The Chicago Journal

Lawrence R. Armstrong: Dynamic Architect, Designer, and Visual Artist Rolled in One

Creating visually stimulating designs that inspire people is one of Lawrence R. Armstrong’s greatest passions as a master architect and visual artist. Not only is he an accomplished architect and designer, becoming CEO of Ware Malcomb for over 28 years, an award-winning international architecture firm, he also prioritizes self-expression to showcase his renaissance approach to life and motivate people to pursue their dreams at the same time.  

Lawrence R. Armstrong considers himself a student of art all of his life. He often draws inspiration from the diverse education that he was privileged to experience in life, and he combines this with his imagination to create something breathtaking. Armstrong earned his Architecture degree from Kent State University. During his time at the university, he mastered creating form and figure inspired by nature’s unique beauty. His work in both art and architecture is a continuous exploration and unraveling of layers. After completing his degree from Kent State University, Lawrence R. Armstrong spent a semester studying in Italy. It was during his stay in Italy that he developed a deep appreciation and fascination with classical architecture. 

Very few architects accomplish what Lawrence R. Armstrong has achieved in his professional career, such as being a licensed architect in more than 40 states in the country. Moreover, he is also an accredited professional of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) through the United States Green Building Council (USGBC). Additionally, Armstrong has been a guest lecturer at the USC Lusk Center for Real Estate, Graduate Real Estate Program. Aside from this, he also became a design juror for the Fourth Year Integrated Design Project for Kent State University. 

Most of Lawrence R. Armstrong’s artworks are inspired by modern architectural works done by the likes of Arnoldi, Warhol, Pollack, Corbusier, Eisenman, Chihuly, and Meier, to mention a few. His travels in Europe, Japan, Latin America, Middle East, and North America have allowed him to explore these regions’ diverse cultures from their art to music, people, events, and natural environment. He then finds himself combining designs in his mind as influenced by the sights he encounters in his travels. Once the design in his mind becomes a clear picture, he would create a sketch to bring life. 

The design community recognizes Lawrence R. Armstrong as an influential personality in the industry, and it is for this reason, he has gathered numerous awards throughout his professional career. His awards include the Ernst and Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year Award and National Finalist in 2008, ATIM’s Top 60 Masters of Contemporary Art, a Palm Art Award 2016 nominee, Certificate of Excellence from the Sandro Botticelli Prize during the Artavita 11th Contest, ATIM Masters Award, ATIM Choice Award, and the AIA Honor Award, to mention a few. 

As a result of his undeniable success in the field of architecture and as a visual artist, Lawrence R. Armstrong has been invited to speak in several panels for the NAIOP and other commercial real estate groups. He has also been featured in several media platforms that include OC Metro, Real Estate Business Online, Development Magazine, and Professional Report Magazine. 

Overall, Lawrence R. Armstrong is often admired by his peers and clients because of his strategic and visionary approach in running his business that also employs creativity and innovation as much as possible. 

Armstrong is also a fan of many of his fellow designers and draws inspiration from their design style on occasion. As he continues to fuel his passion for art and architecture, Lawrence R. Armstrong will continue to spend time in his art studio and traveling with his camera and sketchbooks.

Find out more about Lawrence Armstrong by visiting his website. Follow his Facebook and Instagram accounts for updates. 

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