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Draft:Don Ruggles

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This article presents an overview of Don Ruggles' career, emphasizing his contributions to architecture, his focus on neuroscience in design, and his numerous awards and recognitions.

Donald H. Ruggles is an American architect, author, educator, and speaker, best known for his work in traditional and classical architecture and for his contributions to the integration of neuroscience and design. He is CEO-Emeritus of Ruggles Mabe Studio, a prominent architectural firm that has been responsible for over 1,300 projects and construction budgets exceeding $3 billion. Throughout his career, Ruggles has gained recognition for blending traditional design principles with contemporary scientific knowledge, focusing on the impact of beauty in architecture on human health and well-being[1].

Early Life and Education

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Don Ruggles graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 1973 with a Bachelor of Architecture degree[2]. He has since become a licensed architect in multiple states, including Colorado, Texas, Utah, Illinois, Arizona, and Wyoming. Early in his career, Ruggles developed a passion for classical design, which was further enriched by extensive studies of architecture across Europe and Asia. His international experiences have deeply influenced his approach to creating spaces that respect tradition while responding to the unique needs of each site and client.

Career and Architectural Practice

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Ruggles' firm, Ruggles Mabe Studio, was founded in 1970 and has since completed projects across the United States and in several foreign countries. Under Ruggles' leadership, the firm gained a reputation for its ability to blend traditional styles with modern sensibilities, incorporating scientific knowledge into the design process. His projects have garnered numerous awards, including multiple "Home of the Year" honors in 1991, 1996, 2001, and 2015.[3] Ruggles' work has been featured in prominent publications such as Traditional Home, Colorado Homes and Lifestyles[4], LUXE[5], The Aspen Times (1976), the Rocky Mountain News, The Denver Post, The Denver Business Journal, and The Wall Street Journal. In 2014, Ruggles Mabe Studio received the Oxford Preservation Trust award for work on a historic townhome in Oxford, England. His commitment to integrating scientific principles with architecture has been a defining feature of his career, especially in his research into how architecture impacts human health.

Notable Publications and Films

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In 2017, Don Ruggles published Beauty, Neuroscience & Architecture[6][7], a book that explores how timeless architectural forms and patterns contribute to our well-being. The book earned the Independent Book Publisher Bronze Medal[8]. It was later adapted into a documentary film titled Built Beautiful[9], which premiered at the Denver Film Festival in 2020 and has since been screened at numerous festivals and conferences in North America and Europe[9][10]. Gravitas Ventures has distributed the film nationally and is available on streaming platforms like Amazon Prime, Google Play, and Hulu. In 2021, Built Beautiful[9] won the Jacque Benedict Award for Excellence in Journalism from the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art (ICAA) Rocky Mountain Chapter.[11][12]

Awards and Recognition

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Throughout his professional career, Ruggles has received numerous accolades, including: The Robert & Judi Newman Rocky Mountain Prize (2021)[11] for his lifetime of service to traditional design. The Clinton Family Fund Medal (2018) for his contribution to traditional architecture in the Rocky Mountain region, induction into the Colorado Homes & Lifestyles Circle of Excellence in 2015, becoming the first architect from Colorado to receive this honor, multiple "Home of the Year" awards (1991, 1996, 2001, and 2015).[3][13] In addition to these honors, Ruggles has been recognized for his academic and professional service, including his tenure as Founder, President and Chairman of the Board of the ICAA Rocky Mountain Chapter. He is currently Emeritus to the ICAA Rocky Mountain Board of Directors.[14]

Teaching and Lectures

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Ruggles is also an accomplished educator. He has lectured at universities around the world, including Oxford University, Cambridge University, Princeton University, and the University of Miami, where his research on neuroscience and architecture has made a significant impact. He has also taught at the University of Colorado Denver College of Architecture & Planning[15], where he co-taught a graduate-level design studio in 2020. In 2023, he was appointed as the Director of Classical Studies at the university, where he administers a unique graduate-level program focused on the importance of history and beauty in the built environment, as well as their connection to health and well-being[16]. In 2021, Ruggles delivered a TEDx talk titled It’s Beautiful...And Good for Our Health, where he shared his research on the positive effects of beauty in architectural design.[17]

Contributions to the Field of Design

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Ruggles has been at the forefront of bringing scientific research into architectural design. In 2022, he helped launch Science in Design, an initiative aimed at incorporating findings from neuroscience, biology, and psychology into architecture and interior design.[18] The initiative hosted seminars in major cities across the United States and is currently producing a six-part television series to be aired on PBS. The series features leading researchers advocating for the inclusion of scientific knowledge in the design process to improve the built environment. Ruggles was also part of a team that submitted a design proposal for the 2020 Wolfson Prize. The proposal, titled Creating Complete Hospitals, focused on how traditional design principles and neuroscientific concepts can improve hospital environments. Among over 150 international submissions, it received a commendation as runner-up[19].

