Reprinted from Albuquerque Business First, “Albuquerque’s FBT Architects has new president, new ventures”
by Stephanie Guzman

Arthur Tatum, an award winning architect who has worked for FBT Architects for 30 years, has taken the helm of the Albuquerque-based company.

Chris Bard, who led the company with retired founder Bill Fanning for 40 plus years, will serve as an active principal in the company and focus his energy on the Soteria Group, a consulting firm with expertise in safety and security design for schools and the workplace.

Tatum is now president and managing partner, overseeing the firm’s 49 employees. He previously served as the company’s director of design.

“Chris and I have been talking about this for a few years, and we see eye to eye on most things, including the company’s legacy plan,” Tatum said.

FBT Architects is the fourth largest architecture firm in New Mexico in total gross billings, according to Business First’s Book of Lists. The firm has diversified in recent years. It opened an office in Lubbock and expanded with an office in Farmington, an effort that will allow the company to pursue work in the Four Corners region.

The firm also formed Walla Engineering, the interior design firm Studio M and landscape firm Groundwork Studio.

“We’ve gone into different segments in the market to keep us viable,” Tatum said. “The economy is still a huge challenge. Most of our work is not in Albuquerque but around the state.”

In order to spur construction activity in Albuquerque, Tatum said FBT Architects has worked with local developers to create conceptual renderings for projects that don’t exist yet, but could be built, should a company want to move to New Mexico.

“We’re seeing a little more movement. Hopefully we’ll see some private development,” Tatum said.

More on Tatum:

— Stephanie Guzman