Résumé

Designer, Ralph Anderson and Partners, Architects, Seattle, WA, c. 1965.

Principal, James Olson, Architect, Seattle, WA, 1966-1971.

Partner, Olson / Walker, Architects, Seattle, WA, 1971-1985.

Partner, Olson Sundberg, Architects, Seattle, WA, 1985-2000. This firm and its successors were an important incubators for new architectural firms in the Seattle area. Among those spawned by the Olson Sunberg family tree included Graham Baba, Adams Mohler Ghillino, Tim Carlander and Nils Finne.

Partner, Olson Sundberg, Kundig, Allen, Architects, Seattle, WA, 2000-12/31/2009.

Partner, Olson Kundig, Architects, Seattle, WA, 01/01/2010-present. The firm changed its name on 01/01/2010. (See Stephani Miller, Architect Magazine.com, "Olson Sundberg Kundig Allen Changes Firm Name," 11/18/2009, acessed 01/25/2022.) It had about 85 employees in 2009, and about 150 in 2015.

Teaching

Olson served as one of two holders of the Bruce Goff Professorship of Creative Architecture, University of Oklahoma, College of Architecture, 01/1999. (The other in 1999 was Eddie Jones of the Jones Studio Incorporated, Phoenix, AZ.) (See NewsOk.com, "Architecture Chair Endowed," published 04/14/1999, accessed 06/15/2018.)

Professional Activities

Member, American Institute of Architects (AIA), Seattle Chapter.

Professional Awards

Fellow, American Institute of Architects (FAIA);

Recipient, American Institute of Architects (AIA), Seattle Chapter, Seattle AIA Medal of Honor, 2007.

Recipient, AIA, National Firm Award, Olson Sundberg Kundig Allen (OSKA), Architects, 2009. (See Tracy Ostroff, AIArchitect.com, "2009 Architecture Firm Award Goes to Olson Sundberg Kundig Allen," published 12/05/2008, accessed 01/25/2022.)

College

B.Arch., University of Washington (UW), College of Architecture and Urban Planning (CAUP), Seattle, WA, 1963. He was listed as a junior in the UW Tyee Yearbook of 1961 (p. 311). Olson attended the University of Washington c. 1959-1963. He pledged to the Alpha Delta Phi Fraternity.

Relocation

James William Park Olson was born in MO. Both of his parent were born in WA State, but they lived in IL before relocating to MO at the time of James's birth in 1940.

As per the 1950 US Census, Olson resided with his parents and sister in the small town of Buckley, WA, in north-central Pierce County. Buckley was established in the late 1880s once a spur line to the area was built by the Northern Pacific Railway. The town (and its vicinity) early on focused on farming, logging, quarrying and coal mining. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation National Archives at Washington, DC; Washington, D.C.; Seventeenth Census of the United States, 1950; Year: 1950; Census Place: King, Washington; Roll: 2434; Page: 24; Enumeration District: 17-64, accessed 11/14/2024.)

Parents

The architect's parents were Louis Garfield Olson (born 08/30/1907 in Enumclaw, WA-d. 05/21/1976 in Tacoma, WA) and Gladys Helen Schuh (born 09/27/1911 in Pierce County, WA-d. 03/30/1982 in Tacoma, WA). In 1940, Louis G. Olson worked as a superintendent for the White River Lumber and Shingle Company and resided at 1513 Griffin Avenue in Enumclaw. He lived with his parents Louis P. Olson (born Pehr Ludvig Olson, 05/04/1869 or 1870 in Fristad, Älvsborg, Sweden-d. 01/28/1956 in Enumclaw, WA) and Ellen Thyra Hanson (born 08/31/1879 in Sweden-d. 01/04/1959 in Enumclaw, WA), who married on 10/10/1905. (See Ancestry.com, Source Information Ancestry.com. Washington, U.S., County Marriages, 1855-2008 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014, accessed 01/09/2025.) She was a daughter of Charles Hanson (born c. 12/1839 in Sweden), one of the founders of the Enumclaw-based White River Lumber and Shingle Company. The 1940 US Census recorded that Louis P. Olson also worked in the lumber business, serving as vice-president of the White River Lumber and Shingle Company. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1930; Census Place: Enumclaw, King, Washington; Page: 8A; Enumeration District: 0276; FHL microfilm: 2342224, Ancestry.com, Source Citation National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; Wwii Draft Registration Cards For Washington, 10/16/1940-03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147; Box: 134, accessed 01/08/2025 and Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1940; Census Place: Enumclaw, King, Washington; Roll: m-t0627-04344; Page: 1A; Enumeration District: 17-70, accessed 01/09/2025.)

Gladys grew up in Tacoma, the daughter of Phosa Elmira Messinger (born 09/16/1883 in Shell Rock, MN-d. 09/14/1965 in Tacoma, WA) and Charles William Schuh. They wed on 07/27/1906 in Tacoma, where Charles operated his own box factory. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Washington State Archives; Olympia, Washington; Washington Marriage Records, 1854-2013; Reference Number: prcmc_v5_021-DA3, accessed 01/08/2025.) In 1930, the Schuhs were comfortable financially, living in a house at 1215 North Tacoma Avenue worth an estimated $15,000, more than most neighboring dwellings valued between $3,500 and $10,000. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1930; Census Place: Tacoma, Pierce, Washington; Page: 8A; Enumeration District: 0102; FHL microfilm: 2342245, accessed 01/08/2025.) The value of this house fell to $6,000 in 1940, although this was still more than most others in the immediate vicinity. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1940; Census Place: Tacoma, Pierce, Washington; Roll: m-t0627-04388; Page: 8A; Enumeration District: 42-1, accessed 01/09/2025.)

The architect had an older sister, Elizabeth Olson (born c. 1939 in IL).

Spouse

Jim Olson married Ann Louise Galkowski on 11/23/1962 in Olympia, WA. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Washington State Archives; Olympia, Washington; Washington Marriage Records, 1854-2013, accessed 11/14/2024.) They divorced on 01/22/1968 in King County, WA. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Washington State Archives; Olympia, Washington; Washington, Divorce Index, 1968-1996, accessed 11/14/2024.)

He married Katherine Olson.

Biographical Notes

Member, Board of Directors, Seattle Art Museum (SAM), Seattle, WA. Olson designed a number of houses for prominent art collectors around the U.S.