James F. Williamson, FAIA

Education
Master of Architecture, Studio of Louis I. Kahn, Graduate School of Fine Arts, University of Pennsylvania, 1974
Master of Architecture, Graduate School of Fine Arts,
University of Pennsylvania, 1973
Bachelor of Arts, Rhodes College, 1968

Professional Practice
Principal, Williamson Pounders Architects, PC, Memphis, TN, 1990 - present
Principal, Williamson Associates, Memphis, TN, 1988 - 1990
Associate, Venturi, Rauch and Scott Brown, Philadelphia, PA, 1986 - 1988
Principal, James Williamson/Carl Awsumb/Architects, Memphis, TN, 1980 - 1986
Principal, James F. Williamson, Architect, Memphis, TN, 1977 - 1980

Affiliations
College of Fellows, American Institute of Architects                            Registered Architect: Tennessee, Kentucky, Mississippi, New York
Interfaith Forum on Religion, Art, and Architecture
American Institute of Architects, Memphis Chapter
, Secretary 2004      National Architectural Accrediting Board visiting team, AIA representative, 2006-2009                                                                                                  NCARB Certificate Holder

Design Awards 

2005 Award of Merit, AlA Tennessee: Restoration of Sacred Heart Cathedral,  Rochester, NY                                                                     Award of Merit, AlA Tennessee: Addition to St. John's Episcopal Church, 2003                                                                                                Award of Excellence, AlA, Memphis: Cathedral of The Immaculate Conception, 2001                                                                                   Religious Art and Architecture Award, Faith & Form Interfaith Forum on  Religion, Art & Architecture (IFRAA), & the AlA: St. Thomas More Church, 2000                                                                                                     American Architecture Award, Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design: Ballet   Memphis, 1999                                        American Architecture Award, Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design: St. Thomas More Church, 1999                            Honor Award, AlA Gulf States Region: Ballet Memphis, 1999                       Honor Award, AlA Gulf States Region St. Thomas More Church, 1997   Honor Award, AlA Memphis Chapter: St. Thomas More Church, 1997   Award of Excellence, AlA Tennessee: Ballet Memphis, 1999                  Award of Excellence, AlA Memphis Chapter: Ballet Memphis, 1998   Award of Excellence, AIlA Tennessee: "Forty Carrots" Store, 1981 (with John W. Averitt).                                                                               Award of Merit, AlA Memphis Chapter: Addition to St. John's Episcopal Church, 2001                                                                                              Award of Merit, AlA Gulf States Region: Cathedral of The Immaculate Conception,  1992                                                                                      Award of Merit, AlA Tennessee: St. Thomas More Church, 1999            Award of Merit, AlA Tennessee: "Summer Solstice" Residence, 1995        Certificate of Merit, AlA Memphis Chapter: "Communicating Architecture" architectural drawing contest and exhibition, 1983                            Memphis Preservation Award, Memphis Landmarks Commission and Memphis Heritage, Inc.: Cathedral of The Immaculate Conception Restoration, 2002

Memphis Preservation Award, Memphis Landmarks Commission and Memphis Heritage, Inc.: Law Offices of Burch, Porter & Johnson, 2002

Eugene Potente Liturgical Design Award, Honorable Mention: St. Thomas More Church, 1997

Award of Excellence, Masonry Institute of Tennessee: Law Offices of Burch,

Porter & Johnson, 2001

Paul Gruenberg Memorial Award, Memphis Heritage Inc.: Adaptive Reuse of William Len Hotel, 1985

Paul Gruenberg Memorial Award, Memphis Heritage Inc.: Orpheum Theater Restoration, 1984

Anona Stoner Memorial Award, Memphis Heritage Inc.: Charles Diehl Memorial, Rhodes College, 1985

Sylvan Award of Special Merit, Lumbermen's Club of Memphis, 1984: Kate

Johnston Residence

Historic Preservation Award, Memphis Landmarks Commission: Orpheum Theater Restoration, 1984

Historic Preservation Award, Memphis Landmarks Commission: Burch, Porter and Johnson Law Offices, 1983

Historic Preservation Award, Memphis Landmarks Commission: Central Gardens Handbook, 1982

Historic Preservation Award, Memphis Landmarks Commission: Front Row

Apartments, 1983.

Historic Preservation Award, Memphis Landmarks Commission: George Collins Love House Restoration, 1981

Arthur Spayd Brooke Silver Medal for Merit in Architectural Design, Graduate School of Fine Arts, University of Pennsylvania, 1973. The Brooke Silver Medal is the second highest award given for design upon graduation from the Master of Architecture program.

