Oxford, Mississippi – March 7, 2025
For Beard + Riser, architecture is more than designing buildings—it’s about shaping communities, enriching lives, and preserving a tradition of craftsmanship. With a hands-on approach and deep respect for history, the firm creates homes and commercial spaces that transcend trends, ensuring each structure is both timeless and rooted in the region’s identity. Having completed 75 publicly bid projects and more than 100 residential jobs since opening 18 years ago, their work continues to expand across Mississippi.
A Front-Row Seat to Oxford’s Growth
From his office beside the Lyric Theatre, Dale Riser has a direct view of Oxford’s steady growth. “It’s like watching a live feed of the stock market floor when the weather’s good,” he says. As a principal of Beard + Riser Architects, Riser sees firsthand why Oxford continues to thrive. “Oxford’s an easy sell,” he adds.
Riser and partner John Beard have spent nearly two decades shaping Mississippi’s architectural landscape. They began in Greenwood, across from their first major client, Viking Range. They have now set up for the long run in Oxford’s Walker Building at 1102 Van Buren, whose other tenant is Blue Delta Jeans.
“Oxford’s growth creates incredible opportunities for thoughtful design. As the city evolves, our role as architects is critical to ensure that new homes and buildings respect the character of the community that’s already here,” says Riser.
Why Oxford and the Delta?
Riser and his family moved to Oxford in 2017, strategically timed for the start of the school year. “Like a lot of folks, we moved here for the schools,” he says. His wife, Dr. Emily Riser, an eighth-grade teacher at Oxford Middle School and former chair of English at Mississippi Delta Community College, played a key role in the decision. Their children, Ana and William, have thrived – Ana at Northwest Mississippi Community College and now Ole Miss, and William at Northeastern University in Boston.
A pivotal moment in Riser’s career came when Fred Carl, founder of Viking Range, suggested at the Episcopal Church of the Nativity one day that Riser meet the town’s new architect, John Beard. That introduction led to a lasting professional relationship, with Beard + Riser completing several residential projects Beard had begun independently and working primarily with Viking for two years. This work included converting the Fountain Building into apartments, designing Turnrow Bookstore and Café (now being reconstructed after a fire), and restoring historic downtown storefronts.
Successful projects at Mississippi Delta Community College soon followed, including an extensive renovation of J.T. Hall Coliseum and a new student union. Dr. Larry Bailey, president at the time, said of the coliseum, “It is absolutely beautiful. It took on a whole new college environment.” Bailey further complimented the design team for “getting it done on time. They told me they would get it done on time, and they did. They said they would do it under budget or within budget, and they did it within budget.”
A Legacy of Thoughtful Design
Over the years, the firm has experienced exciting growth. Now, with five team members, two part-time helpers, and more on the way this summer, managing that growth is the latest challenge.
“It was difficult to start an architecture firm in a relatively rural state, as outsiders, with no real political or inside connections, in the middle of a national financial crisis, to boot,” Riser says. “But we just wouldn’t accept the idea that it might not work.”
That perseverance and commitment to success paid dividends, as the firm has averaged 30 projects annually over the past several years, ranging from 2,500 square foot homes to $15 million major commercial renovations and now, a role as associate architect with national firm Perkins & Will on the $65 million Vicksburg Battlefield Interpretive Center, slated to open in 2028. “I wanted to be part of this project because I grew up due west of Davis Bend, about 30 minutes,” Riser says. “So, I reached out to Zena Howard at Perkins & Will—who was on the design team for the Smithsonian’s African American Museum. It’s been a great partnership.”
Beard’s architectural journey began in a Navy family, leading him to Mississippi State after graduating from Shannon High School. His career took off under the mentorship of Samuel Mockbee at Mockbee, Coker, and Howorth. After college, he moved to New York, working with Keenen/Riley under the tutelage of Terrance Riley, curator of architecture and design at the Museum of Modern Art. After spending over a decade practicing in New York and Philadelphia, Beard returned home to work in Eupora with renowned historic preservationist Belinda Stewart.
Riser’s roots are in the small community of Crowville, in Franklin Parish, Louisiana, where he grew up surrounded by builders—his father, a carpenter; his grandfather, a school system maintenance director; and three great uncles—a carpenter, a plumber, and a painter. After earning degrees in Architecture and Technical Writing from Louisiana Tech, he worked in Austin before joining the nationally acclaimed Lake|Flato in San Antonio, where he honed his expertise in design detailing, natural materials, and sustainability. He returned to his Southern roots, relocating to Greenwood in 2003 to join Johnson-McAdams, working on mostly federal and military type projects.
Looking Ahead: Expanding the Oxford Studio and Staying True to Their Vision
Beard + Riser is currently designing an 18,000-square-foot addition for the Yoknapatawpha Arts Council (YAC), set to become the Yoknapatawpha Humanities Center at the Powerhouse — an important creative hub for Oxford and the Mississippi Hills Heritage Area.
Wayne Andrews, Executive Director of YAC, has praised Beard + Riser Architects for their pivotal role in shaping the vision for expanding the Powerhouse Community Arts Center and developing the proposed Humanities Hub.
Andrews noted that Dale Riser further supported YAC’s mission by connecting them with his team and serving as an advisor during the funding phase for the Humanities Hub project. This collaboration has been instrumental in advancing YAC’s mission to provide a dedicated space for artists to connect, create, and engage with the community, fostering a shared cultural future. Andrews remarked, “Dale’s experience in working with historic properties offered us insights into funding sources, strategies for engaging state agencies, and, through his established relationships, assistance in navigating various regulations.”
From historic renovations to forward-thinking new designs, modern custom homes to modernizing older properties for new uses, Beard + Riser Architects continues to shape the future of Mississippi.
Riser notes, “When we started… our focus was on thoughtful, client-centered design. That foundation still guides us today, and it’s been exciting to expand our reach while maintaining the same level of personal attention to each project. It’s the reason John and I put our family names on the door – it’s not for ego, it’s for accountability.”
“The size and budget of the project doesn’t change our approach,” Riser continues. Whether it’s a million-dollar roof or redesigning a custom kitchen, our job is to design the most functional, best-performing project our client’s budget allows. Every job gets the same level of attention. That’s non-negotiable within our office.”
