Celebrating Creativity and Vision: Dan Beaman ’70

As we step into a brand-new year, we are inspired by the timeless artistry and innovation that architecture brings to our world. Just as the new year symbolizes fresh beginnings and bold aspirations, architecture stands as a testament to humanity's enduring creativity and vision. In this edition, we celebrate the structures that shape our lives, explore emerging design trends, and honor the architects whose work pushes the boundaries of possibility. Let's build something extraordinary together in the year ahead!

Dan Beaman '70 spent much of his career in architecture focused on historic restoration in Charleston, South Carolina. "As an architect, I would focus on the nuts and bolts of a building: the foundation, walls, roof, and heating and air conditioning systems, then look at what owners wanted to ensure we could work to achieve their goals for the property," Dan said. "Basically, I wanted to ensure that the bones were good for longevity," he added.

His love for building and creating dates to Dan's childhood when, as a young child, he would try to build structures with hardback Little Golden books that his mother brought home each week. "To this day, I do not like paperback books," Dan chuckled. When he needed different sizes to create rooflines in his structures, his father demonstrated how to adjust sizing using cardboard and tape. As Dan grew up, he began to build model trains and learned basic electrical skills to maneuver them around the track.

"Becoming an architect was something I knew early on that I was interested in," Dan said. "This interest was further developed in high school when a neighbor attended Clemson to study architecture and a family friend gifted me with subscriptions to Architectural Digest and other publications."

When Dan began his studies at Clemson, he said it was one of the most difficult – and rewarding – experiences of his life. "My studies required absolute focus and determination," he reflected. During his academic career, Dan won numerous awards for his designs, one of which offered the prize of traveling to view famous architectural sites in the United States. During these travels, Dan discovered that seeing buildings in person offered a different perspective than seen through photographs. The principle of contextualism became crystal clear to him when visiting a building that had been photographed from a much different angle than his view from the street.

After graduation, Dan began his career as a model-builder for Jay Harold Mack in Greenville, South Carolina and was able to teach Clemson architecture students part-time through a young professionals program.

In 1976, Dan was recruited to work for the John McCrady Architecture and Engineering firm in Charleston (now Cummings and McCrady), and ten years later became president of the firm. During his time at the firm, Dan received numerous awards for historic preservation. One of the most memorable projects, which earned him the AIA award for work in Senior Living, was the restoration of the Bishop Gadsden Episcopal Retirement Community on James Island.

"Bishop Gadsden was a traditional Charleston building covered in oyster shells using a process called tabby," Dan said. "In conjunction with a contractor, we developed a new process for tabbying: we built a base panel of one foot of concrete, then added a bed of sand, stood oyster shells on end and poured lime slurry over the top, allowing the oysters shells to adhere and still be seen. The workers arranged the oyster shells in random order so that no pattern was visible, which kept the original look and feel of the building."

Over the years, Dan had a hand in restoring quite a few Charleston buildings. He said that after Hurricane Hugo in 1989, many old, historic church steeples needed repair. "I worked on six at one time right after Hugo," Dan recalls.

Dan and his firm also restored the south façade of Randolph Hall at the College of Charleston, and he was responsible for restoration of the Bell Tower at St. Luke's Episcopal Church on Peachtree Street in Atlanta, resulting in several Georgia design awards.

Dan met his wife, Becky, in 1976 when she was working for the South Carolina Department of Parks and Recreation. Becky had an extra ticket to the Carolina Cup and needed a plus one. Her co- worker arranged a blind date, and the rest, as they say, is history: the couple married a year later.

Dan credits his long and successful career to Clemson University, the education he received, and the people he encountered while earning his B.A. in architecture.

Dan and Becky have made provisions to support the Wallace Daniel Beaman AIA '70 and Rebekah W. Beaman Endowment, to provide much-needed unrestricted support for faculty, student travel and research, and programs supported by the Clemson Architectural Foundation (CAF), principally from the School of Architecture and its related design disciplines in the College of Architecture, Arts and Humanities.

Mentoring students is a huge part of what drove Dan and Becky's decision to create a planned gift to Clemson. They do not have any children; however, Dan's service as a part-time professional instructor at Clemson in his early career established his desire to make sure there could be more mentors for students. When Clemson opened its fluid campus, focusing on urban design through the Charleston Design Center, Dan and his firm offered to take on architecture interns adding practical application to their lecture-room learning.

In his retirement, Dan serves as a part-time visiting critic at the American College of Building Arts in their traditional design studio. "It is a joy to see the students learning the basic principles of architecture and design," Dan said. He has started yet another creative endeavor in his retirement: he is a published author, with his second novel set to be released in the coming weeks.

When asked what advice he would give to current architecture students, Dan said that it is important to learn good time management skills early for all academic pursuits, and especially for career success. He believes in following instincts, not second-guessing what might be a good idea, and being open to feedback and suggestions for improvement. "I always tell students that the design of a building is not about the architect," Dan said. "Design is similar in some ways to the role of an obstetrician who delivers a baby and then hands the care of the infant off to a pediatrician," he mused.

His last piece of guidance is a practical one for any student: endeavor to avoid opening sentences with "Well, umm" as all professionals are much more respected when projecting confidence.

These are the type of practical life tips that Dan shares through his volunteer work at the ACBA. Dan and Becky aspire to leave a legacy in honor of the students with whom they have had the pleasure of interacting during their lives, and for the many who will come behind them and benefit from their endowment. These future Tigers will be forever grateful for Dan and Becky Beaman, both talented and visionary philanthropists, who have made financial provisions for them to study, design, and build extraordinary buildings.

Building an estate plan is more than preparing for the future—it's crafting a personal legacy that reflects your values, passions, and the impact you wish to leave behind. By including Clemson in your estate plan, you will empower generations of students and faculty to dream bigger, achieve more, and make a difference in the world. Your thoughtful planning today becomes the foundation for their tomorrow, ensuring that the transformative power of education continues to thrive. Together, let’s build a legacy that roars with pride and purpose for years to come.

Please reach out to me at [email protected] or call me at (864-656-0663). We also encourage you to visit our planned giving website for detailed information about general estate planning and ways that you can make a difference at Clemson. We offer a free Estate Planning Guide to help you navigate the decisions ahead of your meeting with an attorney and financial advisors.

As we embrace the promise of a new year, we are reminded that every step forward is powered by the collective passion and commitment of the Clemson family. This year holds endless possibilities for growth, innovation, and impact—and you are an integral part of that journey. Together, we can propel Clemson fiercely forward, creating opportunities that transform lives and driving progress that echoes far beyond our campus. Let's make this year one of bold action and shared purpose, ensuring that the Clemson spirit continues to shine brightly for generations to come.

Wishing you and yours good health and happiness in 2025!
Ever Loyal ~ GO Tigers,
JoVanna King