It is with great sadness that we share the news of the passing of Franklin T. Ferguson, FAIA. Frank is a founding partner of FFKR Architects and is remembered for his devotion to the practice and architecture community. His career spanned over four decades with a broad range of projects, including Abravanel Hall, The Jerusalem Center for Near-Eastern Studies, Mid-Gad restaurant at Snowbird, Joseph F. Smith Building, and The Richard K. Hemingway Orangerie at Red Butte Gardens.
We are grateful for his contributions to both FFKR and the architecture community. He will be missed dearly.
The “F” in FFKR
The firm ENTELEKI Architecture, Planning, Research was founded in 1970 with John R. “Jack” Smith as founding partner and partner-in-charge, with partners M. Ray Kingston and Franklin T. Ferguson. It was incorporated in San Francisco, California, and Salt Lake City. Utah. The firm name was derived from the Greek word entelechy from Aristotle’s De Anima (On the Soul). It is defined as “the actualization of a potential to its nearest point of perfection without loss or compromise”.
From collaboration on the Bicentennial Center for the Arts in Salt Lake City, which included Symphony Hall, FFKR Architects was founded in 1976 with Robert A. Fowler, Franklin T. Ferguson, M. Ray Kingston, and Edward Joe Ruben as founding principals. Frank retired from the firm in 2005.
Frank’s notable projects include:
- Mid-Gad Restaurant at Snowbird (the original)
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Joseph F. Smith Building, BYU
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Olympus Junior High, Granite School District
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Richard K. Hemingway Orangerie, University of Utah
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Harold B. Lee Library Renovation, BYU
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Rice-Eccles Stadium, University of Utah
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Taylor Religion Building, BYU-Idaho
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Gardner Hall Remodel and Concert Hall Addition, University of Utah
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Benson Science Building, BYU
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Eyring Science Building, BYU
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Jerusalem Center for Near Eastern Studies, Jerusalem, Israel
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The Delta Center
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Eccles Institute of Human Genetics, University of Utah Medical Center
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McKay Special Events Center, Utah Valley State College,
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John A. Moran Eye Center, University of Utah Medical Center
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Law School Library Addition, University of Utah
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Auto Trades Building, Utah Valley State College
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Abravanel Hall and Salt Lake Art Center
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Utah Valley State College Master Plan
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Northwest Energy Headquarters Building
Joseph F. Smith Building, BYU
Northwest Energy Headquarters
Mid-Gad Restaurant at Snowbird
Jerusalem Center for Near Eastern Studies
Richard K. Hemingway Orangerie
Abravanel Hall
Abravanel Hall – a bit of architecture folklore
The original green carpet in the lobby has an interesting story – at least a legend that may or may not be true. The story is that they were talking about the color of the carpet in the lobby, and Frank took off his sweater and said that this was to be the color of the carpet.
Fran Pruyn and Darby Doyle of City Home Collective spoke with the very vital Frank Ferguson in his home in Holladay in late May 2021 as part of the Legendary Utah Architects project. He chronicled his decision to enter architecture, his education in Utah and Minnesota, his experience in Europe, the Midwest, and San Francisco, and how FFKR became an important and established firm in Salt Lake City.
Honors & Awards
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Distinguished Service Award, Graduate School of Architecture, University of Utah, 1997
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Member, College of Fellows, American Institute of Architects for “…notable contributions to the profession in design and urban design.
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Alpha Rho Chi Medal, University of Utah, 1963
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AIA Silver Medal, Henry Adams Fund, University of Utah, 1963
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AIA Scholarships, University of Utah, 1961-63
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AIA Scholarship, University of Minnesota, 1964
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First Place, Ernest Kump Competition, University of Utah, 1961