[6] He designed (with Sims–Varner) many notable buildings and structures including the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History (1985);[7] University of Michigan School of Social Work (1997);[8] and the Millender Center station (1987), a Detroit People Mover station and sky bridge.
[9] In the 1970s, Varner was interested in modifying the government run apartment subsidy plans (like HUD's section 236).
[4][11] When he stepped down from the state licensing board role, he warned of potential issues with unlicensed builders in Michigan.
[4] He served as an honorary Consul General to the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire, West Africa.
[12] Varner died after a long illness on December 14, 2013 at Harper University Hospital in Detroit.