James Abell, ‘76 BA

James Logan  Abell, FAIA, LA  is a noted architect, landscape architect, and urban designer.  

In 2010, Mr. Abell was awarded the national AIA Kemper Medal, one of the highest individual honors that can be given to an American architect.  Awarded annually for 65 years, it was conferred to James for his many years of creating civic visioning plans for dozens of communities all across the USA in the cause of livable communities and excellence in urban design.

Known for campus masterplans, budget-driven K-12 public schools, and a wide-ranging interest in hotel design, office buildings, zoological gardens, and fine residential design, James established his diversified design practice in Tempe, Arizona in 1979.

In 2014, Mr. Abell was awarded the national AIA Thomas Jefferson Award for Public Architecture for having  “….evidenced great depth, with a cumulative effect on the quality of public architecture, with excellence that has impacted a broad cross-section of the community, and recognized for the significance of their lasting contribution to our enhanced quality of life….”   This AIA lifetime achievement honor for architects in private practice has only been awarded 12 times in AIA history.     Mr. Abell was one of 5 Founders of the AZ Architecture Foundation in 1983 and has donated over $1.4million to the ASU School of Architecture.  He has also been a visiting professor at ASU The Design School.