Richard K. Begay, Jr. (Diné, Scottsdale and Tselani-Cottonwood-Chinle Agency,Navajo Nation, Enrolled Tribal Member)

Begay received his Professional Bachelor of Architecture Degree (cum laude) from the University of Arizona’s School of Architecture in 2001. Richard was previously employed with DLR Group Architects and JCJ Architects – both national architecture and engineering firm.  Begay oversaw multiple projects from early discovery/programming to design phases and eventually into construction documents and post-construction.  Richard’s passion is centered on maintaining relationships; providing lasting commitments and invaluable service to clients, partners, contractors, and education professionals. 

Some of his Native American professional portfolio includes Twin Arrows Casino-Hotel Interiors, Salt River High School, Indian Oasis Baboquivari Auditorium, and Senator John Pinto Library at Diné College Shiprock Campus.  In addition Richard has established strong lasting relationships with Phoenix area school districts such as the Saddle Mountain Unified School District, Phoenix Union High School District, and Paradise Valley Unified School District with their facility upgrades along with new construction. 

Begay’s extensive community service includes speaking particularly to  Native American high students about culture, the spirit of place, and education; His outreach services includes collaboration with university students, professional and non-profit organizations and also volunteering with Habitat for Humanity and Chances for Children - Arizona. Begay also has been featured in a film documentary on Native American architecture. 'Aboriginal Architecture - Living Architecture' (2005 Mushkeg Media, Montreal, Quebec, Canada) is feature length documentary that explores how living cultures influence many forms of art including architecture.

In his own words: When I think about creativity, I have a tendency draw from my childhood experiences. Memory submerges me to my late-grandmother's place playing in earth, on earth, with the earth; 'constructing' tree houses and defensive forts; in addition, we fabricate rather archaic weapons made out of juniper branches. In some notion creativity or design was occurring yet to my cousins and I we were consumed with our randomness of simply playing. Who knew tactile exploration became our paradigm for learning. An example of our juvenile creativity: We gather tree sap from ponderosa, pinyon, and juniper, mix it into the size of a baseball, put it on the end of stick - LIGHT it up to SEE and HEAR all those small fire drops. A magnificent display of colors - reds, greens, blues, oranges, yellows, limes, and whites!

Why architecture? I have a great appreciation to many forms of expressions. There are plenty of mediums or vehicles to convey our emotions - whether it's art, music, sculpting, or weaving. Much of what I do goes back to listening, observing, and interaction. My dad is quite the inspiration - a genuine nataani. My dad, trained in civil engineering, installed many water and wastewater systems on the Navajo Reservation. When I was 7 years old, we worked in the central part of the Nation laying or staking out lines and recording the terrain. Other times, I watched him put pipes together with other pipes, pipes to couplings, valves, etc. it was quite the composition - 'parts' to a 'whole'. Much of these experiences, including my juvenile explorations, contribute to ethics and perception or intuition. Intuition becomes a special value or a way of falling back on our foundation of whom we are. These values along with our creative spirit allow us to become the artist we endeavor to be.

Enjoy!

Richard – Architect, Designer & ‘Storytelling with Storykeepers’

richard k. begay jr, llc – architects  

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