Architect Steve Durkee announced last week that he would leave Durkee, Brown, Viveiros & Werenfels Architects, the Providence firm he helped established in 1994. Durkee will move to Cornish Associates in Providence, where he will take a position as principal. Durkee recently took some time to speak with Providence Business News about his new job.
PBN: What led you to take a job with Cornish Associates?
DURKEE: Sometimes there’s a moment when you know there’s another chapter in your life, and this became one of those moments. I have been working on a personal development project in downtown and that process has always appealed to me. While talking with Buff Chace about his plans for Cornish, it seemed that there may be an opportunity to work with him to help him with his business and the projects he was considering. He agreed, and we took the leap. It is, obviously, a very big and serious decision, and I am very excited about the opportunity and possibilities.
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PBN: What do you see as your day-to-day role at Cornish?
DURKEE: As we have discussed it, I will help manage and direct projects that Cornish is considering and help manage their existing business in downtown Providence. Cornish currently has 200 units of housing and 40,000 square feet of commercial and retail space that were developed over the last 10 years. I will also help with the planning that Cornish is involved in, including Kennedy Plaza, the Grants Block and other projects.
PBN: I understand that you’ll maintain at least an informal relationship with Durkee, Brown, Viveiros & Werenfels Architects. How do you see Cornish and Durkee, Brown working together?
DURKEE: Cornish and Durkee Brown have worked together for 15 years and I expect that relationship to continue. There are many shared values about our approach to urban revitalization, Smart Growth principles, and mostly there is a deep level of experience between the two companies. It is a very harmonious and productive relationship.
PBN: You’ll be leaving a company you helped establish. Looking back, what are you most proud of accomplishing? Any moments you’d rather not remember?
DURKEE: I am very proud of having built a company from scratch that has established a reputation throughout the region for providing our clients with outstanding service and great buildings. I have been fortunate to have been involved with the revitalization of Providence’s downtown from some of its earliest mixed-use redevelopment projects. In fact, Durkee Brown has worked on about 15 buildings in the downtown area including over 200 units of housing ranging from affordable artists’ housing to market-rate apartments. Most of these housing units were created in projects that used the state and federal historic tax credit. As for things I rather forget, can’t think of any at the moment. It has been an amazing experience.
PBN: In light of the new position, will you continue to chair the Providence City Plan Commission?
DURKEE: Yes I will. My position at Cornish will in no way prevent me from participating in decisions of the CPC and in fact will reduce the number of times I need to recuse myself from a decision due to my firm’s client relationship to applicants. It will continue to be an important role of my civic involvement.
