Oral history interview with Dave Pugsley conducted by Stefani Evans and Claytee D. White on October 21, 2016 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Pugsley discusses his early life in Salt Lake City, Utah and moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1963. He talks about his father’s employment with Young Electric Sign Company (YESCO) and the Nevada Test Site. Pugsley recalls his initial interest in architecture, drawing a construction document for the Home Builders Association while in high school, and attending the University of Utah for a degree in architecture. Pugsley then talks about building planning for schools in Clark County, the process of designing a school, and the challenges that arise. Lastly, Pugsley discusses building planning for Lied Library and the William S. Boyd School of Law at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV).
Archival Collection
Oral history interviews with Jane Fielden, Laura Jane Fielden Spina, and Bob Fielden conducted by Claytee D. White and Stefani Evans on May 27, 2016 and June 27, 2016 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. In the first interview, Jane and Robert discuss their upbringing and early interest in architecture. They talk about arriving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1964, and forming their construction company RAFI Architecture and Design. They talk about changes in the Las Vegas economic structure during the late 1970s, and projects for the library district, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), and Maryland Parkway. In the second interview, Laura Jane discusses her upbringing in Las Vegas, Nevada. She talks about becoming an interior designer and becoming president of RAFI Architecture and Design. Lastly, Jane, Laura, and Bob discuss improving the quality of lives through architecture.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Agnes and Emory Lockette conducted by Claytee D. White on March 11, 2005 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Emory discusses his education in architectural and structural engineering. Agnes describes her education in early childhood education, teaching in the Westside and at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). Emory then recalls his employment at the Bureau of Reclamation. Lastly, the two share their active involvement with the Boulder City, Nevada community.
Archival Collection
Not many sixteen-year-olds assume the roles of father and mother to three younger siblings (one an infant), graduate from high school on time, and earn a full-ride scholarship (plus a loan) to a prestigious university. One such sixteen-year-old was Washington, D.C., native DeRuyter O. Butler, Executive Vice President of Architecture, Butler/Ashworth Architects, Ltd., LLC, and formerly Executive Vice President, Architecture, of Wynn Design & Development, LLC, and Director of Architecture, Atlandia Design & Furnishings, Inc. Determined to do right on behalf of his siblings and himself, Butler recruited his grandmother and enrolled in Catholic University, earning his B.S. in Architecture in 1977 while working overtime at the U.S. Post Office, buying a house in Maryland, and supporting his family. His first professional job in Philadelphia required him to rethink his living arrangements. Partnering with his sister, who assumed childcare duties during the week in Maryland, Butler lived in New Jersey during the week and commuted to Maryland on the weekends. After four years in that position and a short stint of being unemployed, in 1982 he became a draftsperson for Steve Wynn's Atlandia Design in Atlantic City. After he had worked with architects Joel Bergman and Paul Steelman in Atlantic City for four years, Wynn moved Atlandia Design to Las Vegas. Butler followed in 1986, bringing with him his grandmother and his youngest brother. In this interview, Butler discusses his unusual career path; the challenges of responding to and anticipating entertainment and recreation market trends; Wynn's insistence on always striving for "better"; and the importance of concealing service infrastructure in order to create the ultimate guest experience. He emphasizes Wynn's leadership in the gaming industry and with Clark County and the City of Las Vegas. He speaks to lessons learned from designing The Mirage, Bellagio, the Wynn, Wynn Palace, and Encore. Finally, he describes real-world limitations to building such as drought and historic water rights; traffic patterns, ride-hailing companies, and parking restrictions, and flight patterns and building heights.
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Oral history interview with John Klai II conducted by Stefani Evans and Claytee D. White on August 15, 2016 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Klai discusses his upbringing in North Dakota. He recalls attending the University of North Dakota and transferring to North Dakota State University to study architecture. Klai talks about moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in the late 1970s, and his employment at Marnell Corrao Associates. Klai describes founding an architecture firm, Klai Juba Wald Architects + Interiors in 1995, and talks about the firms involvement with the architecture program at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). Lastly, Klai discusses sponsoring a lecture series at UNLV, and awarding scholarships to UNLV architecture students.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Edward Vance conducted by Stefani Evans and Claytee D. White on September 16, 2016 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Vance discusses his upbringing in Redfield, South Dakota. He talks about his move to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1987, teaching architectural drawing at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), and the first projects he worked on in Las Vegas. Vance describes the financial aspects of architecture, the challenges of meeting building regulations, and benefits that new buildings bring to city life. Lastly, Vance discusses founding Ed Vance & Associates Architects.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Melvin Green conducted by Stefani Evans and Claytee D. White on September 23, 2016 for the Building Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, Green discusses his upbringing in Louisiana and growing up in a family of farmers. He recalls moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1983, working for Nevada Partners, and his involvement in the redevelopment of the Westside School. Green talks about his architect firm, KME Architects, and lists projects his company has worked on in Las Vegas. Lastly, Green describes presenting new designs to community members and partnering with church leaders to build community housing.
Archival Collection
The Harry Hayden Whiteley Architectural Records are comprised of architectural records (1931-1970) created and/or maintained by the American architect Harry Hayden Whiteley and/or his architectural firm, known as Harry Hayden Whiteley and Associates. This collection includes 30.21 linear feet of materials including 45 items from over 30 projects. The collection focuses on his work in the Las Vegas and Reno, Nevada areas. The materials feature both architectural drawings and project files. Architectural drawings include pencil and ink on tracing paper preliminary sketches and mounted artist’s renderings used for presentations and promotional materials. Project files include project correspondence, photographs, and structural calculations. The drawings also contain work from the architect Paul Revere Williams. The collection includes architectural drawings for hotels, shopping plazas, residential developments, and office buildings.
Archival Collection
The Harry Hayden Whiteley Photograph Collection (approximately 1940-1967) contains photographic prints and one photographic negative depicting buildings, people, and project locations associated with the Las Vegas, Nevada architect Harry Hayden Whiteley. There is also one album containing photographs of contemporary churches compiled by Whiteley between 1953 to 1958.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Walter Zick conducted by Maureen Kelly Ryan on February 22, 1977 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Zick discusses architecture and moving to Las Vegas, Nevada to work at the Basic Magnesium Plant.
Archival Collection