Robert J. Verrier
Legacy
What Endures. Time has given us space to recognize and appreciate how Bob’s legacy endures in the company he founded and shaped. Architect’s legacies are commonly measured in award-winning buildings, and certainly Bob’s can be measured in that way, in the hundreds of historic buildings he saved and repurposed, and the thousands of families who found quality affordable homes in the housing he created. All that is a matter of record, but what also endures is the ethos of the firm he created and loved.
Some of you may never have met him. But you know him in the culture of the company. It is a culture derived from the fierce joy he took in the challenge of getting buildings built, of being able to take the work seriously without taking oneself too seriously, and of seeing the humanity in every person, whether colleagues, clients, contractors, or the communities served. Those of you who never met Bob may think you don’t have a sense of him, but in fact you do. If you’ve ever reflected on the consideration TAT colleagues show one another, of the passion with which they throw themselves into their work, and of the humor they bring to everyday challenges, then you know him. His spirit endures in the firm’s work and how we work with one another.
Michael E. Liu AIA NCARB | Principal Emeritus
Our professional relationship was based on our mutual love of old buildings and our dedication to the social mission of creating homes for people of all income levels. Bob had an unwavering belief in the potential of architecture, but most importantly he believed in human potential. I was touched by his warmth, humor and love of life and am privileged to have been able to call Bob my friend.
Larry Curtis, President + Managing Partner, WinnDevelopment
Featured Work
In pursuing his passion for the restoration and reuse of old buildings, Bob was able to combine the social justice mission of creating quality, affordable, and attractive housing for those in need with the preservation of the nation’s architectural legacy. He was unique in his ability to successfully unite both missions in a single prodigious career recognized with over 70 preservation awards producing over 45,000 units of affordable housing in more than 300 adaptive reuse projects. He saw that historic buildings were too valuable to throw away, the need for decent, affordable housing too acute to ignore and he had a natural instinct that preservation was inherently sustainable long before sustainability became a priority goal of architectural design.
But the Bob I loved, and the man I celebrate today, was so much more than an architect. He was my good friend, who gave testimony to the power of moral character. His courage and decency were unassailable, his loyalty unimpeachable, his generosity enormous. Your status in life meant little to Bob, whether you were a millionaire developer, or a waitress at Floramo’s where my husband and I met him for lunch. If you were self-important, Bob was happy to take you down a notch; if you were insecure, he’d be the first to let the world know how special you were.
Lisa Alberghini, Executive Vice President, Peer Exchange, Policy, & Innovation, Housing Partnership Network
Bob as a mentor made me love old buildings. I had a passion for all architecture, but I didn’t know my specific professional purpose until he catapulted me into the world of adaptive reuse and a newfound love for restoring our old, forgotten buildings. He instilled in me the important connections these buildings have to the past, how they once were the anchors of their communities, and how they should be preserved and celebrated rather than torn down for new construction without roots. My hope is that I can help usher the next generation of architects as he did with me and continue his legacy at TAT.
Scott E. Maenpaa, Project Manager, The Architectural Team
Personal Recognition
2024: Bob is posthumously recognized with Preservation Massachusetts’ highest honor, the Paul & Niki Tsongas Award, given to people that have displayed the highest level of commitment to historic preservation. Bob’s steadfast dedication and passion for the adaptive reuse, restoration, and rehabilitation of the nation’s architectural fabric have inspired generations of emerging architects within the firm and beyond
2021: TAT commemorates its 50th anniversary and Bob celebrates his 81st birthday
2016: Bob receives his tenth J. Timothy Anderson Award for Excellence in Historic Preservation from the National Housing & Rehabilitation Association
2013: Boston’s Planning Office for Urban Affairs, a social justice organization, honors Bob for his considerable affordable housing achievements
2012: Bob is elevated to Fellowship in the American Institute of Architecture (FAIA) for his range of work and unparalleled depth of experience in historic preservation and adaptive reuse
2011: Bob receives an Industry Excellence Award from the Rental Housing Association
2010: Habitat for Humanity honors Bob with the American Dream Award, recognizing his contribution to the improvement of the Greater Boston community
2008: Boston Architectural College honors Bob with a Distinguished Alumni in Practice Award, awarded for his significant impact in the design community while promoting and improving the design profession through his leadership
1988: Bob receives a National Historic Preservation Award personally awarded by President Ronald Reagan for the preservation and adaptive reuse of the Baker Chocolate Factory Complex
1984: Bob moves the firm to the restored 1840s-era Commandants House on Admiral’s Hill in Chelsea, changing its name to The Architectural Team (TAT) to reflect its broad geographic reach
1971: The Boston Architectural Team (BAT) is founded by Bob and three other architects
1967: Bob graduates from Boston Architectural Center, now Boston Architectural College
