Randy Hafer

FAIA, LEED® AP BD+C
rhafer@highplainsarchitects.com

Randy Hafer, cofounder of High Plains Architects, is an architect, developer, and thought leader committed to environmental sustainability, urban revitalization, and historic preservation. Since founding the firm in 1999, High Plains has completed 11 certified historic tax credit projects, 13 LEED Platinum Certified projects, and one Living Building Challenge certified project, Montana’s first. 

Bringing a lifelong dedication to sustainability and energy conservation, as well as 18 years of experience working for top architecture firms in Chicago and Billings before founding High Plains, Randy’s projects have received numerous green building and preservation awards. Randy himself has been recognized as a designer and leader: he was awarded the first Montana Better Bricks Award for Architecture in 2009, the Billings Chamber of Commerce’s Roche Jaune Award for Civic Leadership Excellence in 2012, and the Montana SBA’s Small Business Person of the Year, along with his wife, Janna, in 2014.

Recently, Randy and his wife, Janna, completed the design and construction of their dream home, the Urban Frontier House, a completely self-contained off-the-grid residence in downtown Billings. The Urban Frontier House has been certified as a Living Building, currently the most rigorous green building standard in the world, making it only the third Living Building single-family residence in the United States, and the 26th Living Building, of any type, in the world.

Randy also founded Urban Frontier Development Services, an affiliate of High Plains Architects combining financing tools, capital stack strategies, and design processes to produce local investment opportunities. Randy is currently engaged in redeveloping several historic buildings, bringing new housing and services to vacant historic structures in small Montana communities. Beyond architectural design and development services, Randy provides sustainability consulting for individuals, agencies, larger-scale projects and institutions. 

Randy has served and continues to serve on numerous local and state boards and commissions, including the Downtown Business Improvement District Board and the Energy & Conservation Commission, where he is currenty Vice-Chair. He often travels around the state and country to speak on topics of sustainability, historic preservation and urban redevelopment, including a popular TEDxBillings talk, Saving the Planet One Building at a Time

A Billings, Montana native, Randy holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Architecture from Stanford University and a Master of Architecture degree from Yale University. He is a LEED® Accredited Professional and a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects.

Randy renews his drive for saving the environment via regular backpacking trips through the pristine and rugged Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness in southern Montana, a tradition he’s enjoyed for nearly 50 years. He is also a seasoned finish carpenter, having honed his craft since college days, and completed the interior finishes on his Urban Frontier House.