Architect James Thomas Kienle Passes

On December 7, architect James (Jim) Thomas Kienle, of Indianapolis, Indiana, passed away. Jim practiced architecture for more than 50 years and continued working as a consultant until his death.

After graduating from Ohio State University with a degree in architecture in 1967, he started his career working for Granzow & Guss in Columbus, Ohio. After practicing in Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C., he returned to the Midwest to be a principle in Archonics Design Partnership. Jim took great pride in mentoring younger architects and fostering their unique abilities. He enjoyed collaborating on projects and considered his closest collaborators to be family as much as friends.

Throughout the years, he worked with colleagues and clients to bring new life to historic structures, college campuses, and urban environments while acting in leadership roles at several architectural firms including HNTB, Moody Nolan, and James T. Kienle & Associates. Some of his most notable civic projects include the Kentucky and Indiana State Capitol Masterplans, Indiana Government Center South Building, and the Old Executive Office Building in Washington, D.C.

Jim also loved adapted use of historic train stations. Important projects included L&N Depot, Bowling Green, Kentucky, B&O Depot, Grafton, West Virginia, and the Big 4, Layfette, Indiana. He also specialized in renovating historic theaters, including The Hilbert Circle Theatre in Indianapolis, University of Wisconsin Memorial Union Theaters, and The Lerner Theatre & Conference Center in Elkhart, Indiana.

Nationally recognized for his contribution to the field, he had a passion for preservation architecture and was elevated to the American Institute of Architects’ (AIA) College of Fellows in 2004. Jim was awarded the Sagamore of the Wabash for his pioneering work in preservation. As an acclaimed architect, civic leader, advocate for the architectural profession, he received many awards from Indiana’s chapter of the AIA including the Gold Medal, Edward D. Pierre Award, Juliet Peddle Award, and the President’s Award.

At the local and national level, Jim was committed to service and civic leadership. For 25 years, twelve as President, he served on the Indianapolis Historic Preservation Commission. He was on the boards and committees of several non-profit organizations including Preservation Action of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Indiana Landmarks, and City of Indianapolis’s Urban Design Oversight Committee. Additionally, he was the president of the Indiana German Heritage Society, a board member of the The American Red Cross—Greater Indianapolis, a Rotarian in the Downtown Indianapolis Rotary Club, and a graduate of Stanley K. Lacy Executive Leadership Series.

Jim was integral to downtown Indy’s redevelopment, the emergence of its historic neighborhoods, and its transformation into a major metropolitan hub. From the renovation of his 1872 Victorian cottage in Lockerbie Square to the on-going preservation of his local parish of St. Mary Catholic Church.

He and his wife, Marjorie, were always a team. While raising two children, they worked to revitalize Lockerbie Square along with the other pioneering neighbors.

He was awarded the Alumnus of the Year for Career Development from the College of Engineering’s Knowlton School of Architecture at OSU in 2020. The James and Marjorie Kienle Scholarship Fund has been set up at The OSU’s Knowlton School of Architecture.