Dewberry

For Immediate Release
April 14, 2009

Contact: Molly Wagner
703.849.0307
mwagner@dewberry.com

Thompson Marks 40 Years with PSA-Dewberry

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Fairfax, VA

Architect Has Designed Many Regional Landmarks

Vic_Thompson Vic Thompson, an architect who has designed many of the Tulsa area’s most acclaimed government, education, and medical buildings, recently marked his 40^th anniversary with the Tulsa office of PSA-Dewberry. The award-winning designer will celebrate with clients, co-workers, and family at a reception on Tuesday, April 14, that will feature a retrospective of many of his milestone projects in the region.

Thompson serves as manager of architectural design in the Tulsa office, part of PSA-Dewberry’s national architectural and building engineering practice that also includes locations in Texas, Maryland, Illinois, and Virginia. PSA-Dewberry is an affiliate of Dewberry, a 2,000-person enterprise with 40 locations from coast to coast.

Best known for his work with colleges and universities, school districts, government agencies, and healthcare organizations, Thompson possesses a diverse portfolio that includes cutting-edge campus buildings as well as several noted urban landmarks. He designed the renowned Mid-Continent Tower, a 36-story office building in downtown Tulsa that earned national awards praising its architectural achievements and sensitivity in historic preservation. Tulsa’s first skyscraper, the building was originally constructed in 1918 with 16 stories. Under Thompson’s direction, a distinctive 20-story addition was completed in 1984 that earned an Honor Award from the National Trust for Historic Preservation and “Building of the Year” from the Building Owners and Managers Association.

Thompson also served as lead designer on the acclaimed MTTA Denver Avenue Station, located at 4^th and Denver, which was completed to coincide with Tulsa’s 100^th birthday celebration in 1998.

Thompson’s design of the new Booker T. Washington High School for Tulsa Public Schools was featured in American School & University magazine. The high school’s heritage dated to 1913, when it was established as a one-room, segregated schoolhouse. A circa-1950 building later served as a model for Tulsa’s desegregation program in 1973. The new building designed by Thompson incorporated a number of features that celebrate the school’s legacy and historic importance within the community, including an engaging brick mural that recalls Washington’s life and achievements. The project earned “Best in Show” at the Oklahoma Excellence in Design Competition in 2004.

More recently, Thompson has earned praise for his design of the new Helmerich Advanced Technology Research Center, which opened last year on the Tulsa campus of Oklahoma State University. Cited by one awards jury member as a “’Field of Dreams’ for architecture,” the building houses specialized laboratories and other high-end spaces that support the university’s research in materials science and engineering, biotechnology, energy, and information technology. Noted for its integration of the visual arts into a state-of-the-art scientific environment, the center features a dramatic 7,000-square-foot atrium and has become a focal point for international research conferences and other events for the science and technology communities.

“Vic has been an obvious key to the success of PSA-Dewberry’s reputation for design excellence,” says Dave Huey, a principal and director of the Tulsa office. “His ability to adapt to a wide variety of client types and personalities has made him a natural choice to lead the design efforts of hundreds of millions of dollars worth of construction throughout Oklahoma over the past four decades. Vic is personally committed to the success of each project he works on and has gained the deepest respect of clients throughout the state for his dedication to their needs and his persistence to give them the best he has to give.

“People want to be around Vic,” Huey adds. “His uncompromised work ethic, willingness to lead by example, and unparalleled professional abilities promote an atmosphere that fosters team-building and camaraderie. In short, Vic sets the standard for his peers to aspire to. And that includes me.”

Other area projects designed by Thompson include:

Tulsa Community College, Metro, Northeast and Southeast Campuses
Laureate Psychiatric Clinic and Hospital
Biomedical Research Facility Phase II Expansion at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
Oklahoma State University Center for Services to Students
Northeastern State University Science Building Addition
Thomas Jefferson Elementary School, Union Public Schools
Case Community Center, Sand Springs
Several projects for Saint Francis Hospital

Currently, Thompson is working on the design of Crestwood at Oklahoma Methodist Manor, the renovation and expansion of the student union at Oklahoma State University, and expansion projects for Holland Hall School and Cancer Treatment Centers of America.

MTTA Denver Avenue Station

Helmerich Advanced Technology Research Center