Excellent ServiceExcellent StewardshipOperations Division Annual Report - FY23Employee Spotlight:Bill Adlingw14DISCOVERINGTEXAS TECH UNIVERSITYIn 1964, Bill Adling wasn’t quite surewhere he wanted to attend college.The rest of his friends had enrolled atTexas A&M University, but he knewthat wasn’t where he was meant to be.It took just one flip through a TexasTechnological College catalog to beintrigued by the architecture programand it was decided: He was going toTexas Tech. But the first two years ofthe architecture program threw him intounfamiliar territory.“I was totally green,” Adling said. “Thefirst two years of architecture school, youtake the same classes as art majors.”At his high school in Cisco, Texas, artwas not a subject Bill had ever beenexposed to.“We didn’t have drafting, or anythinglike that,” he said. “So, I’m here at TexasTech, taking art classes with studentswho are majoring in art. I started atground zero.”But Adling was up for the challenge.“I surprised myself,” he said. “I held myown and I passed all my art classes. Infact, I did pretty well in them.”Adling had discovered a talent for art henever knew he had, a talent that wouldeventually lead to an enduring passionfor something you might not expect froman architect: watercolor.In his free time, Adling enjoys paintinggreeting cards for friends and family andhas even shown his watercolor paintingsat galleries in Santa Fe, New Mexico.“It’s something I really enjoy doing,”he said. “It’s kind of a release.”ARCHITECTURE CAREERAs a part-time architect in the OperationsDivision, Adling is now using his talent asan artist to benefit Texas Tech.“I love the Texas Tech campus,” he said.“I love the organization of the campusand the Spanish Renaissance style.”And it is this love for the iconic campusstyle that led to Adling’s current rolecreating and evaluating design standardsfor new construction projects.NOTABLE PROJECTSA few of his notable projects includewhat was then known as the FoodScience Tower, but is now part of theCollege of Human Sciences; the TexasTech University School of Law Libraryaddition; the Flint Avenue ParkingGarage; the Visitors Center addition atWest Hall; the Stangel/Murdough dininghall renovation; the McKenzie-MerketAlumni Center; the Bayer Plant ScienceBuilding; and the National RanchingHeritage Center north addition.Perhaps the most memorable projectfor Adling was the renovation of thePresident’s Office, located in theAdministration Building, in 1996 forPresident Donald Harrigan.“It had an elegant Spanish Renaissanceinterior with nice columns,” Adling said.“Over the years, they had covered all ofthat up.”During the renovation, Adling removedthe drywall to reveal beautiful woodenbeams in the ceilings and intricate handcarvedcolumns. An artisan was broughtin to patch and recarve the columnswhere damage had occurred andalcoves were created to emphasize thesepreviously hidden gems.From designs carved in stone, to designsmade with water, Adling has contributedto the beauty and history of the campusin ways that will endure into the nextcentury and beyond.DESIGNING THE OPERATIONSDIVISION ORNAMENTEach year, the Operations Divisioncreates an ornament that is given toemployees for the holidays. When Adlingwas approached with a request todesign the 2022 ornament, he washappy to help.The vision was to create a watercolorpainting of the Double T Bench andGovernor Preston Smith statue locatedin the Administration Building Courtyard.Using a drone image of the area ashis guide, Adling first sketched out thedesign, then added watercolor to bringthe painting to life.Over 500 ornaments were producedand shared for all Operations Divisionemployees to enjoy.
Bill Adling showcases hiswatercolor painting of theDouble T Bench and Gov. PrestonSmith Statue.2022 Operations Division Ornament15