Former partner Walter T. Carry, FAIA, well-known architect and Cooper Carry co-founder, passed away on December 7, 2018, in Atlanta at the age of 88. He shaped office towers, world-class resorts and historic redevelopments while at the helm of one of the nation’s leading design firms.

Cooper Carry was created by the partnership of Jerry Cooper and Walter Carry in 1960. Cooper Carry has designed projects in 45 states and globally in the Caribbean, Middle East, Asia and Central America. It has grown to be one of the top design firms in North America and was recently named by AIA Georgia as the 2018 Firm of the Year.

“We have lost one of the true giants in our field who not only contributed beautiful design that stands the test of time, but also a sense of respect for the profession of architecture,” said Jerry Cooper. “We had a dream to create a firm that would connect ideas and people to the places where they live, work and learn. Cooper Carry is the culmination of that dream, which would never have happened without Walter’s unconquerable drive. He will be greatly missed and forever remembered.”

Winner of many design awards throughout his career, Carry’s signature projects include the Underground Atlanta redevelopment, Piedmont Center office campus (Atlanta, GA), Marriott’s Bay Point Resort & Villas (Panama City, FL), AT&T Data Complex (Atlanta, GA), Southern States Corporate Headquarters (Richmond, VA) and Kimberly Clark Science & Technology Center (Atlanta, GA). He oversaw 200+ projects in his 30-plus years at Cooper Carry.

In addition, Carry was president of the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) in 1988, where he previously served as vice president and board chair. During his time at NCARB, Carry oversaw a push toward universal unanimity in testing, which enabled a streamlined grading process for the hundreds of NCARB volunteers that reviewed the Architect Registration Examination each year.

Carry also served as past president for the Atlanta chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the Georgia State Board of Architects. He received numerous accolades throughout his career, including AIA’s prestigious Presidential Citation (1989), the AIA Exceptional Service to the Profession award (1988), the AIA Leadership Award (1978) and the University of Florida’s Blue Key Leadership Award.

“Walter Carry was an extraordinary thinker and innovator who helped usher in a new era of architecture in Atlanta, the Southeast and beyond,” said Kevin Cantley, CEO of Cooper Carry. “Walter’s influence on our profession cannot be overstated, and his legacy lives on as Cooper Carry continues to build on the foundation that he and Jerry started six decades ago. Though we are greatly saddened by Walter’s passing, we celebrate his incredible achievements and the positive impact he made on so many lives. We extend our heartfelt prayers and condolences to Walter’s family.”