Roanoke creatives reimagine the concept of architecture

By Shawn Nowlin

Ever seen a building or structure in the Roanoke Valley and thought, “I wonder who the individuals responsible for bringing this idea to life are?”

Some might be unaware of just how many established construction, design and architect companies there are throughout the Roanoke Valley. Dickson Architects & Associates, Blue Ridge Restoration & Construction, Balzer & Associates, John Fulton Associates, Burns & McDonnell, Lionberger Construction and Hughes Associates are just some of the respected brands in a class of their own.

To understand Byron Dickson’s passion for architecture, one must first understand his back story. A self-described “student of life,” Dickson grew up in Salem. After graduating from Andrew Lewis High School, he furthered his education at Roanoke College and then the University of Virginia, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree from the UVA School of Architecture in 1963.

“When I graduated in ’63, there was a draft, and my number was coming up. I had a student deferment, and once that was negated, I was fortunate enough to land a commission with the Surgeon General in the Army,” he said. Back then, he explained, you needed experience to get a job, but you could only get a job if you had experience.

Dickson always knew that it was just a matter of time before he turned his passion into a full-time profession. ”The stars sort of aligned for me in 1971 when I founded Dickson Architects & Associates. We got to the point where we employed over a dozen people full-time. We are the oldest firm under continuous management in the area,” Dickson, a member of the Roanoke Architectural Review Board, said. “One project we are known for is the design of the D-Day Memorial in Vinton.”

Added his wife, Edwina, “It all started with an idea in Byron’s head. It took approximately 11 years to finish, but we were more than satisfied with how it turned out.” Byron and his soulmate, both in their 80s, still have a passion for architecture and have no intentions of slowing down anytime soon.

For more than five decades, Balzer & Associates, with offices in Roanoke, the Shenandoah