Ian Banner’s career milestones include law school, STEM building
Hailing from the smallest county in England, Ian Banner‘s start in architecture had less to do with his career aspirations than it did with an ultimatum from his mother.
“At 18, my mum told me it was time to leave the house,” Banner said. “She cut out some job postings in the paper – one of which was for the National Bus Co. architect’s office in Peterborough. I went after it and got a junior technician’s position there.”
Little did he know, this first job printing blueprints and holding the “dumb end” of the tape would be the beginning of a long and distinguished career. Banner retired recently from the University of Mississippi, bookending a nearly two-decade chapter of serving as the institution’s master planner and chief architect.
“I’m thrilled to congratulate Ian on his well-deserved retirement, but there is no doubt his immeasurable vision and impact will be missed, as his contributions have been central to the preservation of the integrity and beauty of our campus,” Chancellor Glenn Boyce said. “His passion for his profession and his respect for his team were always on full display.
“We will certainly miss his wonderful way with words and ability to bring his light-hearted humor to any moment.”
From virtually every vantage point on campus, Banner’s architectural influence can be found. He has played a primary role in construction projects such as the Robert C. Khayat Law Center, The Sandy and John Black Pavilion at Ole Miss, and South Campus Recreation Center, as well as the renovation of residence halls and restoration of historic buildings including Garland, Hedleston, and Mayes Halls.
Even buildings not yet completed have been guided by Banner’s leadership. The ongoing construction of the Jim and Thomas Duff Center for Science and Technology Innovation reflects the efficient design principles that Banner implemented when he first came to campus in 2004.
“The STEM building manages energy very well indeed,” he said. “So, it’s a highly efficient building. That’s really the ultimate for me, even though I won’t see it finished.”
These landmark projects, however, belie the modest beginnings that led him on an unplanned path toward architecture.
Gradually, over his time at the National Bus Co., Banner’s interest in architecture grew. Attending a university, however, seemed unattainable after failing exams in school – a consequence of being consumed by his love of playing soccer and professional aspirations that did not pan out.
He began night school at a technical college in Peterborough and was eventually accepted to the University of Plymouth for architecture school. Banner completed the three-year degree program and one-year internship before returning to Plymouth for a graduate degree in architecture.
During his time at Plymouth, he played soccer semi-professionally for Penzance Association Football Club with his architecture school roommate, Eno Udo, who became one of his closest friends.
Those experiences made his time at Plymouth wonderful, Banner said, and he thrived both in the classroom and on the field. Then, at the very end of his tenure there, an unexpected opportunity emerged.
As fate would have it, the dean of the School of Architecture at Mississippi State University was scheduled for a visit to Plymouth. Banner served as the dean’s tour guide.
“He asked me if I wanted to come and write a research paper at Mississippi State,” Banner said. “That’s how it all turned out from there. That’s why I’m here today.”
Banner also met Gary Shafer, an architect based in Starkville who was teaching at Plymouth that semester. Eventually, Banner became the first exchange student between MSU and Plymouth. He traveled to Starkville and wrote the paper – the start of his transition to Mississippi.
After returning to England and working in London, Banner came back to Mississippi and began working for Shafer. He ultimately made partner in Shafer Banner Architects and moved to Huntsville, Alabama, to operate an office there.
It was in Starkville that Banner met his future wife, Betsy, while teaching at MSU. They married in 1991 and welcomed their son, Macfarlane, in 1993.
That year, Banner was back in England studying environmental design at Cambridge University.
“They only take six people a year for this program, and I got in,” he said. “I was scared to death, but Betsy – who is from Texas – told me to get a grip on myself and have confidence.
“It was a wonderful experience. I learned all about sustainability; we were doing experiments on highly efficient buildings.”
Banner earned the master’s degree, which would have a direct impact on his next career stop: Ole Miss.
“(Shafer Banner Architects) had designed some projects at the university,” he said. “I was contacted by our provost at the time, Dr. Carolyn Staton, who asked if I wanted to apply for the university architect’s position. I seriously think Gary may have had something to do with the call.”
In December 2004, Banner became university architect. Within a year, he was promoted to director of facilities planning.
