Brent Bowman made that early decision to pursue architecture in Pawnee Rock, Kansas. It’s a small town, with no architectural landmarks. But it did offer a close-up view of how people related to and were influenced by their surroundings.

As Brent pursued his studies at Kansas State University, he became even more a student of this interaction between people and place. He sketched furiously, and clerked in a landmark hotel to make ends meet.

He formed his own architectural firm in Manhattan at age 27, convinced that as an independent practitioner he would be better able to design structures in harmony with their function and setting. The diversity of his work, and recognition by his peers, both serve to validate that premise.

Brent founded the architectural practice of Brent Bowman and Associates in 1979, a predecessor firm of BBN Architects Inc. He directed the architectural practice of BBN’s Manhattan office until his retirement in 2024. He directed a diverse range of projects including libraries, university buildings, education facilities – both primary and secondary, municipal facilities, downtown master plans and redevelopment projects, office buildings, renovations of historic structures, religious buildings, retail projects and private residences. Brent leaves a legacy of leadership and rigorous award-winning design.