Architecture
My first ambition was to become an astronaut. By the time I was in high school that changed and architecture became my goal. At the age of sixteen I read The Fountainhead which made me very interested in philosophy and solidified the interest in architecture as not only an art form and trade but as a pursuit that culminates in the physical embodiment of a great purpose.
Rob & Judi on their 25th anniversary at Frank Lloyd Wright's “Falling Water”
Rob's copy of the 25th anniversary edition
Frank Lloyd Wright served, although only partially, as the model for Ayn Rand’s main character in the novel, Howard Roark. If you’ve read the book or are aware of the details of the philosophy you know the purpose I’m referring too. Wright did, and he and the fictional architect, Roark, became and remain heroes of mine. Wright’s designs and approach to life and work have served as ideals for me ever since I became aware of them.
In ways that matter to me, architecture and engineering are closely related. At the intersection of those two fields with my philosophy regarding my purpose lie the reasons why I’ve worked in engineering and with the productions of architects.
In ways that matter to me, architecture and engineering are closely related. At the intersection of those two fields with my philosophy regarding my purpose lie the reasons why I’ve worked in engineering and with the productions of architects.
krapf companies buildings 1960's 70's and 90's
Pictured are five of the landmark buildings of the scores built by Krapf companies. I worked on four of them and I spent a lot of time in the one that was built before my time, the Christiana Towers.
My first job after dropping out of college the first time was in construction management with the Wilmington, Delaware builder FG Krapf and Sons in 1975. The “old man”, Fred Jr., wasn’t real old. His youngest son, Jim, had only been out of college a few years by then so Fred may have been in his fifties or sixties. Fred’s father started the company around 1917 and the son had made it one of the biggest construction firms in Delaware.
By 1975 they had built a number of landmarks including the Christiana Towers at the University of Delaware and the toll plaza and restaurant at the Interstate 95 rest stop in Newark. I worked for them as an assistant construction superintendent at Kirkbride Hall at the University of Delaware and the Life Science Building which would become McKinly Lab.
Jim was my boss and we became drinking buddies. We also made a few sky dives together when I was just beginning my long association with that sport but after leaving the Krapf family businesses in the seventies I didn’t hear from Jim until twenty years later when he searched me out and asked me to come back to work with him. At first I turned him down but he persisted and I changed my mind.
He made me a Project Manager on two buildings in Dover, the new Delaware State Police Museum and the luxury sky boxes at Dover Downs International Speedway.
By 1975 they had built a number of landmarks including the Christiana Towers at the University of Delaware and the toll plaza and restaurant at the Interstate 95 rest stop in Newark. I worked for them as an assistant construction superintendent at Kirkbride Hall at the University of Delaware and the Life Science Building which would become McKinly Lab.
Jim was my boss and we became drinking buddies. We also made a few sky dives together when I was just beginning my long association with that sport but after leaving the Krapf family businesses in the seventies I didn’t hear from Jim until twenty years later when he searched me out and asked me to come back to work with him. At first I turned him down but he persisted and I changed my mind.
He made me a Project Manager on two buildings in Dover, the new Delaware State Police Museum and the luxury sky boxes at Dover Downs International Speedway.
The two other significant experiences in the productions of architects were with