Anne Marie Duvall Decker, FAIA, and Roy Decker, FAIA, present a powerful vision of architecture grounded in service, humility, and respect for place. Working primarily in rural and resource-limited communities, their practice demonstrates how architecture can create enduring public value where it is often least expected and most impactful. Through projects ranging from libraries and schools to civic and justice facilities, their work reveals architecture’s capacity to listen first, respond with care, and build trust over time. This Architalk elevates architecture as a civic act and invites architects to expand the reach, responsibility, and impact of the profession.
Learning Objectives
- Explain key principles of community-centered architectural practice.
- Describe strategies for engaging and collaborating with rural and underserved communities in the design process.
- Analyze case studies of Duvall Decker’s work to identify how design choices reinforce community identity, equity, and long-term sustainability.
- Apply insights from Duvall Decker’s integrated practice model to envision approaches that enhance the social, cultural, and economic well-being of communities.