TYLER RILEY
A natural leader, Tyler is energized by collaboration – with his colleagues and clients. An outdoorsman and family guy, he’s our go-to for everything from fishing tips to gardening advice.
How did you decide on your career path?
As a kid, I was always building, re-building and creating new objects and finding ways to develop what I had imagined. I loved LEGO sets, which blend in multiple aspects of architecture, including art, math, physics, space allocation, form and most importantly, creativity.
Architecture allows you to combine math, chemistry, physics, history, culture, engineering, business and problem-solving– what other profession allows you to do that? I knew that architecture would allow me to create something that impacts each person in a unique and inspired way.
What is your favorite part of the design process?
My favorite part of the design process is the opportunity I have to collaborate with fellow architects, interior designers and engineers. We get to determine the problem and then develop creative and innovative solutions.
How are you creating vibrant communities through design?
Each project I work on goes through a collaborative process with our design team, and even more importantly, is done in collaboration with our clients and community members. This creates unique buildings that meet the needs of the communities they’re in. It’s a winning combination.
Where is your favorite place to visit in the Midwest?
Rainy Lake on the boarder of Minnesota and Canada. I’ve been visiting this area for more than 20 years, typically two to three times a year.
Des Moines Office
604 East Grand Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50309
Family: My wife Laura, three kids, and a dog.
Pet: Maverick, a chocolate lab.
Drink: Any craft beer.
College Mascot: Cyclones.
Hobby: Pilot. Soccer referee. Woodworker. Gardener.
Vacation: Any national park.
Breakfast: Eggs and toast.
Zodiac Sign: Cancer.
First Car: Honda Civic hatchback (stick shift).
States Visited: 40 and counting.
Holiday: Christmas.
February 2021: The stockholders of FEH Design named Tyler Riley, AIA a Vice President.
Tyler Riley, who first joined FEH during his college internship, is a licensed architect in the firm’s Des Moines office. As Vice President, Riley’s role will expand to include executive board leadership along with overseeing the firm’s technology needs. He will continue to be a principal designer for the firm’s educational work.
Riley graduated from Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa where he received a Bachelor of Architecture degree in 1999.
“I love the idea of combining math, chemistry, physics, history, culture, engineering, business, problem-solving, and art into a final design,” said Riley. “Architecture allows me to create something that envelopes each person differently, allows them to react differently to the space, and become inspired by the designs.”
Riley has been involved in many impactful education projects throughout Iowa including Okoboji Middle School, Bondurant-Farrar’s Morris Elementary, Muscatine’s Physical Education Building and Jefferson Elementary, and Webster City High School’s Gymnasium.
Riley’s passions include promoting leadership in Des Moines, teaching architecture, fishing, refereeing soccer, and traveling. He is active in Okoboji Schools’ No Boundaries program and a past board chair of the Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute. Riley’s travels include many lakes, United States’ National Parks, and even an African safari.
###