. Louis, MO - Dec. 1980-81

HOWELL, RADLOFF, THORPE ARCHITECTS, INC., Minneapolis, MN - June-Nov. 1980

RADLOFF ASSOCIATES, INC. Minneapolis, MN (College Internship) - May 1979-Jan. 1980

DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE, KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY Teaching Assistantship - 1979-80

JOHN HERRING, ARCHITECT, Shawnee Mission, KS - Summer, 1978

THE DESIGN STUDIO, ARCHITECTS, Manhattan, KS - Sept. 1977-Feb1978

Education:

Bachelor of Architecture, Magna Cum Laude, May, 1980 Kansas State University

Valedictorian Address, College of Architecture Commencement

AIA Scholastic Award

Certificate of Merit Phi Kappa Phi (Senior Honorary)

Tau Sigma Delta (Architecture Honorary)

Phi Eta Sigma (Freshman Honorary)

Dean's Honor Roll

Chapter President ASC/AIA 1978-79

RECOGNITION:

2000 AGC Keystone Award Finalist, MO Baptist Medical Center North Medical Office Building

2000 Hangar of the Year, Illinois Dept. of Transportation, Blessing Hospital EVAC Hangar

'Garden' Exhibit, Saint Louis Design Center, 1995

Young Architects Forum Exhibit, Saint Louis Design Center, 1994

Matteson Library Competition Exhibit, ArchiCenter, Chicago Illinois, 1990  ILLUMINATION DESIGN AWARD, National section, IESNA, 1990

Outpatient Surgery Addition, Columbia Regional Hospital, Columbia, Mo. ILLUMINATION DESIGN AWARD, Saint Louis Section, IESNA,1990

Lobby Renovation, Clayton Savings and Loan, Clayton, Mo.

HEALTHCARE AWARD, Institute Of Business Designers, 1990: Outpatient Surgery Addition, Columbia Regional Hospital, Columbia, Mo.

Townframes, Guntus Plesums (author), 1978, pp. 68-70

Oz, KSU Architectural Journal, 1979, p. 21; 1980, pp. 28-29

MEMBERSHIPS:

Society of Architectural Historians

Construction Specifications Institute

American Institute of Architects

[Click on image to see complete board]

Zion Lutheran Church St. Louis, MO