David Dowell: Ruth and Norman Moore Visiting Professor of Architecture Lecture

Dowell was a partner at the integrated architecture, urban design, curatorial, educational, and fabrication practice El Dorado. The firm, he shared, “proudly grew up in Kansas City, a place thought of as in the middle of everywhere. This context — the birthplace of border wars, home to everyday ingenuity and gritty pragmatism — gave spirited form to the firm’s work, especially in places and contexts not our own. El Dorado, or Eldo as most knew us, remains as much an idea, as an architecture practice. We did things most wouldn’t dare, and only so often regretted those risks. The things that set us apart are hard-earned ways of being.

“Eldo was founded 29.5 years ago around the simple ethic that architects should also make things. From start to finish, we fabricated the things we designed that no one else was willing to make, at least not for a fair price. Our first office was half art gallery, and we continued collaborating with artists and curators to wedge projects beyond their comfort zone into something unexpected and perhaps unforgettable. In our humble roots, we found our most enduring commitment: discovery-based design excellence. This sometimes vexed clients, and ourselves, even as it prompted the potential for a magical turn. 

“This commitment framed the projects we took on, the mentorship within our teams, the questions we asked of our clients and ourselves, and the project outcomes. In all cases, we leaned toward collaboration and asking questions that risked losing the job over sheer efficiency. We believed human ingenuity and creativity beat all other forms of intelligence.  

“We worked purposefully across scales, locations, and contexts, from city blocks to exhibitions, between critical ideas and our intangible, spiritual attachment to place. We found opportunities to express civic ideals in the most intimate projects, even as we brought a love for hand-crafted detail to city-scale design. El Dorado’s partners and talented staff — including architects, urban designers, university professors, a professional tarot card reader, industrial designers, and certified welders — were committed to chasing big ideas with a common touch and a belief in advancing design for social good. Our best work created common ground in the middle of everywhere.” 

In addition to being the 2025 Ruth and Norman Moore Visiting Professor at the Sam Fox School, Dowell is also a professor of practice at Kansas State University. After closing El Dorado in April 2025, Dowell now devotes his time to preparing the next generation of architects and stewarding El Dorado’s enduring legacy.