Rhode Island Architectural Firm Now Has Two Keene State Alums in Lead Design Roles
Two Keene State alums are sharing office space and design talents at an architectural firm’s East Rhode Island office.
Rowse Architects announced the recent hiring of Craig Bucci ’23 as an architectural designer. Craig will work alongside another Keene State alum, Andrew McKeen ’08, who has the same role at Rowse and more than a decade of experience designing for municipal and educational projects.
Rowse, which also has an office in Massachusetts, provides planning, design, value engineering, interior programming, production, and construction administration. The company has operated for more than 30 years.
When hiring Keene graduates, we know we’re getting someone who thinks interdisciplinary, which is necessary in our field. We’ve seen firsthand that they possess an acumen for critical decision making and leadership.”
– Brittany Grant, Rowse vice president
Said company Vice President Brittany Grant:
“When hiring Keene graduates, we know we’re getting someone who thinks interdisciplinary, which is necessary in our field. We’ve seen firsthand that they possess an acumen for critical decision making and leadership.
“The Keene alumni on Rowse’s staff are some of our most dexterous employees. Andrew has been with us for almost a decade, and can leap from behind the desk, to client meetings, to mentoring interns – all before lunch. Craig impressed us as soon as he came on board; he was able to settle into our office quickly and picks up skills at lightning speed.”
Craig earned a bachelor’s degree in architecture from Keene State, where he completed a Collaborative Architectural Project that included designing a business hub in the center of the city.
Real-world learning is a staple of a Keene State education, and at the heart of the intent of the liberal arts experience the college promises. Such projects and collaboration are also a requisite of the architecture program.
“Craig is a dedicated and diligent designer who enjoys both commercial and residential design, with a keen interest in public building design,” Rowse officials said in a news release. “He values collaborative design and is a communicative team player.”
Before joining Rowse, Craig was a utility crew worker, where he gained construction-site field experience. He hopes to pursue his architectural license.
Andrew, who joined the Rowse team in 2014, also has a bachelor’s degree in architecture from Keene State. He has worked on fully-built projects and collaborated with teams on masterplan projects. His technical toolkit, a Rowse official noted, includes command of AutoCAD drafting, Sketchup modeling and rendering, Photoshop, and Revit.
“Andrew approaches design from the viewpoint of the occupational environment and enjoys creating a better workplace for the buildings’ occupants,” Rowse officials said in a news release. “He values open communication with the client, and believes no detail is too small to matter.”
Andrew also has a Master of Architecture degree from the University of Hartford.
