Forty Under 40: Dusty Graham

As much as anyone over the past 15 years, Rogers architect Dusty Graham has left his fingerprints throughout Northwest Arkansas.

A high school course in landscape drafting piqued his interest in design. He earned an architecture degree in 2004 from the University of Arkansas, then went to work for Tucker Sadler Architects. The San Diego-based company opened a satellite office in Northwest Arkansas because of two significant projects in Rogers — Cross Church and the World Trade Center Arkansas building.

Graham worked on those projects and others in three years with the firm. In 2007, he and two colleagues founded their own design firm, Core Architects. Since then the firm has had a hand in designing numerous commercial buildings in the high-profile area of Rogers known as Pinnacle Hills. Graham credits the firm’s involvement in that area to Johnelle Hunt. Her company, Hunt Ventures, was responsible for the conception and development of the more than 700-acre project.

A few notable Core projects in Pinnacle Hills include the 10-story Hunt Tower and the Walmart Arkansas Music Pavilion (AMP). Another noteworthy project is a comprehensive cancer care center in Rogers for Fayetteville-based Highlands Oncology Group.

The firm has 18 employees and is working on projects in five states for a diverse group of clients. They include municipalities, school systems, healthcare organizations and nonprofits. Core also designed several new and renovated buildings on the UA campus.

Graham serves his hometown by sitting on the board of directors for the Springdale Housing Authority and the Springdale Athletic Foundation.

Married with five children, Graham also takes an active role in Springdale’s youth sports programs.