Fisher Heck founders embark on retirement, welcome new leadership!
Since 1984, Fisher Heck Architects has shaped much of San Antonio’s most notable architecture. Focusing on preservation, religious and education architecture; the firm’s projects include San Fernando Cathedral, Concordia Lutheran Church, and Hemisfair’s historic homes—ultimately, creating a lasting legacy for San Antonio’s cityscape. After 36 years of architectural leadership, founders Lewis Fisher and Jim Heck are retiring and welcoming a new era of leadership with principals Mark Navarro, Marc Johnson, and David Hannan Jr. This is the conclusion of a six-year transition period where all five leaders have worked together to strengthen Fisher Heck and ensure a seamless passage that allows the firm to continue designing projects that strengthen and benefit San Antonio.
For decades, Lewis and Jim devoted their attention to historic preservation as well as creating modern and inspired spaces for religious and educational organizations. Among their numerous achievements in design and preservation are some of San Antonio’s most notable buildings such as Villa Finale, UTSA Football locker rooms, Basilica of the National Shrine of the Little Flower, La Villita, Bexar County Commissioners Court, Hardberger Park Salado Pavilion, St. Anthony Claret, Mount Calvary Lutheran Church.
“Leading Fisher Heck Architects has been the driving force of my lifetime. It is important for Jim and I that the firm continues with strong and capable leadership,” said Lewis Fisher, retiring principal of Fisher Heck Architects. “Mark Navarro, Marc Johnson, and David Hannan Jr. are extremely talented and devoted leaders. We have worked alongside them for a minimum of nine years and have been inspired by their expertise and dedication on a daily basis. Jim and I are excited to see where this talented team takes Fisher Heck Architects next.”
Fisher Heck Architects’ new principals will continue the firm's focus on religious institutions and revitalizing historic properties within urban and rural settings, while also establishing a significant presence within the educational sector.
“Marc, David, and I have embarked on an amazing course to carry on the critical work of Lewis Fisher and Jim Heck,” said Mark Navarro, Principal of Fisher Heck Architects. “Shaping and preserving the cityscape of San Antonio and surrounding areas impacts the appeal of our community and the quality of our lives. Helping to lead this effort is an honor and will drive us into a new era of telling the story of people through the buildings we save and design.”
Principal and President of Fisher Heck Architects, Mark Navarro, AIA, is graduate of Texas A&M University, having earned a Bachelor of Environmental Design and Master of Architecture. Prior to joining Fisher Heck Architects in 2012, he worked at firms in both San Antonio and Dallas. His specialization lies in Religious Architecture and Sustainable Urbanism, where he has worked on projects across Texas ranging from $50,000 to $500 Million. Mark’s passion in religious architecture focus specifically on master planning and creating a campus that is welcoming, pedestrian friendly, and designed to allow the congregation to appreciate an inspiring procession to the worship building. Mark makes the design process easy for his clients to follow with his engaging and visually stimulating approach.
Principal and Vice President, Marc Johnson, AIA, is a San Antonio native with 20 years of experience in providing in-depth client service. Among Marc’s many leadership roles, he directs Fisher Heck’s vision of “Designing Community” by continually finding ways to incorporate underlying people-centric concepts within designs. Marc leads the firm’s Educational sector which focuses on higher education projects, emphasizing continuous growth and expansion in South and Central Texas areas. He connects the firm’s work to the spaces they create, and more importantly to the lives that the firm’s work touches by forming inclusive, welcoming, and inspirational experiences for everyone.
Principal and Vice President, David Hannan Jr. grew up in the Woodlands, a suburb of Houston and went to school at Texas Tech where he earned a Master of Architecture degree. After working for a startup architecture firm in Lubbock for three years, he moved to San Antonio and joined the team at Fisher Heck working almost exclusively under Lewis Fisher, focusing on Historic Preservation. He has managed award-winning courthouse projects including Karnes County Courthouse and Bexar County Courthouse. He now focuses on expanding Lewis Fisher’s work on historic projects, whether they are institutional, residential, or commercial properties. This includes growing the firm’s adaptive reuse work to not only restore historic buildings, but also adapt them for new uses.
Learn more about Fisher Heck’s legacy, company values, and leadership at our PROFILE page.