WER Architects Announces Russell Fason As New Principal

WER Architects/Planners is pleased to announce that Associate Russell Fason, AIA, LEED AP, has been made a principal and vice president with the firm.

“Russ brings such a unique talent and perspective to our team and clients,” said David Sargent, AIA, WER Architects/Planners CEO. “We are very excited to welcome him as a principal in the firm. We know he will continue to bring his energy and passion to all of our firm’s projects. This is a very exciting day at WER.”

WER was founded as Witsell Evans Architects in 1978 by Charles Witsell, FAIA, and Don Evans, FAIA. In 1983, Terry Rasco, FAIA, joined the firm and it became in Witsell Evans Rasco Architects. Witsell, Evans and Rasco have all since retired and the current partners are David Sargent, AIA, Eldon Bock, AIA, Jay Brizzolara, AIA, John Greer, AIA, and Bradley McLaurin, AIA.

Russ is a Magna Cum Laude graduate from The Fay Jones School of Architecture at the University of Arkansas. In 2001, he was one of 24 accepted into the Harvard Graduate School of Design’s Master in Architecture program and graduated in 2003 with a Master’s in Architecture. Fason joined WER in 2004 and after two years of working at the firm, he became an associate and an integral part of the design team.

Russ created the WER Intern Development Program, which aims to mentor all WER interns to achieving licensure. This program has been in place since 2008 and is extremely successful in helping all interns become licensed architects. He is an active member with the local and state chapters of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and played an integral part in establishing the Architecture + Design Network, a joint venture with the AIA Central Section, the Friends of Architecture at the Arkansas Arts Center and The Fay Jones School of Architecture at the University of Arkansas. Russ is a native of Hot Springs, Arkansas and is a member of the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce Education Committee.

Significant projects that Russ served as the Project Architect on: Student Loan Guarantee Foundation of Arkansas; Chenal Elementary School, Pulaski County Special School District; Episcopal Collegiate Lower School; Southern Arkansas University Activity Center; Conway New High School Classroom Building & Dining Hall, Conway Public Schools; Windgate Art & Design Building, University of Arkansas – Fort Smith.