Résumé

Architect, John Carl Warnecke and Associates, Architects, San Francisco, CA, c. 1960-1967. Adams worked in the Washington, DC, office of Warnecke and Associates. He became Manager of Warnecke's Washington, DC, offfice in about 1962, at the age of 23. Working here in the 1960s, he got to know various members of the Kennedy Family very well. In a discussion with Michael Cimino in 2017, he said of his career: "I started my career in Washington, DC, right after graduation, working for John Carl Warnecke. He was the star architect working with the Kennedys, and they turned to him for everything. I was in a fortunate position as a young man coming to work as an architect and designer, because I got thrown into the middle of it all. Mr. Warnecke took me to every meeting he ever had with First Lady Jackie Kennedy, with President John. F. Kennedy, and with their aides as well. We did a variety of projects that aren't even listed anywhere on my resume, including an addition to Bobby and Ethel Kennedy's house in McLean, Virginia. I was out there every morning checking on the building and developed a relationship with both of them. Ethel still considers me her architect. Warnecke always told me, 'Get to know the secretaries, the assistants and the professionals they don't ever change. People come and go in Washington, but there's a stable group of people behind it all. Get to know them.' I did, and it followed me throughout my career." (See Steve Cimino, AIA.org, "Featured Member: Harold Adams, FAIA," accessed 05/02/2023.)

Architect, Rogers, Taliaferro, Kostritsky, and Lamb (RTKL) Associates, Baltimore, MD, c. 1967-1968.

President, Rogers, Taliaferro, Kostritsky, and Lamb (RTKL) Associates, Architects, Baltimore, MD, 1968- . The RTKL website said of Adams leadership of the firm: "Just in his late 20s, Adams joined RTKL. Adams brought a keen business acumen leading the transformation from a single Baltimore office to a global design practice with projects in more than 60 countries as it is known today. Under his tenure, RTKL became one of the first American architecture firms to practice in China. RTKL also was an early adopter of innovative technology, introducing CAD far ahead of other practices. Adams became president at only 29 years old. He continued to excel, becoming CEO and chairman. RTKL amassed a significant roster of projects under Harold’s tenure, including the U.S. Capitol Visitors Center, the Rebuilding of the Pentagon following the September 11 attacks, the Hayashibara Cultural District in Japan and the Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia." (See CallisonRTKL.com, "In Memoriam Harold L. Adams, 1939-2022," accessed 05/02/2023.)

Chairman of the Board, RTKL Associates, Baltimore, MD, 1987- 2004. Adams retired from RTKL at age 65.

RTKL was sold to the Dutch design, construction and management firm of Arcadis, N.V., in 2007. Arcadis also purchased the Seattle-based Callison Architects in 2014. In 10/2015, Arcadis merged Callison Architects and RTKL Associates into "CallisonRTKL."

Teaching

Faculty member, Texas A & M University, 2018.

Professional Activities

Member, American Institute of Architects (AIA).

Member Society of Military Engineers (SAME).

Member, Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA).

Member, Japan Institute of Architects (JIA).

Awarded, Japan Ministry of Construction, first-class Kenchikushi license.

Professional Awards

Fellow, American Institute of Architects (FAIA), 1998.

Recipient, SAME, Max O. Urbahn Medal, 1997. Adams was the Urbahn Medal's first recipient.

Recipient, AIA, Edward C. Kemper Award.

Recipient, AIA, College of Fellows, Leslie N. Boney Spirit of Fellowship Award, 2014.

Inductee, National Academy of Construction, Austin, TX.

Relocation

Harold Lynn Adams, Sr., was born in the small town of Palmer, TX, a town about 28 miles southeast of Dallas. He grew up in this town, and attended tiny Palmer High School, becoming his eight-person class's valedictorian.

He died of glioblastoma brain cancer at the age of 82 in College Station, TX.

Parents

His mother, Lola Beck, was likely the more enterprising of his parents. She operated a clothing manufacturing business and maintained a group of fabric stores, at a time when women still often sewed their families' wardrobes. His mother produced her son's three-piece suits into the early 1960s, when he worked for John Carl Warnecke.

Charles Roy Adams, his father, worked as a barber.

Spouse

He wed Janice Lindhurst.

Children

He and Janice had four children: Harold Lynn Adams II, Abigail Adams, Ashley John Adams and Samuel Adams.

Biographical Notes

Member, Texas A & M University, Chancellor’s Council, College Station, TX.

Member, Texas A & M University, Development Advisory Council, College Station, TX.

Recipient, Texas A & M University, Distinguished Alumnus, College Station, TX.

Recipient, Texas A & M University, Outstanding Alumnus of the College of Architecture, College Station, TX.

Recipient, Texas A & M University, Honorary Doctor of Letters degree, College Station, TX, 2019.