Throughout all the projects and achievements during his time at Ole Miss, Banner said one that he’s most proud of is managing the university’s first master plan, which began in 2007.
“I took this very, very seriously, he said. “I was working on how to deal with growth. That was, I think, the biggest challenge – and still is.”
Banner partnered with Sasaki Associates, a renowned Boston firm that specializes in campus planning. Years prior, the university had enlisted the Olmsted office, also from Boston, whose founder was Frederick Law Olmsted, recognized as the father of landscape architecture in the United States. Interestingly, both firms’ headquarters were in the same suburb of Boston.
“Olmstead did major parks – he did Central Park and many other public parks in the United States,” he said. “His sons worked on our campus; they engaged in shaping it.”
Drawing on his background in environmental design, Banner prioritized getting people out of their cars.
“It seemed to me that parking would be best suited on the perimeter of campus,” he said. “Why bring vehicles into the center of campus more than necessary? Then, implement a bus service, public transportation.
“The only way that the public transportation on a university campus will work is if it is better and more favorable than staying in a car.”
The Oxford-University Transit system, which first ran in 2008, made this possible along with parking structures strategically placed on the edges of campus.
One of Banner’s most notable projects is the law center, completed in 2011. It is a crowning achievement for sustainable design on campus, as it was certified a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, building.
“It got Gold, which was great and that was a real feather in our cap,” Banner said. “So, it’s a very energy efficient building.”
Some of the center’s sustainable features are window glazing to reduce solar heat, occupancy and daylight sensor controls, and low-volume plumbing fixtures. Recycled content makes up 13% of its materials and 20% of its materials were sourced from less than 500 miles away. Additionally, 94% of the construction waste produced was diverted from landfills.
In 2012, Banner became director of the Office of Sustainability, in addition to his other roles. He has led several projects that involved “recycling” and restoring older buildings on campus. Garland, Hedleston and Mayes, home for the School of Applied Sciences, were three such buildings.
“Those buildings were old, and they were tired,” he said. “They needed renovation and restoration. So, we restored those three buildings. I was really pleased with that project, because anytime you can renovate rather than demolish and build new, you save energy.
“You also give the students and taxpayers in Mississippi a better deal because they’re getting these buildings for less money than if we built new, so that anytime we can renovate buildings, that makes me very happy.”
Around the office, Banner was known for his kindness, humility and entertaining turns of phrase, affectionately dubbed “Ianisms” by his coworkers.
“They all laugh when I come up with these ‘Ianisms’ every now and again,” he said. “I was reminded of one yesterday where I allegedly said that I’ve not been feeling so well, but I’m not ready to ‘pop my clogs just yet.'”
Chad Hunter, interim director of facilities planning and university architect, said he was fortunate to have had the “opportunity and pleasure” to work with Banner for the last 17 years.
“Ian has made a positive impact across campus, the community of Oxford and the state of Mississippi,” Hunter said. “While we are excited for him and his future adventures, we miss seeing him every day.
“We will certainly miss his humbleness, levity, humor … and his ‘Ianisms.'”
Outside the office, soccer has remained a large part of Banner’s life. Ten years ago, he agreed to provide commentary for the first SEC Network broadcast of the Ole Miss women’s soccer team.
“I’ve done every home game broadcast since, except when they bring in the big guns for nationally televised games,” he said. “It keeps me in the game, and over the years I’ve seen an unbelievable rise in the technical ability, the skills, the enjoyment factor of watching those women play.
“I still do that, and I will do it again this year.”
With retirement behind him, Banner does not plan to slow down just yet. He will work alongside his son at his construction company in North Carolina, helping with drawings and assistance with projects.
As far as his hopes for the future of the university, Banner emphasizes balance – respecting the university’s historic architecture while allowing new buildings, such as the STEM building, to express a technologically advanced and forward-looking vision.
“As we move into a new phase of advanced construction technology and architectural expression, our new buildings should embody a university looking forward,” he said. “While historic structures will always be respected and preserved, our modern facilities must authentically reflect the university’s vision for the future through innovative, sustainable design.”
By Erin Garrett