Abstract
The John R. Klai II, FAIA Papers (1983-2024) are comprised of the personal papers of American architect, John R. Klai II, FAIA. Materials include commendations presented to Klai for his achievements in the architecture and interior design profession from organizations like AIA Las Vegas; the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB); and the Nevada State Board of Architecture, Interior Design and Residential Design. The collection also includes digital images of plaques and trophies presented to Klai for his philanthropic work in the Las Vegas community. The professional files in this collection include publications featuring the work of Klai Juba Wald architecture + interiors, Klai's 2015 AIA Fellowship submission portfolio, magazine features about Klai, and a commemorative photo book of Klai Hall at North Dakota State University. Also included are a small number of Klai's personal sports memorabilia, including tickets for NCAA men's basketball tournaments in 1987 and 1989.
Finding Aid PDF
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Scope and Contents Note
The John R. Klai II, FAIA Papers (1983-2024) are comprised of the personal papers of American architect, John R. Klai II, FAIA. Materials include commendations presented to Klai for his achievements in the architecture and interior design profession from organizations like AIA Las Vegas; the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB); and the Nevada State Board of Architecture, Interior Design and Residential Design. The collection also includes digital images of plaques and trophies presented to Klai for his philanthropic work in the Las Vegas community. The professional files in this collection include publications featuring the work of Klai Juba Wald architecture + interiors, Klai's 2015 AIA Fellowship submission portfolio, magazine features about Klai, and a commemorative photo book of Klai Hall at North Dakota State University. Also included are a small number of Klai's personal sports memorabilia, including tickets for NCAA men's basketball tournaments in 1987 and 1989.
Access Note
Collection is open for research. Arrangements must be made in advance to access digital files; please contact UNLV Special Collections and Archives for additional information.
Publication Rights
This material is made available to facilitate private study, scholarship, or research. The donor, Jonathan S. Sparer, FAIA transferred all right, title and interest they had in the John R. Klai II, FAIA Papers (MS-01204) to UNLV. However, some material may be protected by copyright, trademark, privacy, publicity rights, or other interests not owned by UNLV. Users are responsible for determining whether permissions are necessary from rights owners for any intended use and for obtaining all required permissions. Acknowledgement of the UNLV University Libraries is requested. For more information, please see the UNLV Special Collections policies on
xlink:actuate="onRequest" xlink:href="http://www.library.unlv.edu/speccol/research_and_services/reproductions" xlink:show="new" xlink:title="Reproductions and Use"> reproductions and use or contact us at special.collections@unlv.edu.
Arrangement
Materials are arranged by topic.
Biographical / Historical Note
John Reynolds Klai II, FAIA was born in Osnabrock, North Dakota in 1952. He attended the University of North Dakota's College of Business in Grand Forks for two years when an engineering class inspired him to change his studies to pursue a career in architecture. Klai eventually attended the architecture program at North Dakota State University (NDSU) in Fargo and received a Bachelor of Arts in Architectural Studies in 1977 and a Bachelor of Architecture in 1978. Klai moved to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1978 where he joined Marnell Corrao Associates. His first job involved the fantasy suites tower expansion to Caesars Palace. In 1995, Klai partnered with fellow NDSU graduate Dan Juba to form their own architecture and design firm Klai Juba Architects, which eventually became Klai Juba Wald architecture + interiors.
Throughout his career, Klai led projects in Las Vegas including the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, the Forum Shops at Caesars, the Luxor, the High Roller at the Linq, and the Thomas & Mack Center at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). Before retiring in 2021, Klai was a registered architect in twenty-five states and worked on projects throughout the United States including the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida; the Choctaw Casinos & Resorts in Durant, Florida; and Live! Casino Hotel Maryland in Hanover, Maryland.
Klai met his husband, Jonathan S. "Jon" Sparer, FAIA in 1981 when Klai hired him to work at Marnell Corraro Associates. They married in 2014 in San Diego, California and made Las Vegas their home. Klai was active in volunteerism and philanthropy for organizations including the Boys & Girls Clubs of Las Vegas and the Discovery Children's Museum. He also served in leadership positions for the architectural profession including the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB); the Nevada State Board of Architecture, Interior Design and Residential Design; the Western Conference of Architectural Registration Boards (WCARB); AIA Nevada; and AIA Las Vegas. In 2015, Klai became a Fellow of the AIA (FAIA) College of Fellows for his service to the profession.
Klai was dedicated to supporting the architecture programs at NDSU and UNLV. He taught as a volunteer adjunct faculty for UNLV's Hospitality Design graduate program and also traveled regularly to teach at NDSU. In 2006, Klai was recognized with NDSU's Alumni Achievement Award and was also inducted into UNLV's Nevada Entertainer/Artist Hall of Fame.
Klai passed away on September 2, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Sources:
"Remembering Respected Architect and Philanthropist John Reynolds Klai II, FAIA," College of Fine Arts, UNLV, Accessed February 6, 2025. https://www.unlv.edu/announcement/college-fine-arts/remembering-respected-architect-and-philanthropist-john-reynolds
"John Klai Obituary," Legacy.com, September 14, 2023. https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/name/john-klai-obituary?id=53099777
Klai Juba Wald architecture + interiors, Accessed February 6, 2025. https://klaijubawald.com/
Preferred Citation
John R. Klai II, FAIA Papers, 1983-2024. MS-01204. Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Las Vegas, Nevada.
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Acquisition Note
Materials were donated in 2025 by Jonathan S. Sparer, FAIA; accession number 2025-009.
Processing Note
In 2025, Tammi Kim processed the collection and wrote the finding aid in ArchivesSpace. Steps taken during processing include: rehousing physical materials, renaming digital files, and reformatting the digital files from TIF to JPG.
Administrative Information
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EAD ID
Appraisal Note
Acquired by Aaron Mayes, Curator of Visual Materials, as part of UNLV Special Collections and Archives holdings in architecture. All material that formed the original gift has been retained.
Additions
Further additions to this collection are anticipated.