Thomas Clayton Jester Elevated to the AIA College of Fellows
Jester Named AIA Fellow
Architect Recognized for Expertise in Mid-Century Modern Architecture
March 4, 2019
Tom Jester, FAIA, FAPT, LEED AP, a principal with Quinn Evans Architects, has been named a fellow with the American Institute of Architects (AIA). A national leader in historic preservation with particular expertise in the restoration of Modern-era architecture, Jester’s fellowship recognizes his design achievements in the renewal of aging buildings using advanced technology and pioneering methods in preservation science.
Jester joined Quinn Evans Architects in 2006. He has contributed to the design of many of the firm’s signature projects throughout the U.S., including the award-winning modernization of the National Academy of Sciences on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., the renovation of the iconic Old City Hall in Richmond, Va.; the renovation of the Benjamin Franklin Museum in Philadelphia (site of the iconic ghost structure designed by Venturi, Rauch and Scott Brown); and the modernization of the Mid-Century Modern Southeast Library in Hennepin County, Minnesota. He was instrumental in developing a sustainability and stewardship framework as part of a master plan for the renewal of the national AIA headquarters building in Washington, D.C., and recently developed a conservation management plan for the Wellesley College Science Center in Massachusetts.
Jester is also a key member of the firm’s multidisciplinary team to modernize the Smithsonian Institution’s National Air and Space Museum, one of the largest museum renovation projects in history. His work has focused on the design of the stone building envelope, a technical and aesthetic challenge requiring extensive evaluation, analysis, and creativity to meet modern performance requirements and the Smithsonian’s sustainability mandates in a historically sensitive setting.
Jester is the author of Twentieth-Century Building Materials: History and Conservation. He is also the co-founder of the Association for Preservation Technology’s Technical Committee on Modern Heritage and the founder and president of Docomomo DC, an advocacy organization dedicated to preserving Modern architecture in metropolitan Washington, D.C.
“Tom is a thought and practice leader, a prolific author, and an invaluable resource for the architectural and preservation communities,” states David N. Fixler, FAIA, FAPT, LEED, founder and principal of David Fixler Architecture Planning Preservation. “He has clearly advanced the practice of historic preservation across this country and internationally.”
“Tom has been a tireless advocate for the stewardship and sustainability of historic and significant buildings, including our nation’s trove of Mid-Century Modern landmarks,” says Larry Barr, FAIA, president of Quinn Evans Architects. “He has combined groundbreaking scholarship with challenging design work to preserve and protect vital architectural resources across the country.”
Jester is also a Fellow in the Association for Preservation Technology International (APTI). He holds a Master of Architecture from the University of Maryland (1999), a Master of Science in Historic Preservation from the University of Pennsylvania (1991), and a Bachelor of Arts in American Studies from Colby College (1988). In addition to the AIA, APTI, and Docomomo, he is a member of Preservation Maryland.
