Chris Haupt CFA’89 Names Tartan Award to Honor Parents

Imagine growing up in a city, loving it your entire life and then having an opportunity to help transform its landscape as an adult. If that sounds like a dream worth living, Chris Haupt has built himself a home in the clouds.

Actually, the 1989 Carnegie Mellon graduate (CFA) and former football player has had a hand in building sports venues around Pittsburgh and surrounding areas throughout his career. Haupt has had a successful career in sports architecture and was integral in the development of PNC Park and the new hockey arena that the Pittsburgh Penguins will call home next season.

“I’ve had the opportunity to work on some very significant projects. Being able to apply my passion for sports through architecture has been most gratifying,” said Haupt, who works for Kimball Architecture. “I grew up in the North Hills. It’s exciting to know you’ve had a hand in helping shape the city and transform it.”

Haupt recognized that architecture might be a good career fit during his freshman year in high school. Once that decision was made, Carnegie Mellon seemed like an obvious choice for college.

“I’ve been involved with art since I was 5-years-old and always took a lot of drawing classes. I had a good balance of artistic and logic skills which is a good match for the profession I’ve chosen,” Haupt said. “The architecture program at Carnegie Mellon is pretty rigorous and it was a fantastic educational experience.”

A four-year outside linebacker for the football program, Haupt says his experience as a student-athlete helped shape the person he has become. Since his graduation, Haupt has helped head football coach Rich Lackner with recruiting efforts and given back in other ways as well.

“The opportunity to play football was a great experience and really taught me the discipline I needed going into architecture,” Haupt said. “I had to learn time management skills that serve me well to this day.”

Haupt continued to give back to his alma mater this fall when he named the Tartan Award for Football (defense) by contributing to an endowment fund established for the Carnegie Mellon Athletics Awards Banquet.

Although Haupt has been contributing to the athletics program for a number of years, this major gift holds a special place in his heart – he named the award for his parents Walter and Antoinette.

“Both of my parents sacrificed to put me through school and I wanted to honor their memory,” Haupt said. “They came to every game – even the away games. I think it’s important to recognize achievements and talent. My mother was a teacher and I always thought that was the right thing to do.”

The Walter and Antoinette Tartan Award will be given to an outstanding defensive player from the football program each year. Haupt believes that supporting the athletics department initiative is something his parents would smile about and he encourages others to think about supporting the endowment.

“I would encourage anyone who feels that they benefited from the university experience to do what they can to support the new campaign,” Haupt said. “It may take folks a while to feel they can do it, but no matter what level of contribution, it’s important to keep Carnegie Mellon going.”

If you’d like to learn more about the Carnegie Mellon Athletics Awards Banquet Endowment, please contact Assistant Director of Athletics Josh Centor.