| It was only a turn of fate that David M. Schwarz | | | | Schwarz describes Schermerhorn as "the most |
| became an architect at all. Having started his own | | | | classically inspired building we've ever done'' |
| practice (in his own words "too early"), with little | | | | Another classic design with incredible scope and |
| success, he realized his dream of becoming an | | | | utilization of space is the Dr Pepper Ballpark. |
| architect was as good as over and had all but | | | | Following its construction in 2003, the Dr Pepper |
| given up hope. However, a chance encounter with | | | | Ballpark received the Texas Construction award |
| a friend gave him an 'eleventh hour' second | | | | for Best Architectural Design for 2003 and the |
| chance, when he was offered a project by the | | | | surrounding sports complex received the Best |
| friends' boyfriend. His career is now considered | | | | Sports and Entertainment award. |
| remarkable, and his architectural practice is | | | | Schwarz had a stated goal of creating a "park |
| established having received awards from a wide | | | | within a (ball)park" in the stadium. Nine |
| range of organizations, including the American | | | | interconnected pavilions, where concessions, |
| Institute of Architects and the Art Deco Society | | | | restrooms, and luxury suites are located, are built |
| of Washington. | | | | separately from the main seating area.The |
| Prior to this success, Mr. Schwarz received his | | | | concourse area, between the pavilions and the |
| B.A. at St. John's College in Annapolis, MD, and | | | | seating area, wraps completely around the |
| Master of Architecture at Yale University. He also | | | | ballpark featuring 360-degree views. |
| earned a Master of Landscape Architecture from | | | | His Disney's Wide World of Sports complex |
| the University of California at Berkeley and a | | | | features "Florida Picturesque" architecture, with tall |
| Bachelor of Science from Humboldt State | | | | towers and seemingly endless archways in the |
| University. As founder and CEO of David M | | | | field house and baseball stadium. |
| Schwarz Architectural Services, Inc., Washington, | | | | Other projects include the Tarrant County Family |
| DC and Fort Worth, TX, he now has over | | | | Law Center which is historically suggestive in |
| thirteen years of design, planning and landscape | | | | design, and the Bass Hall critically acclaimed as |
| construction success. | | | | "the last great hall built this century", and voted |
| "...It really is being exacting in your principles and | | | | by Travel and Leisure Magazine as one of the |
| sticking to them, even when it's hard, that makes | | | | Top 10 best opera houses in the world. |
| it possible to have real success", explains David. | | | | Within his firm, Schwarz's primary responsibility is |
| His environmental sciences background is a key in | | | | that of director of design. In this capacity, he |
| the development of site-specific landscapes that | | | | leads, orchestrates and reviews the design |
| involve slope and soil stabilization, habitat | | | | process of all the firm's projects. . He is frequently |
| restoration, and new vegetative management. His | | | | asked to create unique, custom modern furniture |
| strength lies in his ability to focus on developing | | | | to complement the firm's interiors. Fine detailing, |
| spaces that are artistic, suited to the client's | | | | rich materials and a high level of craft identify |
| needs, and responsive to the surrounding | | | | Schwarz's contemporary furniture projects, which |
| environment. Perhaps his most iconic project, the | | | | have ranged from the straightforward, such as a |
| Schermerhorn Symphony Center of Nashville is | | | | highly-detailed, inlaid buffet of arts and crafts |
| personification of Schwarz's signature style, being | | | | inspiration with an imaginative and protective |
| wonderfully classic, with a modern twist. | | | | floating glass top; to the technically adept, such as |
| In describing his philosophy of design, Schwarz | | | | an art deco-inspired oval loggia table. The table |
| explains, "Our architecture is what would have | | | | can be folded in half lengthwise to be set against |
| happened if modernism hadn't happened. But | | | | the wall and contains custom fabricated hinges |
| modernism did happen". | | | | and a device which automatically centers the |
| ''We set out to create what we call the | | | | half-top over the base, allowing the tabletop to |
| appropriate neoclassicism for 21st century | | | | convert between full oval and half-oval without |
| Nashville,'' says Schwarz ''The building and all its | | | | sacrificing center of gravity. He has also explored |
| details are a lot less serious, a lot lighter, a lot | | | | elements in modern furniture design, such as a |
| friendlier, a lot less imposing than straightforward | | | | custom freestanding medicine cabinet and stool of |
| neoclassicism from, say, the 19th or early 20th | | | | stainless steel and glass. The variety and range in |
| centuries.'' | | | | style, inspiration and material realize his vision, |
| One of the more interesting features of the | | | | regardless of scope or scale. |
| 197,000 square-foot, 1,872-seat concert hall is the | | | | Schwarz is committed to teaching and, |
| enormous amount of indirect daylight. Not | | | | participating at university level and lecturing to the |
| normally found in performance spaces, after | | | | public. He currently serves as Chairman of the |
| touring concert halls worldwide, in particular | | | | Dean's Council for the Yale School of Architecture, |
| Vienna's Musikverein, Schwarz decided natural light | | | | and serves on the Board of Overseers for the |
| was an important element to include in the interior. | | | | Corcoran Gallery of Art, located in Washington, |
| Innovative features include a convertible seating | | | | DC. |
| system designed to give the hall unique versatility. | | | | |