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Dan Fowler (left) is president of Cromwell Architectural Engineers, where Greg Kirkmon is chief executive.
Arkansas-based Cromwell Architects Engineers has donated $100,000 to establish two scholarships that will benefit Arkansas students studying at the Fay Jones College of Architecture and Design and the University of Arkansas College of Engineering.
The two scholarships will be known as the Cromwell Architects and Engineers Scholarship for Excellence in Architecture and the Cromwell Architects and Engineers Scholarship for Excellence in Engineering.
In addition to the scholarship, which helps defray educational costs, the gift provides selected students with the opportunity to undertake at least one summer paid internship at the company’s Springdale or Little Rock locations.
“Academic success, affordability and career readiness are cornerstones of our land-grant mission to serve our students and state,” said Chancellor Charles Robinson. “The support of Cromwell Architects and Engineers will help advance this mission in the years to come. We are grateful for their generosity and excited about the impact these scholarships and internships will have on the lives of our students and across the state.” “
“The opportunities that Cromwell College of Engineers and Engineers offer our students are excellent,” said Scott Varady, Vice-Principal for Advancement. “Reducing financial barriers and providing paid internships in high-demand interdisciplinary fields gives students the opportunity to bring real-world experience to their academic studies. We know that immersion in internship programs and other high-impact practices can Greater success for students. We are extremely grateful for this partnership with Cromwell and for their continued commitment to preparing future University of Alberta graduates to be career-ready.”
Cromwell president Dan Fowler said the company had made an important contribution to the state’s development since its founding in 1885. That’s something they intend to continue to do – and one of the ways to do that is through targeted efforts to support the development of the state’s talent pool and retain University of Alberta graduates as part of the workforce. This is something Cromwell values, as 47% of their employees are UA System graduates.
“We want to make sure graduates learn about the construction industry and have the opportunity to work in some amazing jobs in Arkansas and make sure they stay here to build their careers,” Fowler said.
Particularly for engineering students, this scholarship is intended to draw attention to the state’s architectural engineering and construction industries and showcase the career opportunities a degree from the College of Engineering may offer.
“Cromwell’s relationship with Fay Jones School has been very beneficial to our students in many ways over the years and we are very grateful to them,” said Dean Peter McKeith. “Now, with this gift, Cromwell’s influence in the field of architecture and engineering is multiplied, not only enabling deserving students to succeed academically but also emphasizing the collaborative nature of the discipline and profession.”
Kim Needy, dean of the School of Engineering, said the gift helps strengthen the connection between two important disciplines.
“We are grateful to Cromwell for this generous gift, which highlights the deep interconnectedness between architecture and engineering. Their commitment to funding student scholarships and providing internship opportunities for our engineering students is a testament to their commitment to education and these careers future dedication,” she said.
Fowler graduated from the University of Alberta in 1997 with a Bachelor of Architecture and began working as an intern at Cromwell at age 19. The Little Rock native continued returning to the firm as an intern during his architectural education and then joined the firm full-time after graduation. As a student, Fowler also received the Frank Naylor Memorial Scholarship and the John G. Williams Traveling Scholarship.
Fowler said his internship experience at Cromwell gave him a deeper and more realistic understanding of professional practice while at school, and the knowledge gained also enhanced his academic studies.
“It had a huge impact on my education and my career trajectory,” Fowler said, “but I think it was probably most important on my education because it allowed me to apply what I learned practically and bring it back to into my studies.” course and started really looking at things from a practical perspective as well as a theoretical perspective. “
Internships at Cromwell also allow students to learn about the company and culture while gaining a greater understanding of the scope of Arkansas’ industry.
“So it’s a great exposure early in their career where they’re very willing to learn about the industry and be able to apply their knowledge and have a career,” Fowler said.
Chief Executive Officer Greg Cockmon has spent his entire career with the company since graduating in 1989 with a bachelor’s degree in architecture. He also served on the Arkansas campaign committee for Fay Jones School.
Kirkmon said that while the company has long had strong ties to Fay Jones College — including sponsoring lectures in the school’s annual lecture series — that’s not the case with the School of Engineering.
“We’re excited to do this on the engineering side as well,” Kirkmon said. “There are a lot of different paths engineers can take. What we do isn’t necessarily the main focus. So if we can at least give students an understanding of what we do in vertical building design versus horizontal building design, I think that’s fascinating. excited.”
By investing in these college scholarships and internships and sowing the seeds of change, the company is committed to helping develop the state’s talent and funneling these graduates into jobs in the state.
