Leonard J. Currie Slide Collection

Blacksburg Office

After returning to Blacksburg from Chicago, Currie founded the firm Leonard J. Currie and Associates. Virginia Currie was the firm’s interior designer. The office was in Preston Place, the former William Preston Hotel. Currie shared the office with The Architects Alliance.

Leonard Currie at his computer. Unidentified photographer, April 10, 1996.

Currie is reading Exequiel Ezcurra & Marisa Mazari-Hiriart. “Are Mega Cities Viable? A Cautionary Tale from Mexico City.” Environment: Science and Policy for Sustainable Development, vol. 38, no. 1, January-February 1996, pp. 6-35. DOI: 10.1080/00139157.1996.9930972

Preston Place, Blacksburg, before renovation. Undated photo. 1988 or earlier.
Preston Place after renovation. Undated photo. August 1988 or later.
Preston Place after renovation. Undated photo. August 1988 or later.

Currie renovated Preston Place in 1988. The New River Valley Preservation League gave the project its Institutional-Commercial Award for careful rehabilitation of an historic commercial or institutional property in 1989. The Town of Blacksburg gave it an Award for Civic Beautification in the category of Historic Preservation.

Habitat for Humanity property in Blacksburg. January 14, 1987
Habitat for Humanity property in Blacksburg. January 14, 1987
Free Architecture Clinic. Currie with a participant. Unidentified photographer, May 1987

Currie, and his staff who wanted to, volunteered their time on Friday mornings to provide services to people who could not afford an architect. He was also active with Habitat for Humanity in the New River Valley.

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Leonard J. Currie died in hospital on April 23, 1996