Page 46 - Senior Link Magazine Summer 2025 - Online Magazine

Exceptional Stephen Faulk

SENIORS

Leaving His Creative Imprint on LUBBOCK

by Marita Tedder

The young man had many positive influences during
his time at Tech. His professor Walt Calvert mentored
him, and the work of Ludwig Mies van der Rohe
influenced him. He graduated in 1971 with a Bachelor
of Architecture—Design Option and says: “Texas Tech
changed my life!”
After graduation, Stephen and his wife Kathy (whom he
married while attending Tech) moved to Houston for a
job with a company that designed Kmart stores. On loan
to another company, he also got experience designing
apartments. His third job in Houston was with Phillips
& Peterson—which was the first time he worked with an
architect who “really explored good design.” His boss,
W. Irving Phillips, Jr., was greatly influenced by French
architect Le Corbusier, and Stephen was as well.

After three years in Houston, Stephen was accepted to
the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign—where he
earned his Master of Architecture (1974). By that time,
Stephen’s first daughter, Erin, had been born.
Next, Stephen went to Harvard for his second masters
(1978)—this one in Urban Design. But during that time,
three-year-old Erin was diagnosed with leukemia.
Harvard was very helpful in Erin’s battle with cancer,
as was another well-known organization. Because of his
Melissa and Stephen work designing the private suites at Fenway Park, Erin’s
diagnosis became known to the Boston Red Sox. Despite
years of treatment, however, including remission and
he work of multi-award-winning architect and Texas relapse, Erin died at the age of eight. The Boston Red Sox
Tech graduate Stephen Faulk, American Institute of honored Erin’s memory when they generously donated to
TArchitects (AIA), can be seen throughout Lubbock— the Jimmy Fund, a group that helps pay children’s cancer
especially on our college campuses. His impressive story treatment expenses.
is nothing short of inspirational. At that time, Stephen was working in Massachusetts as

In 1966, Stephen boarded a train in Houston, arrived in an associate for Skidmore, Ownings & Merrill (SOM)
Lubbock, and took a taxi to Texas Tech. He knew no one who had several offices nationwide. Two major reasons—
here. corporate infighting and his personal grief—led him to
strike out on his own. Also during that time, his daughters
Stephen had taken a drafting class in high school and Lindsay, Megan, and Katelynn were born. Ultimately,
found that he loved to create. Both his mother and Stephen wanted to get back to Texas. Texas Tech offered
grandmother were artists, and drawing and composition him a position teaching Thesis and Professional Practice,
came naturally for him. He believes that his art heritage which he fulfilled respectably for 17 years.
is expressed in his work. The final project of his first year
at Tech involved a watercolor presentation. His dad, who However, as is often the case with grief, the death of a
didn’t dole out compliments often, said it was: “Pretty child had an ongoing impact on his (50+ year) marriage
good.” and ultimately fractured it.

46 Lubbock Senior Link