Fraters Libertas

Walking In The Footsteps Of A Giant

Ralph Rapson is following me.

Well, let me clarify. I have spent the majority of the last two days attending seminars at the American Institute of Architects/Minnesota convention in downtown Minneapolis. Yesterday, as I was filling out my registration form, I looked up briefly at the gentleman standing next to me and was a bit taken aback to see none other than Ralph Rapson himself chatting amicably with another man (Note to architects: lose the bow tie schtick unless your name is Ralph Rapson. They make you look ridiculous.)

For those of you who don't know, Mr. Rapson is an architectural giant around these parts. He was head of the University of Minnesota's College of Architecture for 30 years and is probably best known for his design of the original Guthrie Theater. He is also close to ninety years old, which was why I was so surprised to see him out hob-nobbing with the younger generation. He's looking quite well, by the way.

This brief brush with fame easily supplanted the previous leader on my list of famous encounters, which was when I saw Dennis Quaid changing clothes in a mens' room at the Texas State Fair. (No, the time I met Hugh Hewitt doesn't even come close) The circumstances of the Quaid encounter were certainly more memorable, but as far as the importance of the figure being encountered, Ralph wins hands down.

Anyway, I finished my registration and headed to my first seminar. Who do you think was sitting in front of me? No, it wasn't Dennis Quaid, it was Ralph. Now, I guess I shouldn't have been too surprised at this since the seminar was a presentation from the last five winners of the Ralph Rapson Traveling Fellowship award. Regardless, I shared a room with the man for a full hour and a half the whole time thinking that I would consider my career a success if I could accomplish just a fraction of what Mr. Rapson has in his life as an architect. Dare to dream.

On to the next seminar, a discussion on what architecture firms need to do to succeed in today's world...a rather droll and uninspiring topic considering that I have no input at work on such matters. (It wasn't mentioned, but my firm could save a few bucks if they stopped sending me to useless seminars...just a thought.) I was seated in the front, so I had no idea who was sitting behind me until the speaker announced that Ralph Rapson was in attendance. Now I was thinking "Hey! Great minds think alike. There may be hope for my architectural legacy after all" and I left the convention center after the talk with a little spring in my step only to return to work and get bogged down in change directives and millwork details. Talk about a buzz kill.

My first two seminars today were Rapson-free, but as I was strolling through the exhibit area, I spied an old gentleman in a bowtie glaring in my direction. It was Ralph again and his steely eyes seemed to be staring right through me. I must say, it gave me a chill. I'm sure he wasn't looking at me, but I had a brief feeling of unease nonetheless.

I took this feeling to my final talk of the day entitled "The Evolution of Architectural Drawings by Phase". Surely Mr. Rapson had better things to do then spend an afternoon hearing about the difference between the design development phase and the construction document phase. I was wrong. There he was again. Now, I was feeling a bit creeped out.

What does he want from me? Has my work as an architect been so mediocre that he's tailing me just to see me demonstrate the kind of behavior that leads to architectural ineptitude? Why me? Why not pester the guy who designed this monstrosity, or this one (oh, wait, that one WAS Ralph). If he shows up at either of tomorrow's lectures on cast stone or precast structures, I'm going to ask him. And then I'm getting a restraining order.