Daniel W. Cook, AIA, NCARB
Founder & Partner Architect
Daniel W. Cook, AIA, NCARB is the founder of Daniel Cook Architect and the Building God’s Way program. He graduated from Montana State University in 1972 with a BA in Architecture. Mr. Cook began his own construction company in July of 1972. He has been a practicing architect since 1975 and has extensive experience with a variety of architectural projects as both a designer and builder. In 1979, Dan was nationally recognized as the remodeling architect of the year for the Silver State Office renovation project. He is the recipient of a number of awards for design and creative use of materials including a 1985 national award from Form and Function for the renovation of the Radisson Suite Hotel in Ogden.
His story of faith began when he accepted the Lord Jesus as his personal Savior in 1986. The Lord blessed him with a year or two of hardships that softened his heart to the truth of Christ’s love. In 1995 Dan took a leave of absence from his architectural practice to devote himself full-time to building Christian Heritage School in Riverdale, Utah. The new school opened in September 1995. It now enrolls nearly 700 students and has since completed construction of a secondary school—a 65,500 square foot BGW project.
Following a God-given vision that formulated during the design and construction of CHS, Dan began developing the Building God’s Way concept through repeated contact with schools and churches who sought his advice. Dan then made the life-changing decision to give up his secular architectural work and commit the company to Building God’s Way in 1998.
Dan has experienced his vision become reality through Building God’s Way design agreements with more than 400 Christian ministries. The architectural firm has designed more than 6.5 million square feet of cost effective education and worship space nationwide. BGW projects are in various phases in the building process in 36 states. These facility designs and master plans vary in size to more than 200,000 square feet within multi-campus settings. Building God’s Way growth has led to his architectural licensure in the 48 contiguous states.
Today, Dan works with architect partners Mark Hilles and Don Mahoney to direct the BGW architectural and engineering teams. He established the BGW partnerships with Financial (2006), Forward in Faith (2007) and Vibrant (2007) – filling the critical need for integrated, affordable funding solutions. Dan’s vision is to support Christian organizations nationwide as they follow God’s direction in building buildings and building lives.
Dan has most recently extended this vision through a new non-profit organization, LifeStation International, which provides an exciting youth outreach opportunity to ministries nationwide. Dan and his wife, Claudia, live in Ogden, Utah, and are very active both in local church ministry and with international missions.