Personal Life

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In addition to his professional achievements, Don Ruggles is passionate about classical music, art, and sports. He is married to Nancy Sager, and they have two grown children and three grandchildren. Ruggles is dedicated to promoting beauty in architecture and its potential to enhance quality of life, for both individuals and communities.

Published Works

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  • Programming for Health and Well-Being in Architecture (2022)[20] (Contributing Author)
  • Urban Experience and Design (2021)[21] (Contributing Author)
  • Beauty, Neuroscience & Architecture (2017)[22]

Documentary Films

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Built Beautiful (2020)[9]

References

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  1. ^ "Beauty, Neuroscience & Architecture". Beauty, Neuroscience & Architecture. Retrieved 2024-12-04.
  2. ^ "Don Ruggles – VISIONARY DESIGN MARKETING". Retrieved 2024-12-04.
  3. ^ a b Abel, Mary Barthelme (2015-04-01). "Circle of Excellence Award: Architect Don Ruggles". Colorado Homes & Lifestyles. Retrieved 2024-12-04.
  4. ^ "WiesnerMedia LLC". digital.coloradohomesmag.com. Retrieved 2024-12-04.
  5. ^ "Luxe July/Aug 2020". Ruggles Mabe Studio. Retrieved 2024-12-04.
  6. ^ Ruggles, Donald (2017). Beauty, Neuroscience & Architecture (First ed.). 450 E 17th Avenue, PH2, Denver, CO 80203: Fibonacci, LLC. ISBN 978-0-692-92862-2.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  7. ^ "Beauty, Neuroscience & Architecture". Beauty, Neuroscience & Architecture. Retrieved 2024-12-04.
  8. ^ "DENVER ARCHITECT DONALD H. RUGGLES RECEIVES BRONZE MEDAL FOR SELF-PUBLISHED BOOK | YourHub". yourhub.denverpost.com. Retrieved 2024-12-04.
  9. ^ a b c d johnboak (2021-03-04). "Built Beautiful". Beauty, Neuroscience & Architecture. Retrieved 2024-12-04.
  10. ^ "Built Beautiful". Mariel Rodriguez-McGill. Retrieved 2024-12-04.
  11. ^ a b "Jacques Benedict Awards - Institute of Classical Architecture & Art". www.classicist.org. Retrieved 2024-12-04.
  12. ^ "Don Ruggles – VISIONARY DESIGN MARKETING". Retrieved 2024-12-04.
  13. ^ "Beauty, Neuroscience, & Architecture". www.classicist.org. Retrieved 2024-12-04.
  14. ^ "Rocky Mountain Chapter". www.classicist.org. Retrieved 2024-12-04.
  15. ^ "College of Architecture and Planning at CU Denver". architectureandplanning.ucdenver.edu. Retrieved 2024-12-04.
  16. ^ "Certificate Programs". architectureandplanning.ucdenver.edu. Retrieved 2024-12-04.
  17. ^ Ruggles, Don (2021-11-23). It's Beautiful... And Good for Your Health. Retrieved 2024-12-04 – via www.ted.com.
  18. ^ "ABOUT US". SCIENCE IN DESIGN. Retrieved 2024-12-04.
  19. ^ "Wolfson Economics Prize 2021". Policy Exchange. Retrieved 2024-12-04.
  20. ^ Menezes, Oliveira-Smith, Woodworth, Keely, Pamela, Vernon (2022). Programming for Health and Well-Being in Architecture (First ed.). 605 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10158: Routledge. p. 266. ISBN 9780367758844. Retrieved 4 December 2024.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link) CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  21. ^ Hollander, Sussman, Justin, Ann (2021). Urban Experience and Design (First ed.). 52 Vanderbilt Avenue, New York, NY 10017: Routledge. p. 230. ISBN 978-0-367-43557-8. Retrieved 4 December 2024.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link) CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  22. ^ Ruggles, Donald (2017). Beauty, Neuroscience & Architecture (First ed.). 450 E 17th Avenue, PH2, Denver, CO 80203: Fibonacci, LLC. p. 136. ISBN 978-0-692-92862-2. Retrieved 4 December 2024.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link)

Institute of Classical Architecture & Art (ICAA)

University of Colorado Denver College of Architecture & Planning[1]

Ruggles Mabe Studio

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference :3 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
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