Draft:Richard Varda

Richard Taylor Varda is an American Architect and member of the FAIA (Fellow of the American Institute of Architects). Varda worked for various architecture firms and Target Corp, designing their iconic red ball concrete bollards. During his time with Ellerbe Becket, Varda served as the lead designer on the Kingdom Centre in Riyad, Saudi Arabia.

Varda was born in Madison, Wisconsin, to Margaret P. Varda and John P. Varda. He was the youngest of four boys; both of his parents and three older brothers all being lawyers. Varda went to undergraduate at various universities in Wisconsin before moving to Minnesota to pursue a master's degree in Architecture at the University of Minnesota.

While working for Ellerbe Beckett, Varda was the principal designer for the Kingdom Centre, what was then the tallest building in Riyad, Saudi Arabia. The building was completed in 2002. The building included levels where woman could shop freely without men or head coverings.

Varda helped design many different buildings, including the Carlson School of Management for the University of Minnesota, LaSalle Plaza, and many others.