Ryan Biles, AIA
Your friendly neighborhood architect and a lover of overlooked people and places.
Hi y'all. I'm Ryan. I live and work in the Delta, one of the most storied and complex regions in the country. I believe deeply in the beauty, resourcefulness, and potential of rural communities.
I have practiced architecture for more than 25 years, beginning with a summer internship after my freshman year at the University of Arkansas Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design. That path eventually led me to found Kudzu Collective, a small but mighty practice rooted in the belief that overlooked places still have powerful stories to tell.
I'm licensed in five Southeastern states, and my heart and home are here in Arkansas, where my wife Natalie of Shine Interior Design Studio and I are raising our three boys in our hometown of Lonoke. In addition to architecture, our work at Kudzu extends into community development — leading workshops, building partnerships, and helping small towns build capacity for good work.
There is meaningful work to be done in our small towns. It is a privilege to walk alongside the people already doing it.
Stay rooted. Listen closely. Build what comes next.
Ryan Biles, AIA, is the founder and principal architect of Kudzu Collective, a practice focused on adaptive reuse, historic rehabilitation, and community development across Arkansas and Mississippi. With more than 25 years of experience, Ryan works at the intersection of architecture, preservation, funding strategy, and local capacity-building.
Licensed in five states, Ryan has led projects ranging from historic storefront and civic-building rehabilitation to feasibility studies, community workshops, and development planning. Kudzu’s collective model allows him to assemble the right team for each place, drawing on trusted collaborators across design, preservation, planning, and economic development.
Ryan serves as Board President of Preserve Arkansas and previously served two terms on the Lonoke City Council. He is a Fellow of the Delta Leadership Institute Executive Academy and completed Harvard Kennedy School’s Effective Leadership Across Sectors executive education program in 2024. His work is grounded in listening first, recognizing local assets, and helping communities move from shared ideas to practical momentum.
Architecture, leadership, and place.
Practicing architecture
Board President, Preserve Arkansas
Lonoke City Council
Effective Leadership Across Sectors
Delta Leadership Institute Executive Academy Fellow
Thrive, Inc. — Board President
Licensed in five states
Licensed in five states
Architecture licensure across Arkansas, Mississippi, Kansas, Louisiana, and Alabama, so a project does not stop at a state line.