Get to Know HFC: Chad Richert – teacher, inventor, architect
After 10 years as a practicing architect, HFC Building Sciences Chair Chad Richert had come to a crossroads: Either accept a full-time teaching position at HFC (then Henry Ford Community College) or remain in industry.
“I started as an adjunct faculty member in 2000 and taught hand-drafting. My girlfriend, Lori, (now his wife of nearly 23 years) and I were planning to get married. We figured the opportunity to teach a class after work would help us put a little more money in our savings,” recalled Richert. “Then the full-time position opened up in 2004. I loved being a practicing architect, so it was a tough decision to leave that behind.”
In the end, it turned out to be the right decision.
“At first I thought that I might just try out teaching. If I liked it, I might explore a university. Shortly after starting at HFC, I realized how much I loved working with our students here,” he said. “Hands down, I enjoy being in the classroom. Watching the lightbulb go on for students is a pretty great experience. There’s nothing better than looking over a student’s shoulder to see them doing professional-quality work. We have so many talented students here. I also really enjoy those moments in the classroom when I can go a little off script and have a genuine discussion with them. The diversity and enthusiasm in our classrooms is inspiring.”
Growing up: fixer-uppers, aerospace engineering grandpa
The eldest of two, Richert was born in Pueblo, CO. He lives Ypsilanti with his wife and their two teenaged children.
After graduating from Pueblo South High School, Richert enrolled in the University of Colorado at Boulder, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in environmental design. Richert later earned his master’s degree in architecture from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. He is a certified Project Lead the Way instructor and a licensed architect through the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards.
“My parents were teachers, and we never had a lot of money when we were kids,” he recalled. “My dad was really handy, so we would buy fixer-uppers and rebuild them while we lived in them. We would then sell them and move to a nicer neighborhood. The whole family was involved in the process, so I grew up around tools and construction. We never lived in a house for more than 4 years. My grandfather was an engineer for the Boeing Company, so I got to see both the design and build side of things. My dad, my grandfather, and I would sit at the kitchen table and draw/sketch. It was always something I loved, so architecture just seemed to fit.”
Designing the world’s first magnetic construction toy
For a decade, Richert worked at TMP Associates in Bloomfield Hills. There, he specialized in sports and recreation design. One of his favorite projects was contributing to the construction of the University of Alabama Student Recreation Center in Tuscaloosa, AL.
“Big buildings like that are always a group effort, and I really enjoyed playing a lead role in that project,” he said. “I still practice under my own license, but my main focus is teaching. I only take small jobs that interest me – or when I can’t say no to family.”
In 2014, Richert co-developed a STEM education initiative designed primarily for children in early education, specifically pre-kindergarten and kindergarten, called Panelcraft. Richert said this product line is the world’s first large-scale magnetic construction toy. Its purpose is to inspire spatial development and creativity in children at an early age. It develops both fine motor skills, patterning, shape recognition, collaboration, and building skills.
“One of the great things about being an architect is seeing something in your imagination and bringing it to life,” said Richert. “I think young children should have the same opportunity, so Panelcraft was born. It started out as a way to make a toy for my own kids – in fact, my daughter and my nephew are the models on the website – and it just grew from there. I am proud of the service it provides to young learners.”
The Tiny Home
One of his favorite projects at HFC was the construction of the Tiny Home. More than a dozen students from HFC’s architecture/construction technology (ACT), energy technology, and interior design programs joined together in 2018 to design and build the project. The final product was a tiny, single-story home with a loft that has a footprint of just 202 square feet.
“The Tiny Home was something!” he recalled. “Really rewarding, and one of the biggest challenges I’ve faced. Doing a project that big with students in such a short timeframe took the entire HFC team. The students were amazing! Our administration was amazing. Purchasing bailed me out more than once. I look back on it really fondly now.”
Richert acknowledged the support and efforts of Dr. Patricia Chatman, Dean of the HFC School of Business, Entrepreneurship, and Professional Development (BEPD), and Associate Dean of Industrial Technologies Dr. Sašo Krstovski, his immediate supervisor.
“Not only has Pat put up with Tiny Homes and curriculum changes every two weeks, she’s always supported and encouraged anything we as faculty can do to enrich our students’ experiences and lives. I’m really grateful for that,” he said.
Mass timber -- a new phase of creativity
In 2022, HFC and Michigan State University formed a partnership called “Enhancing Design and Construction Technology through the Context of Mass Timber” through a grant from the National Science Foundation. Richert is heading up HFC’s end of this partnership.
“It's been a very rewarding project so far,” said Richert. “The use of mass timber as a sustainable alternative to traditional construction methods is growing worldwide, and it has some unique challenges. We are working on the development of mass timber curriculum that can be added to existing construction, architecture, and trades programs. The goal is not only to introduce future builders and designers to mass timber, but also to provide resources for existing professionals to gain knowledge and skills.”
Richert is proud to learn that HFC has a nationwide reach when he travels on College business.
“I’ve had the privilege of attending conferences in Washington, D.C. and Portland, OR,” he said. “I’m happy to say that there are more colleges like ours doing great things for students and communities. I’ve also learned that we really are one of the best colleges in the country. I’m proud to play a small part. I occasionally run into our students out in the real world. Seeing their success in our industry years later is rewarding, to say the least.”
"Chad is a tremendous asset,” said Krstovski. “His combined industry and academic expertise have enabled the programs to grow and adapt to both student needs and the evolving skillsets sought by employers. He is a creative forward-thinking leader who consistently works to innovate and enhance both the curriculum and the overall direction of the programs."