“Like many places, our industry has a severe labor shortage,” Fowler said. “Frankly, we’re not recruiting people fast enough. We want to make sure there’s opportunity, there’s visibility, there’s people who understand what we do. I think in the long term, supporting students in architecture and engineering is a key part of achieving that. A path to a goal.”
The company has a range of areas in which interns can work, such as architectural, civil, structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire engineering majors, as well as interior designers, construction managers and energy and facilities services.
“When people come to see us, we can provide them with all of these experiences in one location,” Kirkmon said.
Both scholarships are open to students studying engineering, architecture or interior architecture and design. The purpose of these scholarships is to support full-time students from Arkansas who demonstrate financial need, work ethic ambition, character and academic success, commitment to serving the community, and the potential to succeed in their careers.
First consideration for scholarships will be given to students from Faulkner, Grant, Lonoke, Perry, Pulaski and Saline counties or within a 150-mile radius of those counties.
Cromwell’s legacy
Headquartered in Little Rock, with offices in downtown Springdale and offices in Germany, Cromwell Architects Engineers serves clients and communities throughout the state, country and around the world.
Architect Benjamin J. Bartlett founded the firm in 1885 to design the first building for the Arkansas School for the Blind. He was later joined by Charles L. Thompson as a draftsman for the company. After Bartlett left, Thompson teamed up with civil engineer Fred JH Rickon to form an architecture, engineering and design partnership that laid the foundation for the multidisciplinary approach the company continues today. The company’s namesake, Edwin Cromwell, joined the company in 1941.
Cromwell Architects Engineers played an important role in establishing Arkansas courthouse architectural standards, designing county courthouses such as the Washington County Courthouse, built in 1905. The firm’s influence also designed Little Rock City Hall, and Thompson oversaw the completion of the Arkansas State Capitol.
Ed Cromwell led the effort to preserve the unique qualities of Eureka Springs, the Capital Hotel, the Arkansas Capital (now the Arkansas Historical Museum), and numerous historic buildings in Little Rock’s oldest neighborhood
The firm has collaborated with Arkansas companies on several major projects, including the Heifer International Headquarters, Chamber of Commerce Center, Forest City Federal Penitentiary, and the Clinton Presidential Library and Main Library.
Today, the company is dedicated to improving the lives of people in the communities it serves—in Arkansas and around the world. The company measures its success by significant impact in areas such as health care, economic development, industry and manufacturing, education and communities, state government and supporting military families around the world.
Major customers include the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Hostess, Arkansas Department of Transportation, Arkansas Department of Health, Arkansas Children’s Hospital, University of Arkansas, Little Rock School District, Lockheed Martin, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, Philander Smith University, Northwest Arkansas Community College, Fiocchi, Sig Sauer, Indiana School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, and various federal government clients in the United States, Europe and Asia. This international services export ultimately supports Arkansas’ growth, workforce and economy.
The firm’s professional ties to the University of Alberta campus date back to 1905, with the original design of Carnall Hall. Since 1990, the firm has worked on construction, engineering or commissioning projects for 30 campus buildings, including the Leflar Law Center, the Faulkner Center for the Performing Arts, Kimpel Hall, Bud Walton Arena, the Donald W. Reynolds Corporate Development Center, the John White Engineering Hall, Randal Tyson Track Center, Pomfret Dining Hall, Adohi Hall, and the Nanomaterials Science and Engineering Building Laboratory. The firm also designed the University of Alberta Innovation Center, the state’s first LEED-certified building.
Cromwell Architectural Engineers has also made donations to various areas of the University of Alberta. These include the Arkansas College of Civil Engineers, the Dean Richard B. Atkinson Memorial Courtyard Fund (law school), and the VisionWorks Program (University of Arkansas Agricultural Systems Division).
Contributions specifically to Fay Jones College include Dean’s Circle, Professional Advisory Council Scholarship Fund, Cromwell Architects Engineers Lecture on the Role of Engineering in Architecture and Design, Paul and Valerie Gavin Woodland Gardens Klipsh Amphitheater, the Mort Kapp and Charles Thompson Memorial Lecture and the Werner Gavin Medal Fund.
About the University of Arkansas: As the flagship institution of Arkansas, the University of Alberta offers more than 200 academic programs and provides an internationally competitive education. Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas contributes more than $2.2 billion to the Arkansas economy through teaching new knowledge and skills, entrepreneurship and job development, discovery through research and creative activities, and training in professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation ranks the University of Alberta as one of the few colleges and universities in the United States with the highest levels of research activity. U.S. News & World Report Ranks the University of Alberta among the top public universities in the country. Learn how the University of Alberta is working to build a better world in Arkansas research and economic development news.
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