About

Prior to the establishment of his own office, Tim practiced for seven years with two St. Louis firms. Five of those years were with BFTH Architects, where he worked his way up from intern to project architect on a 20-million-dollar airport expansion project.  The remaining years were spent as project architect with the multi-disciplined Pearce Corporation, a nationally known architectural firm with extensive experience in the institutional fields of schools, medical offices and health care facilities. From 1978 until the reopening of his original office in 1987, Tim was the chief operating officer and principal architect for the firm of Risley Childers & Associates, Architects/Planners/Consultants, and Fort Smith, Arkansas. Practical experience involves all phases of the planning, development, and construction process including feasibility studies, programming, site evaluation, financing, design, and construction observation.
He has executed a wide variety of project types including industrial, commercial, educational, institutional, health care, residential, and restoration ranging in size from $50 thousand to $25 million in construction cost.

Having 30 years of experience in a variety of positions in the architectural field, Mr. Howard has developed good management skills with a strong emphasis on renovations and additions. He has successfully completed hundreds of renovation/addition projects. His passion for the details and persistence when digging through the existing conditions has been a key factor in the project success. He holds an undergraduate degree in architecture from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. He has served several local charities; on the Board of Directors for 15 years and served as Board President for Clearinghouse Community Services; current member of the Board of Directors for Girls, Inc. and the Fort Smith Planning Commission; has served as a board member of local chapter of American Institute of Architects and an active board member of Keep Fort Smith Beautiful With Pride Committee. Rett has worked on a wide range of projects covering 16 states and has a strong background in project management. He has worked on most of the government projects in this office and has been chief architect for all projects with Military Department of Arkansas since 2014. Mr. Howard has a great understanding of the State procedures and government regulations. His duties included overseeing budget, schedules, and implementation of construction documents. Practical experience involves all phases of design, planning, construction documents, project management and construction observation.

James brings a wide variety of building design experience to the team. Prior to joining Tim A. Risley and Associates, he spent thirteen years operating the local office of Perkowitz + Ruth Architects to support their Walmart team. He has worked on new Supercenters, Neighborhood Markets, Express Stores, along with hundreds of store remodels, tenant improvements, takeovers and special projects across the United States. He is very familiar with the building entitlement and permitting processes in difficult jurisdictions ranging from southern California to the New England states.
Construction Administration is a passion for James. You can design a great project, only to see it built in a manner that is not pleasing to the owner nor the architect. The design is only one part of the project, you must finish it with complete construction documents, proper bidding and working with the Owner and the General Contractor to see the finished project is of great pride to everyone involved and very pleasing to the end users.

Larry is a licensed architect with over 35 years of experience. He is licensed in the State of Arkansas. He is a full member of the American Institute of Architects and holds a National Council of Architectural Registration Boards Certification.
A native Arkansan, Larry holds a Bachelor of Architecture degree from the University of Arkansas in 1979.
Larry has worked with Tim from 1979 thru 1986, 1994 thru 2000 and 2014 to present. He also had his own firm in Hot Springs from 1986 to 1994. Larry was a full partner in another local firm from 2000 to 2014.
He has worked on a wide range of projects including several group homes and apartments for children and adults with developmental disabilities for First Steps, Inc. in Hot Springs, Malvern and Fordyce.

Joseph joined our firm in the summer of 2008. He graduated in the spring of 2004 with a bachelor’s degree in environmental design in architecture from California Polytechnic University, Pomona, California. Joseph’s experience includes three years with Ruhnau Ruhnau Clarke Architects in California, as a job captain. Project experience includes the development of elementary school additions and remodels, data centers, apartments and office buildings. He also brings to the table the ability to produce Revit B.I.M. and 3D renderings. Joseph’s primary responsibilities include the production and coordination of documents as well as project administration.

After graduating Technical School in 1988 with an Associate’s degree in Computer Aided Drafting and Design, Tim started work as a draftsman for a Little Rock A/E firm that was in the process of transitioning from hand drafting to CAD production of construction documents.
As the CAD work became primary, Tim’s knowledge of computers moved him into a role of teaching others how to use the program, while he was also learning methods of design and construction. Within a few years, Tim would move up to a project architect role on projects, both local and across the country, working with the military and government agencies on everything from offices and schools to shopping centers and medical office buildings. Working with clients on designs, taking those designs through construction document creation, and then working with contractors during construction, seeing a project from start to finish was commonplace.

Danny joined Tim A. Risley & Associates in 1989. He has over 40 years’ experience in all disciplines of the profession, working with four architectural firms in two states. He holds an architectural technology degree from Pines Technical College, Pine Bluff, Arkansas. Danny’s primary responsibilities include production of construction documents and project management. Project type experience includes historical renovation, industrial facilities, commercial, health care, educational and multi-family housing as well as custom residential.
Danny’s unique expertise also involves over 15 years of design, layout, plant selection and estimating for a large Landscape contractor in Fort Smith.

Janie worked for a local engineering firm for fourteen years prior to joining the firm in 1991. Responsibilities include production of specifications and office management.

Nita joined the firm in the summer of 2000. Nita’s experience includes three years with Warmack and Company, a local shopping operator and developer. Four more years of production and CAD training were acquired with two other Fort Smith firms. Nita’s primary responsibilities include production and coordination of documents as well as project administration.

Alyssa joined our firm in 2012. She has ten years of experience. Her current duties include marketing, office coordination and contracts.