Remembering Jim Kuppler

FOUNDER, PRINCIPAL 1983-1994

Jim Kuppler is remembered as a kind and generous person, especially with his time. "He took genuine interest in other people, their struggles and their joys," says Arnold Kraakmo, who worked with him from 1986 until Jim retired from the firm. "He would often go the extra mile on projects to make sure the client was happy even if it cost him several hours of his personal time."

Jim's career began as an industrial designer with the Walt Disney Company. During his early years, he made most of his friends and contacts in the architecture and interior design world, eventually getting into interior design. He strove to learn everything he could about architecture so that he could improve his own work, says his friend and business partner, Doug Diel. "Jim decided he would take the exams to become a licensed architect. Tom Webb and I were his study partners," adds Doug. "Jim studied hard and passed his exams and earned his license."

Jim and Doug's friendship grew by studying together, attending the same church, and having children who played together. In 1983, they decided to combine their complementary skills, technical knowledge, and professional contacts to start a firm. Jim's focus was on high-end interior design clients, retail, and space planning, while Doug brought his telecommunications and healthcare contacts.

The firm grew more quickly than either imagined. They purchased an office building in the Green Lake area and hired more staff. Tom Webb joined them as a principal in 1988 and the firm's name was changed to Kuppler Diel Webb Architects, PS.

Jim's discipline and persistence helped him succeed. As he saw it, good design results from teamwork and collaboration —  with employees, consultants, and clients. Jim and Doug were open to more than one way of solving a problem and encouraged their clients to participate in the solution.

One of Jim's proudest accomplishments was partnering with his father to design and build a 24-unit apartment building in a jointly-owned property in the Green Lake area. A long stretch of multi-family residential design work opened for the firm as a result of that partnership.

"Jim had a very unique skill in three dimensional sketching and rendering with pen and magic markers," Doug remembers. "He could sketch a design idea while discussing the client's project scope of work and needs. He called it 'three-dimensional visual magic.'" Jim would advise young architects to learn to draw by hand to quickly convey concepts before committing them to more rigid formats and technologies, says Doug.

Jim continued as a consultant with the company after retirement. He continued his hobbies, which included restoring antique Ford automobiles, model railroading, and flying. Jim passed away in 2005.