As Terry Allers travels around Fort Dodge, he almost always spots a building he has worked on.

Allers is an architect whose drawings are what the construction workers, electricians, plumbers and other contractors rely on to complete a renovation job or a new building.

He’s been at it for 45 years, working on everything from houses to churches. He has also served on the national board that sets the standards for training new architects.

“I really believe the Lord is guiding us all through this adventure of being an architect,” he said.

Designing building projects is far from the only thing that Allers spends his time on. Following the example set by his father, Dale Allers, he has worked to support his community by volunteering with the Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance and serving on boards that guide organizations ranging from Main Street Fort Dodge to the YMCA.

He received the Catalyst Award from the Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance in 2012. This year, he was named the alliance’s Ambassador of the Year for consistently attending ribbon-cutting and ground-breaking ceremonies over the course of 23 years.

“I just enjoy seeing the new businesses and the businesses that are achieving a milestone,” he said.

His interest in building began when he was a young boy living in Keystone. He said his mother, Ruth Allers, used to let him and his brother, Ben, build with blocks in the living room. When he was a little bit older, he built a clubhouse. When the clubhouse had to be either moved or taken apart, he loaded it onto a wagon and moved it.

“That was my first experience with modular housing,” Allers said.

A trip to Disneyland inspired him to build a replica of some of its key features in his backyard.

Allers said he loved drawing and was decent in math, so he was drawn to architecture as a student at Iowa State University in Ames.

The very first project he designed was an addition to his home church, St. John Lutheran Church in Keystone.

He came to Fort Dodge in 1970 to work for the Griffith architectural firm, which has since closed.

In 1979, he went into business for himself, working at first from his home on the city’s north side.

That move began 45 years of his business, Allers Associates Architects, now located downtown in the Wells Fargo Building.

The first project he designed after starting his own business was an education wing added to the west side of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church on 21st Avenue North.

He and his firm have completed about 2,000 projects since then.

“We have a variety of building types we have worked with,” he said.

He is proud of the fact that his business has 107 “repeat clients” that have turned to Allers Associates Architects for more than one building project.

Allers represented seven Midwestern states on the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards, which produces standards for architectural training. He was a member of the board for seven years before serving as its president in 2019-2020.

He was also honored by being named to the College of Fellows of the American Institute of Architects.

Away from work, he has been a member of the Sertoma Club for 44 years.

He served on the Fort Dodge Housing Agency Board for 26 years. He has also served on the boards of the Development Corporation of Greater Fort Dodge, Main Street Fort Dodge, YMCA, Trinity Regional Hospital Foundation and Citizens Community Credit Union.