Contributions In Memory of Russ Holcomb

On November 24th, 2022, Duda|Paine's beloved colleague and firm Principal, Russell "Russ" Holcomb, AIA, passed away at his home in Durham, North Carolina, after a long battle with cancer. A vital presence in our firm for two decades, Russ will be greatly missed.

Russ was an expert in all aspects of the architectural profession. He graduated with a Bachelor of Architecture from Roger Williams University in Rhode Island in 1988. For 15 years, Russ honed his expertise working alongside Turan Duda and Jeff Paine at the office of Cesar Pelli and Associates in New Haven, Connecticut. In 2002 Turan and Jeff welcomed him to Duda|Paine Architects, where he continued to enhance their design, vision, values and management skills. As a Principal, Russ provided crucial leadership and truly cared about every staff member’s success at Duda|Paine.

With his unmatched knowledge, integrity and insight, Russ was essential to every project completed by Duda|Paine. His favorites included BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Campus and Talley Student Union at NC State University. Russ’s appreciation for place and community was realized in all of Duda| Paine's work. He created environments that promoted health, wellness and human interaction while maximizing a project’s connections to its context. Among his notable projects in Cesar Pelli and Associates’ office are the iconic Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Connecticut's Mystic Aquarium, and The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in Miami, Florida.

Russ will be remembered as an incredible mentor, colleague and friend. During his time at Duda|Paine, he shared his expertise with hundreds of staff members in every aspect of the firm's practice. He never missed a chance to provide helpful advice or encourage younger associates to share their ideas on a project. His presence in the studio created a culture where everyone appreciated the importance of thoughtful craft and excellence in design and construction. Russ’s keen eye for detail also brought a precise understanding of the contract side of architectural work, which he shared readily with project leaders and designers. He was equally attentive to bringing integral insight to client communications and marketing. In addition to Russ’s never-ending knowledge, his sense of humor and humility will be sorely missed.

Russ was an avid skier and mountain biker, race car enthusiast and dog lover. In recent years, Russ and his son designed and constructed his self-proclaimed "legacy cabin" in Driggs, Idaho, where skis line the hallway and large windows offer views of the changing seasons and the Grand Teton Mountain range.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests those who wish to express sympathy to consider contributing to Jackson Holcomb’s trust account, for which the primary beneficiary will be a 529 Plan. Contributions can be made through GoFundMe or payable to: Jackson Holcomb and mailed to 1470 Seneca Drive - Apt G – Blacksburg, VA 24060.