Turbine Profile: Designing man
Architect takes his show to the skies
Innovative architect and entrepreneur Mark Humphreys did what any passionate pilot would do when he started taking his firm global—bought a fleet of turbine aircraft for hire so he could not only have his own jet, but others could, too. Humphreys is the founder of Humphreys and Partners Architects of Dallas, which he and partner Greg Faulkner started in 1991 and have grown to eight offices in the United States and six international. The firm is responsible for the advent of “Big House” residential apartment buildings that look like single-family houses. HPA is reported to be the number one designer of apartment buildings in the United States with a share of 12 to 15 percent of that market.
The Texas Tech graduate has always been interested in aviation, and it was a natural for Humphreys to establish Piaggio Charters at Addison Airport when he purchased his first Piaggio Avanti in 2013. The charter company now offers Piaggio Avantis and a Cirrus Vision Jet for hire. HPA has grown so much—it now includes real estate, interior design, landscape, and civil engineering in its portfolio—that Humphreys spends much of his time traveling the world in his Avanti. When he’s not in the left seat, it’s his flying office. Aviation’s influence has become a part of his design life, too—HPA is a finalist in the Uber Elevate design competition.
How did you get started in aviation?
My father worked for Bill Lear as a designer when Lear was creating the first business jet, so my fascination with aviation and airplanes began at a very early age. I was 10 when my father began working for Lear, and I would sometimes accompany him to work and see the incredible work it took to design the first business jet. My father also took me flying around this time and let me pilot the airplane on occasion as he instructed me what do to. Once you’ve experienced the thrill of flying an airplane at such a young age, it’s not something easily forgotten.
When did you get your pilot certificate and what airplanes do you own currently?
I bought my first airplane when I was 51, and it was delivered the day before I got my pilot’s license. I currently own a 2008 Piaggio P180 Avanti II, 2007 Piaggio P180 Avanti II, and a 2017 Cirrus Vision SF50. I have more than 3,000 flight hours.
Did your parents nurture your passion for aviation?
Yes, my parents were very influential in my love for airplanes and flying, particularly my father. We are an aviation family—my two brothers went on to be pilots, for the Navy and recreationally, respectively. I began pursuing my license as soon as I could, but put that on hold at the behest of my wife when we had children.
“The feeling of freedom—there is nothing in life that matches the adrenaline of taking off and going wherever you wish to go.”What aspect of flying most fascinated you as a child?
The feeling of freedom—there is nothing in life that matches the adrenaline of taking off and going wherever you wish to go. Second to that feeling is the exhilarating experience of landing an airplane in less than ideal weather. I relish the challenge.
Why architecture as a profession over aviation?
“Didn’t you want to be a pilot?” is something I’ve been asked quite a few times when people learn of my passion for aviation. The answer is simple: No, I didn’t want to pilot professionally; I wanted to own a jet. There’s a big difference between owning a jet and being a pilot. After visiting the Lear offices in middle school, I went to sleep thinking, “I’m going to own a Learjet one day.”
As a young adult I realized I couldn’t work for someone else and own a Learjet, so then my motivation became to own a company large enough to necessitate a jet for business. There are few feelings quite like walking up to your own airplane.
What does aviation mean for your company?
Flying allows my employees to move around the country without the hassle of going through buying tickets and dealing with airports. We can fly across the country, perform a site visit, and come back home all in one day.
Does Humphreys and Partners integrate aviation into its designs?
We have been proposing flying-vehicle integration into our designs since 2018. Two of our most forward-thinking designs, Pier 1: Apartment of the Future and the Uber Skyport, integrate aviation within an ultramodern, multifamily community providing resident access to drone delivery and urban air transportation.
The Uber Skyport is currently one of six finalists in the Uber Elevate Summit design competition to create an air transportation hub on three acres or less of land in the middle of an urban environment. Of all the designs submitted, ours is the simplest solution, being efficient, inexpensive, but attractive and environmentally sound. Of the finalists, NASA contacted us stating they are studying our design further because of its 360-degree landing and takeoff opportunity.
One of our most impressive designs is Pier 2: Apartment of the Future, a conceptual project envisioned to be built on the Manhattan riverfront. Transportation is evolving and aviation is one of the driving factors of this evolution, which is why these two soaring towers on the Hudson River feature landing platforms for drones and air taxis.
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