Design Profession: Architect
Building Types: Educational, Industrial, Recreational, Religious, Residential
Harold Jack Begrow was born in Detroit, Michigan, in 1930. He earned a Master’s degree in architecture from the University of Michigan in 1955, then held a number of design positions with various firms in the metropolitan Detroit area, including: Smith, Hinchman & Grylls, Walter T. Anicka, O’Dell, Hewlett & Luckenbach, and Swanson Associates. Begrow also worked under Minoru Yamasaki and served as the designing supervisor for then-named Michigan State University Oakland (now Oakland University).
Begrow, along with Jack W. Brown, formed Begrow & Brown in 1957. That same year the firm won the grand prize in a national competition to design the Cowboy Hall of Fame and Western Heritage Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Five years later he moved to Charlevoix, Michigan, and formed his own firm, where he still designs each commission by hand.
In addition to his architectural practice Begrow also served as a lecturer, instructor, professor, critic, and researcher at the University of Michigan.