Chris Rice Joins Freese and Nichols to Manage Campus Planning and Design
Chris Rice has always been motivated by a passion for creating transformative education environments.
His journey into campus planning began in high school, where his interest in art and drawing led him to a vocational drafting course. This early exposure to architectural drawing sparked a continued interest in architecture and planning.
“I have always been dedicated to creating diverse, equitable spaces where faculty, staff, students and the surrounding community can live, work and thrive in the towns and cities where they study and grow,” Chris said.
“It is becoming critical for the success of both cities and institutions that they collaborate with one voice to advance the entire community. The goal is to create seamless connections between ‘town and gown,’ aligning their long-term plans and shared objectives to ensure intentional and purposeful growth. At Freese and Nichols, our strength lies in our talented and passionate teams leading city and campus planning efforts. This unified approach provides a cohesive vision that enhances the quality of life for everyone involved.”
Chris joins Freese and Nichols as our new Campus Planning and Design Manager. With more than 35 years of experience, he’s a recognized educational planning and development leader. Chris is focused on growing the campus planning practice at Freese and Nichols and holistically expanding the higher education sector across all practices. His role involves creating strategic initiatives to assist higher education clients beyond Texas, leveraging the firm’s comprehensive engineering and design capabilities.
His extensive background includes teaching at the university level and mentoring the next generation of planners and architects. Chris holds a master’s degree in architecture from the University of Maryland and a BS in Architecture from the University of Texas at Arlington. He also taught at the University of Maryland and currently gives lectures at The University of Texas at Austin’s School of Architecture Community and Regional Planning, where he participates in thesis reviews and shares his knowledge and experience with students.
“Teaching at the University of Maryland for 10 years allowed me to see things from both sides, understanding the students while being sensitive to the needs of the faculty and staff as well,” he said.
Chris has been involved in numerous high-profile projects, including transforming roads and parking lots into vibrant student activity centers and creating pedestrian promenades that enhance campus connectivity. His projects, such as the University Academic Center at Texas State University and the three-quarters-of-a-mile-long pedestrian promenade at Midwestern State University, have left lasting impacts on the campuses and their communities.
“I’ve known Chris for years and know what tremendous talent and perspectives he brings to urban design, campus master planning and the unique nexus of town-gown relationships,” Urban Planning Group Manager Chance Sparks said. “He also knows the needs of higher education clients from working across the U.S.”
“We are ecstatic to have Chris join our team,” said Wendy Bonneau, Urban Planning Practice Leader. “I’ve long admired his work in higher education planning. His expertise will be a great asset to our campus master planning team, as well as our downtown plans and town-gown implementation.”
As the president of the Central Texas chapter of the Congress for the New Urbanism, Chris is dedicated to promoting sustainable urban development and walkable communities. His involvement in initiatives such as Austin’s Project Connect and the I-35 Capital Expressway corridor redevelopment focuses on creating critical mobility links, establishing more equitable and sustainable pedestrian environments and reducing car dependency.
“What inspires me each morning is the knowledge that our work as planners, architects and designers has a profound and lasting impact on the world,” Chris said. “We craft spaces that invite people to connect, reflect and come together – places that foster community and create lasting memories. It’s about elevating the human experience and shaping a better world, with an influence that endures well beyond our time.”