Edward Tucker Architects marks 30 years in Huntington

Edward Tucker Architects is celebrating the 30th anniversary of Edward Tucker’s practice in Huntington, West Virginia, while also noting a 115-year architectural legacy in the city. The firm says the milestone comes as leadership shifts to a new generation and public anniversary events roll out through December 2026.

Why it matters: - Edward Tucker Architects is using the anniversary to underscore a rare local continuity: more than 115 years of unbroken architectural practice in Huntington. - The milestone also marks a leadership handoff after Tucker retired in January 2025, signaling how the firm plans to preserve its client base and design approach while evolving. - The firm’s work has touched healthcare, education, civic, religious and cultural projects across West Virginia and the Tri-State region.

What happened: - Edward Tucker Architects is marking 30 years since Edward Tucker established the practice in 1996 after returning to Huntington from Nashville. - The firm is celebrating the anniversary this month in Huntington, West Virginia. - Tucker acquired Dean and Dean Architects and formed Edward Tucker Architect, Inc., building on a family-linked local tradition. - Tucker retired from practice in January 2025 after a transition plan that began more than 10 years earlier.

The details: - The practice traces back to 1910, when Levi Johnson Dean established an architecture firm in Huntington. - Dean designed courthouses, churches and commercial buildings that still shape the city’s built environment. - Dean’s sons, Keith and Brooks, continued the firm as Dean and Dean Architects for more than 30 years. - Tucker brought 12 years of professional experience to Huntington when he took over the practice. - Tucker’s grandfather, Albert Tucker, was a self-taught designer who built more than 150 churches across West Virginia and neighboring states. - Over the past 30 years, ETA has worked on new buildings, renovations, adaptive reuse and historic preservation. - Notable clients and projects include the City of Huntington, Marshall University, the Cabell County Public Library system, the Greater Huntington Park and Recreation District, Johnson Memorial Methodist Church, Holy Spirit Orthodox Church, Huntington Federal Savings Bank, Darco International, Cabell Huntington Hospital, Cabell County Schools, Coalfield Development Corporation, West Virginia State University, Bluefield State University, Valley Health and King’s Daughters Medical Center. - The West Virginia Chapter of the American Institute of Architects has given the firm multiple Honor, Merit and Citation awards. - Tucker was elevated to the AIA College of Fellows in 2010, one of architecture’s highest honors. - Phoebe Patton Randolph started working for Tucker in 1996 during college breaks and joined full time in 2003. - Randolph became a principal in 2014 and transitioned to president in 2024. - Amber Yost joined the firm in 2017 and has coordinated interior design across nearly every ETA project since. - Yost’s elevation to principal of interior design reflects the firm’s focus on integrated architecture and interior design services.

Between the lines: - The firm is presenting the anniversary as more than a look back; it is framing leadership succession as part of the business model that has kept the practice intact across generations. - Randolph’s and Yost’s promotions suggest ETA is trying to protect institutional knowledge while expanding the role of design integration in future work. - Tucker’s remarks point to a deliberate shift from founder-led identity to a broader team identity, with client priorities remaining the central message.

What's next: - ETA plans to launch an interactive timeline on etarch.com that will cover both the past 30 years and the full 115-year legacy of the practice. - The firm is running a social media campaign through December 2026 highlighting major projects, milestones and the people behind the work. - ETA says its future focus will continue to combine architecture and interior design while serving Appalachian communities.

The bottom line: - Edward Tucker Architects is marking a rare blend of longevity and succession: a 30-year firm identity built on a 115-year local lineage, now passing into a new leadership era.