Harold Varner (architect)

{{Infobox architect

| name = Harold Varner

| image =

| birth_date = {{birth date|1935|8|22}}

| birth_place = Detroit, Michigan, United States

| death_date = {{death date and age|2013|12|14|1935|8|22}}

| death_place = Detroit, Michigan, United States

| alma_mater =

| practice =

| significant_buildings = Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History (1985)

| significant_projects =

| awards = Fellow of the American Institute of Architect (1981)

| website =

| birth_name = Harold Richard Varner

| spouse = Nancy Elizabeth Hunter (m. 1960–2013; death)

| children = 2

| education = Lawrence Institute of Technology

}}

Harold Richard Varner, {{post-nominals|list=FAIA}}, (1935–2013) was an American architect, active in Detroit.{{Cite web |title=Harold Varner (Aug. 22, 1935 – Dec. 14, 2013) |url=https://historicdetroit.org/architects/harold-varner |access-date=2024-01-23 |website=Historic Detroit}}{{Cite book |last= |first= |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8rXe0X6oX1UC |title=Who's Who Among African Americans |date=July 2002 |publisher=Gale Research International, Limited |isbn=978-0-7876-5729-1 |pages=1309}} Varner was a leader within the Black architectural firm Sims–Varner (now known as SDG Associates).{{Cite web |date=December 18, 2013 |title=Detroit architect Harold Varner dies at age 78 |url=https://apnews.com/article/28b21886dfcc478e85429ec375bfebdc |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240126001623/https://apnews.com/article/28b21886dfcc478e85429ec375bfebdc |archive-date=January 26, 2024 |access-date=January 26, 2024 |website=AP News |language=en-US}}

Early life and education

Harold Richard Varner was born on August 22, 1935 in Detroit, Michigan. He graduated from Cass Technical High School in Detroit.{{Cite web |title=Sims-Varner and Associates |url=http://nocache.docomomo-us.org/designer/sims-varner-associates |access-date=2024-01-24 |website=Docomomo US |language=en}} Varner attended Lawrence Institute of Technology (now Lawrence Technological University) and graduated with a B.S. degree in architectural engineering (1965).{{Cite news |date=Summer 1980 |title=Alumni Notes |url=https://repository.ltu.edu/files/pdf?fileid=7f5ef5e7-d457-423c-897f-2136490c0aff |work=Lawrence Institute of Technology Alumni Magazine |pages=37}}

He was married to Nancy Elizabeth Hunter, and they had two daughters.

Career

In 1967, Varner became a licensed architect in the state of Michigan.

He joined the architectural firm Howard Sims & Associates in 1973; the firm was founded in 1964 by Black architect Howard Sims in Detroit.{{Cite web |date=2016-04-04 |title=A designer's designer Architect Howard Sims helped create blue print for post-rebellion Detroit |url=https://michiganchronicle.com/2016/04/04/a-designers-designer-architect-howard-sims-helped-create-blue-print-for-post-rebellion-detroit/ |access-date=2024-01-24 |website=The Michigan Chronicle |language=en-US |archive-date=2021-09-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210923182156/https://michiganchronicle.com/2016/04/04/a-designers-designer-architect-howard-sims-helped-create-blue-print-for-post-rebellion-detroit/ |url-status=dead }} By 1976, the firm name was changed to Sims–Varner to reflect a new Varner partnership, and Varner was named as the executive vice president. He designed (with Sims–Varner) many notable buildings and structures including the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History (1985);{{Cite news |last=Bragg |first=Amy Elliott |date=May 7, 2022 |title=Wright Museum marks 35 years in the Cultural Center |url=https://www.crainsdetroit.com/historical-sidenote/charles-h-wright-museum-african-american-history-marks-25-years-landmark |work=Crain's Detroit Business}} University of Michigan School of Social Work (1997);{{Cite web |date=2013 |title=Harold R. Varner |url=https://www.beyondthebuilt.com/harold-r-varner |access-date=2024-01-25 |website=Beyond the Built Environment |language=en}} and the Millender Center station (1987), a Detroit People Mover station and sky bridge.

Varner was part of the AIA National Housing Committee, from 1970 until 1973.{{Cite book |last=Travis |first=Jack |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=f-JPAAAAMAAJ&q=AIA+National+Housing+Committee+Harold+Varner |title=African American Architects in Current Practice |date=1991 |publisher=Princeton Architectural Press |isbn=978-1-878271-38-9 |page=62}} In the 1970s, Varner was interested in modifying the government run apartment subsidy plans (like HUD's section 236).{{Citation |last=Neubacher |first=Jim |title=Crisis Seen In Apartment Subsidy Plan |date=September 24, 1972 |work=Detroit Free Press |pages=3 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/detroit-free-press-crisis-seen-in-apartm/139647255/}}, and [https://www.newspapers.com/article/detroit-free-press-crisis-seen-for-city/139647621/ p.4] Varner served on the Michigan State Licensing Board for Architects, from 1978 until 1991.{{Cite news |last=Gallagher |first=John |date=October 8, 1991 |title=Crusader Steps Down |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/detroit-free-press-crusader-steps-down/139646593/ |work=Detroit Free Press |pages=16}} and [https://www.newspapers.com/article/detroit-free-press-crusading-architect-w/139646690/ pg. 17] When he stepped down from the state licensing board role, he warned of potential issues with unlicensed builders in Michigan.

He was honored as a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects in 1981. He served as an honorary Consul General to the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire, West Africa.{{Cite news |date=March 16, 1996 |title=Consulates |url=https://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/19960318/SUB/603180850/consulates |url-access=limited |work=Crain's Detroit Business}}

Varner died after a long illness on December 14, 2013 at Harper University Hospital in Detroit.