The 25 – Thomas Jester, FAIA, FAPT, LEED AP

Thomas Jester is principal and chief operating officer of Quinn Evans, a full-service architecture, interior design, planning, and landscape architecture firm with six offices throughout the Mid-Atlantic and the Midwest.

A national leader in historic preservation, Jester has directed many of the 200-person-strong firm’s most challenging projects.

“Working on the preservation and renewal of significant civic buildings requires a rigor and ability to actively listen to the building and the client,” he explains. “Our goal is always to develop design solutions that balance retention of what makes the buildings significant while making them work for today’s needs.”

Jester has also been a key member of the firm’s multidisciplinary team that is modernizing the Smithsonian Institution’s National Air and Space Museum, one of the largest museum renovation projects in history. Other high-profile projects include the modernization of the National Academy of Sciences on the National Mall; the renovation of Old City Hall in Richmond; and the renovation of the Mid-Century Modern Arvonne Fraser Library in Minneapolis.

Besides significant architectural projects, Jester believes in giving back to the building community by actively sharing his knowledge via speaking engagements, publications, professional affiliations, and volunteer work. He is currently part of the national AIA HRC leadership and will be chair in 2028.

“Whether integrating systems or an addition, design excellence in preservation is all about managing necessary change sensitively,” says the award-winning architect. Ultimately, seeing the impact of his work in local communities is one of the greatest reward