D. D. Spani was the first professional architect in Rock Springs. He moved to Rock Springs from St. Louis in 1911,[1] with 14 years experience.[2] In the 1930s, Spani was still the only architect in Sweetwater County.[2]
Daniel's father, Dominick Spani, was an immigrant from Switzerland who was a builder and contractor in Benton, Illinois. Daniel attended the University of Illinois but left in 1902 in his senior year. In 1903 Spani went to St. Louis in 1903 and worked under architect Theodore Link, and then at architects Eames and Young. He then worked as an inspector of millwork of post office buildings throughout Kentucky, Tennessee, and part of Indiana, for seven years.[2]