University of Tennessee | Bachelor of Architecture

Barry is a modernist at heart. He has invested five decades refining his craft of creating work that encourages an architectural dialogue within the public realm. He fosters a collaborative spirit rooted in actionable, environmentally sustainable work that began in 1974 when he entered UT at the end of the OAPEC oil crisis and began learning passive design strategies. He finds meaning in the journey of Design and in solving its most weighty challenges through innovative, functional, and cost-effective architecture that spans a broad range of scales and typologies. Barry joined archimania as an equal partner in 2001 and has served as CEO since 2003.        

He leads his clients' projects with an ethos rooted in elevating the client's vision with an authentic design solution that is fiscally as well as functionally responsible. Along with a host of archimaniacs, he has helped advance the practice to national prominence, with the added distinction of realizing the world's first two dual-certified Zero Energy/Zero Carbon buildings by the International Living Future Institute, with the first being his former house, Civitas. Both buildings met the AIA 2030 Challenge a full decade early, are LEED Platinum certified, and are AIA COTE® Top Ten award recipients, the industry's best-known award program recognizing innovative projects integrating compelling Design with exemplary performance.

Barry was elevated to the American Institute of Architects College of Fellows in 2010 for his notable contributions in Design, placing him among the top 1% architects in the U.S. He received AIA Tennessee's highest individual award in 2022, the William Strickland Lifetime Achievement Award for the Profession of Architecture. In 2026, the Society of Entrepreneurs selected him to become a member. His work has appeared in ArchDaily, ARCHITECT, Architectural Digest, Architectural Record, Deezen, Dwell, Fast Company, Forbes, Metropolis, Progressive Architecture, Residential Design, The Architect's Newspaper, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Wall Street Journal Europe, Wallpaper*, and World Architecture. His body of work has been recognized with more than 125 awards, exhibited at the National Building Museum in Washington, DC [2025-2026], and at the Venice Architecture Biennale [2021]. Numerous books feature his work, with the latest, "Out There: New Architecture Across America," awaiting publication.  

He has juried and/or chaired design award programs for AIA Akron, AIA Alabama, AIA Atlanta, AIA Chicago, AIA DC Washingtonian Residential Design Awards, AIA Kansas City, AIA Kentucky, AIA Minnesota, AIA North Dakota, and AIA West Virginia, Architectural Record Excellence in Media Awards, and SMPS National Communications Awards. He has shared his knowledge with the profession at approximately 100 forums, including the AIA, The Architect's Newspaper, ASLA, NACORE, PSMJ Resources, SMPS, ULI, USGBC, and others. He authored the book, "PSMJ's Guide to Successful Alliances for A/E/C Firms Design Alliances."

Barry has served our local community in a variety of roles. He has been a Member of the Memphis Regional Chamber's Chairman's Circle since 2024. He is a former Chair/Board Member of Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Greater Memphis [1994-1996] and Memphis in May International [2014-2019]. He is a former Vice Chair/Board Member of Hattiloo Theatre [2017-2018], and a Board Member of Visible Music College [2005-2008]. He is a graduate of Leadership Memphis, the Class of 1996. He served his alma mater on the Charter Board of Advisors of Architecture + Design for many years and was the 2024 COAD commencement speaker.