Academy of Architecture for Justice

Communications Committee Seasoned Professional Profile of Larry Hartman, AIA

Personal Information:

• AAJ: What is your favorite piece of architecture?

• LH: Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater.  The integration with the site, the arrival/entry sequence, and the sense of scale and comfort are wonderful.  The extensive hand-drawings are delight.

• AAJ: When did you first know that you wanted to be an architect?

• LH: When I first learned there was such a profession, I wanted to be an architect.  My mother saved tiny drawings of houses I made starting at the age of four. 

Why Justice?

• AAJ: What prompted you to begin working within the field of justice architecture?

• LH: This was an instance of being in the right place at the right time.  In my first couple of years out of college in the late ‘70s, I worked for a small firm that was part of a larger team working on expansion of state prisons.  As I moved on to a larger firm, this experience went with me and became the foundation for justice facilities my whole career.

• AAJ: What do you find the most rewarding about working in the justice field?

• LH: The most rewarding aspect has been the chance to work with wonderfully dedicated correctional folks.  They truly want to do the right thing while dealing with limited budgets and additional challenges created by local politics, security issues, staffing shortages, etc.   

Experience:

• AAJ: How have trends changed and evolved during your career in justice architecture?

• LH: In the first state prison project that I worked on in the late 1970s, we were replacing early 1900 era facilities with brick veneered, low scale prison buildings in a campus setting.  The dining hall had exposed wood glue-lam beams.  There was not any thought that the facility could look “too nice”.  Unfortunately, this period was followed by the correctional building boom when we tried to build as much and as fast as possible with emphasis on security, rigidity, durability, and uniformity.  I hope the “pendulum” has somewhat swung back in recent years; so we recognize the importance of the physical environment to rehabilitation.  We also need to consider how facilities work with the entire criminal justice system and with environmental considerations. 

• AAJ: Have you ever had a moment of regret or doubt about the direction of a project?

• LH: No regret or doubt specifically, but a very common frustration with costs.  Many times, no matter how diligent my work, there were construction cost issues at each phase of a project only to realize the project “under budget” at the end. 

The future of the justice market?

• AAJ:      What do you consider your largest contribution to justice architecture?

• LH: I took seriously my professional role as an architect to be in “service” to my clients.  I viewed the challenge of connecting my clients’ needs with creative solutions as a high calling.  I tried to provide this service with integrity, creativity, and compassion.

• AAJ: Please provide a piece of advice you’d like to share with other justice architects.

• LH: Surround yourself with both seasoned professionals as well as young professionals; surround yourself with those advocating differing viewpoints; surround yourself with proven technologies as well as cutting edge.  Be mindful of those who own the facilities, those who operate the facilities, and those who use the facilities.  Be aware that your current effort has a broader impact on the environment that we don’t always realize.

Larry Hartman has recently retired from HDR after an influential and productive 36-year career.  He is pictured above at the Trevi fountain in Rome, with his wife Barbara on a well-deserved trip.