If there was ever a person who fit the description of a Renaissance man, it would be our featured resident for the month of October—Robert Black. This self-described architect, teacher, artist, and professional facilitator has spent a lifetime acquiring the skills that enable him to engage with anyone he encounters along the many paths he has walked, both in the United States and in Europe.
Robert’s life journey began in La Crosse, Wisconsin, a beautiful town on the Mississippi River. Like most of us, he experienced a defining moment in high school. For Robert, it was an 11th-grade assignment that asked a simple question: “What do you want to be when you grow up?” His response focused on becoming an architectural engineer. This choice led him to move to Minneapolis and study at the University of Minnesota, the first of many decisions that would change his life. Robert proudly proclaims that his personality and soul have evolved through a “bunch of personal and professional touchpoints.” These touchpoints include learning about world history during a solo trip to Spain at 22, becoming a better basketball player by being the only male enrolled in modern dance classes, and serving others as a resource in the recovery community. Robert has also contributed as the Board Chair at the Carving Studio in West Rutland and as a community leader with the Downtown Brandon Alliance.
Robert fondly recalls one of his major touchpoints—working with MIT-educated architect Ken Walijarvi. Their relationship began as an apprenticeship and evolved into a seven-year mentorship. From Walijarvi, Robert learned the importance of building meaningful relationships in project development and gained valuable business lessons in architecture. These experiences fostered Robert’s appreciation for “meat and potatoes” projects funded through bonds, such as schools and public spaces, which helped shape his mission to integrate design and construction in a way that “blends environment and architecture, people and place, buildings and systems.” He also credits his time with Sunstructures Architects in Ann Arbor, Michigan, for developing an early understanding of energy conservation and efficiency, long before these elements became essential in residential and commercial construction.
When Robert is interested in a subject, he dives in completely, turning his interests into finely honed skills, as has been the case with art, photography, graphic design, music, dance, and group dynamics. He teaches classes and workshops in many of these areas, much to the delight of his students, friends, and neighbors. Here at The Hub CoWorks, Robert took an office after being displaced from the Compass Music and Arts Center in Brandon. His photographs now adorn the walls of our Telecom Rooms and other areas of our co-working space. He believes sharing these images helps make our ever-evolving building in Rutland more vibrant and enjoyable for the many “strangers” working here. As a consummate teacher, artist, and facilitator, Robert is dedicated to using his many talents to make The Hub a place where people from all walks of life can collaborate and develop a sense of community, a hallmark of his life since writing that high school paper in La Crosse so many years ago.