by Brian Garvey AIA
— Brian Garvey AIA | PrincipalGreat design is the glue that holds programming, operational, and financial resilience together. We strive to design buildings and spaces that share the community’s unique story, are flexible where possible for the future, and specialized where necessary.
I joined SFS Architecture in 2005 as a young professional intrigued by the diversity of their work and the opportunity to contribute to community-focused design. My first recreation projects, the Seneca Aquatic Center and the Osage Prairie YMCA, introduced me to aquatic facilities designed around health, civic life, and social connections. Kerry put a lot of trust in me as a young architect to plan and design these two projects which I’ve always been grateful for. I left SFS in 2007 to pursue other opportunities, but those early experiences shaped a defining realization: recreation and cultural architecture strengthen community bonds and elevates the quality of life. The realization didn’t just capture my interest; it began to shape my purpose. After two years away, I returned to SFS in early 2010 focused, committed, and eager to broaden our recreation and cultural portfolio.
The Olathe Community Center was my first substantial experience seeing design shaped through a partnership-first process on a larger scale project. An operations plan and feasibility study became the roadmap for the building program and how the facility would meet the community’s goals. We collaborated with operators, parks staff, city leaders, and citizens to shape the facility. This experience taught me that when design evolves together with an operations strategy rooted in community priorities and their unique story, the program sharpens and spaces right-size to serve without excess. I started this project as a project architect supporting the team and finished as a project manager, expanding my knowledge base rapidly both as an architect and leader.
I continued applying strategies I had observed in a variety of communities and projects where design decisions were tested in parallel with operations planning and financial modeling. A consistent truth emerged: great design is the glue that holds programming, operational, and financial resilience together. We strive to design buildings and spaces that share the community’s unique story, are flexible where possible for the future, and specialized where necessary.
The Excelsior Springs Community Center became my first full project continuum, validating the approach from the feasibility study we led in 2014 to the Grand Opening in 2016 and the most recent completion of Phase 2 in 2023, all grounded in a strong operations plan and meaningful community engagement. The impact was measurable: increased property values, expanded parks investment, and renewed momentum for new development. This development was led by a parks department which also grew as the community realized the immense benefits they provided. What started as a department of just a few in 2014 has grown to a staff of 18 overseeing the operation of the community center and a robust park system all catalyzed by the success of the community center and the ardent leadership of the parks staff.
“Great design is the glue that holds programming, operational, and financial resilience together. We strive to design buildings and spaces that share the community’s unique story, are flexible where possible for the future, and specialized where necessary.”
The Carson Ross Community Recreation Complex, which includes the Blue Springs Fieldhouse and Blue Surf Bay Waterpark, is a outstanding example of dynamic design and operational resiliency in action. This project integrates architecture, interior design, theming, and storytelling with strategic operations planning, financial modeling, and right-sized community programming. It demonstrates that when recreation facilities are built to be self-sustaining, they become powerful anchors that reinforce and enhance the broader community ecosystem. This award-winning facility operates well above 100% cost recovery. It is a model studied by other organizations and municipalities as a regional recreation and aquatics destination while serving the Blue Springs community first.
I’m proud of the impact we’ve had beyond aquatics and recreation. At the Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center, we partnered with multiple County agencies to reposition the 1950s-era King Louie Bowling Alley and Ice Chateau into a multipurpose civic asset with a black-box theatre and rehearsal spaces, gathering spaces, maker space, classrooms, offices, and the County history museum while preserving the iconic structure and upgrading building performance to meet LEED Gold standards. This project was absolutely thrilling to conceptualize, design and realize, and I savor every opportunity to visit with anyone about its history and our work on this Overland Park landmark.
The same collaborative spirit that shapes remarkable facilities also shapes extraordinary teams. I was fortunate to grow under the guidance of my mentor, Kerry Newman, whose support and wisdom opened doors to new possibilities. Just as Kerry was inspired by SFS Founding Principal Mike Fickel, I’ve embraced the privilege of mentoring emerging leaders within our recreation practice. Together, we’re not just building projects—we’re cultivating a legacy of design excellence and operational performance that will thrive and evolve for generations to come.
“ I’m excited for our future leaders at SFS and look forward to working with anyone that embraces culture and recreation as a vital foundation for healthy, resilient communities. ”
