Oscar Harris

Biographie : AIA. Atlanta, Birmingham, savannah and Charleston (5,000 units total). Universities, Military, Transportation facilities. Projects: the Underground Atlanta revit., University Center Olympic Master Plan, Fulton County Gov'ts Judicial Center, MLK Center, Hartsfield Airport's (Port to the World). Largest African-American-owned design and planning firm in the US. Harris is president/owner/founder of Turner Associates, a 17-year-old firm offering comprehensive design services in architecture and planning focused on inner-city projects. His planning and design experience includes such diverse projects as: modernization/revitalization of inner-city public housing communities in Atlanta, Birmingham, Savannah, and Charleston (over 5,000 units in total); major urban retail and commercial renovations; design of elementary, secondary, and college classrooms and dormitories; design of housing for the military and institutional clients, and design of various transportation facilities. His specific project experience includes: the Underground Atlanta revitalization. Atlanta University Center Olympic Master Plan, Fulton County Governments Judicial Center, Martin Luther King Center and Revitalization, and Hartsfield Airport's "Port to the World" Internatioinal Terminal. Turner Associates understands the inner city and has focused its talents/resources on the redevelopment of cities. At present, Turner Associates is the largest African-American-owned design and planning firm in the United States, with a staff exceeding 60 professionals. Oscar Harris, AIA President Turner Associates/ Architects & Planners, Inc. Oscar Harris, AIA is a practicing architect with a unique talent for creative management and bringing diverse people and ideas together to create award winning architecture. Harris has been successfully blending individuals' diverse talents together within the practice of architecture for over 18 years. His creative architectural process weaves the disciplines of the builiding process with the diverse cultures of an international staff, this management talent was highlighted in his role as creative design manager for the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games theme graphic "quilt of leaves." Harris "creative design management process" creates a blending of individual strengths and talents within an environment using international cultures. In his practice the project design teams solve architectural management problems while creating a new design paradigm, crafting a successful architectural practice. Harris is an expert o integrating and managing large complex teams of firms, generating creative ideas, while bringing diversity of thought together into one concept, his unique practice in planning and design of all city elements and facilities in urban settings has received significant recognition. Architectural accomplishments are highlighted in such significant projects as Atlanta's Hartsfield International Airport Concourse +E', Atlanta's " Front Door To The World," The Atrium At Hartsfield International Airport, Underground Atlanta, Fulton County Government Center, Fulton County Justice Center, And Atlanta City Detention Center. Harris has served for twelve years on the Georgia state board of architects, served on local chapters of the American Insitute of Architects and was chairman of the first committee of continuing education in the State of Georgia as well as numerous other civic and community organizations. Through Harris' practice of architecture, his exposure provides inspiration to the profession, public and children who are interested in architecture. Oscar Harris is the only architect included as one of Atlanta's 100 Most Influential People (Atlanta Business Chronicle, 1995).