Dales European Traveling Fellowship for architectural design, Graduate School of Fine Arts, University of Pennsylvania, 1972

 

Teaching and Design Juries                                                            University of Memphis Architecture Program, Adjunct Professor, 2005                                                                                                      National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) Visiting Team, 2006-2009                                                                                                     AlA Alaska Honor Awards Jury, 2005                                             University of Tennessee School of Architecture, Bronze Medal juror, 2004                                                                                                     University of Memphis Architecture Program, Thesis Critic, 2004- 2005                                                                                                    AlA/ IFRAA Religious Art and Architecture Design Awards, Jury Member, 2001                                                                                               Rhodes College, Adjunct Associate Professor of Architecture, 1974-1983;    1988-2000                                                                                            Memphis Center for Architecture, Visiting Design Critic, 1999              Yale University School of Art and Architecture, Studio Design Critic, 1987                                                                                                 University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Fine Arts, Studio Design Critic, 1986-1988                                                                              Drexel University, Studio Design Critic, 1986-1988                             University of Tennessee School of Architecture, Professor (part time), 1983-1984                                                                                  Mississippi State University School of Architecture, Visiting Design Critic,  1983                                                                                           University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Fine Arts, Graduate         Teaching Fellowship, 1973-1974  

Publications And Lectures                                                                 2005 AlA Twenty-five Year Award, Yale Center for British Art, New Haven, CT., designed by Louis I. Kahn: coauthor of successful nomination; Continuing Education Seminar, 2005 AlA National Convention.             Sacred Places, narration of film on historic Memphis churches, WKNO         Television, Memphis, TN., March 2004.                                      Architecture as Mediator of The Sacred, Lecture Series at Church of the Holy Communion, Memphis, TN, Feb. 8- 15, 2004.                           Introduction to "My Architect," a film on Louis I. Kahn, Memphis Brooks     Museum of Art, Feb. 4- 5, 2004.                                                       Preserving and Revitalizing Your Historic Church, Lecture at Tennessee  Preservation Trust annual conference, Memphis, TN, March 27,2003            Reinterpreting the Sacred in Contemporary Religious Architecture      Continuing Education Seminar, 2002 AlA National Convention            Williamson Pounders Architects, Contemporary Stone & Tile Design, Winter  2003, pp. 48-58                                                                         Uno Squardo dal Cielo, Chiesa Oggi, July 2001 (No.47)                              A Spiritual Path Leads to a Sacred Place, Faith & Form, Winter 2000       Architecture for the Gods, Books 1 and 2, by Michael Crosbie, 1999- 2002.   

Ballet Memphis Dances, designarchitecture.com (web-based magazine), Feb. 2000 

La scuola de ballo: Ballet Memphis, /'Arca magazine, April 2000, pp. 64-67 

Faith & Form, Spring 2000   

Water Spaces of the World, Vol. 2, 1999                                                   Space as a Mediator of the Sacred, Lecture at Shady Grove Presbyterian  Church, 2000                                                                                          All our landmarks don't have to be old, The Commercial Appeal, March 9,  2000                                                                                                        A Spiritual Path Leads to a Sacred Place, Environment & Art Letter,         November 1999                                                                                Sacred Places, Presentation to AlA Tennessee, Nashville, TN, 1997            Firmness, Commodity and Delight, Lecture at Rhodes College, 1996                                                                                            Williamson’s Joint Careers Built Together, Rhodes Weekly, Feb. 5-11, 1996                                                                                                Central Gardens Handbook, by James Williamson and Carl Awsumb, 1981; 1998                                                                                                 Frank Lloyd Wright and the Arts and Crafts, Lecture at Memphis Brooks   Museum of Art, 1993                                                                        Architect-artists build on the past to create humane cities, The Commercial Appeal, June 2,1991                                                     Coming Home, by Donald Labadie, The Commercial Appeal, Aug. 28, 1988                                                                                                  Former Movie Palace Becomes a Sumptuous Theater, Architecture        Magazine, Nov. 1984  

 

Civic - present:

Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, Collections Committee

Grace-St. Luke's Episcopal Church

Civic - past:
Memphis Rotary Club
U.S. Naval Reserve Officer
Leadership Memphis
Memphis Heritage, Inc., Board of Directors
Chairman, Board of Deacons, Idlewild Presbyterian Church
Midtown Mental Health Center, Board of Directors
Central Gardens Association, Board of Directors
Barksdale Boys' Club, Board of Directors
Phoenix Club
Rhodes College Alumni Council
Citizens to Preserve Overton Park, Board of Directors
Boy Scouts of America, District Committee Chairman
Eagle Scout