Richard was raised in the Texas Hill Country and graduated from Boerne High School as their valedictorian in 1976. He attained his Bachelors degree from Texas A+M University, Magna Cum Laude in 1980 and received his Masters of Architecture from the University of Colorado in 1982.
Mr. Haas has practiced architecture throughout the Southwest including Austin, Denver, Santa Fe and the last 25 years in Las Cruces. During that time, he has received numerous awards for his designs and is known for architecture that connects to its people and its landscape in a sustainable manner.
In 2007 Richard was awarded the New Mexico Architects Medal. In addition to architecture, Richard devotes time to serve the community in many capacities ranging from Scouting, Rotary and of course the Chamber of Commerce.
EDUCATION
Boerne High School, 1976
Texas A+M University, 1980
University of Colorado, 1982
PROFESSIONAL LICENCES
Texas New Mexico Colorado Arizona Oklahoma California
COMMUNITY SERVICE
Greater Las Cruces Chamber of Commerce, Board Member 2006-2014, Chair of the Board 2012
Leadership New Mexico, Core Class 2012, Board Member 2013-2016
Las Cruces Rio Grande Rotary, Board Member 2014-Present, President 2017-2018, Assistant Governor 2019-2020
City of Las Cruces ADA Advisory Committee Member 2011-2017 Chair 2015-2017
Boy Scouts Eagle Scout 1972 Scoutmaster 1987-1995 (New Braunfels, TX and Santa Fe, NM)
Southwest Spaceport Taskforce Board Member 2004-2009 Chair 2006-2008
X Prize – Las Cruces Co-Chair
Las Cruces Space EXPO Co-Chair
American Institute of Architects – New Mexico Chapter President 2001, 2006, 2019
WORK EXPERIENCE
1981 -1985 Skidmore Owings + Merrill – Denver, CO Intern Architect, Project Manager
1985-1987 Lloyd Lippe Architects – Seguin, TX Historic Preservation Architect
1987-1991 Parks Haas Architects – New Braunfels, TX Principal Architect/President
1991-1995 Environetics Architects – Santa F, NM Design Architect
1995-2007 Nims Calvani / Studio D – Las Cruces, NM Principal Architect
2007-2016 Steve Newby Architects – Las Cruces, NM Design Architect
2016-2018 WDG Architects – Las Cruces, NM Design Architect
2018-Present Desert Peak Architects – Las Cruces, NM President
Richard is married to Susan Haas, a Registered Nurse, and they have a son and daughter and 7 grandchildren – all who live in the local area
