Board of Directors

SPOTLIGHT...
	“My greatest satisfaction in this profession comes from seeing people who are genuinely happy to work in, play in, live in buildings I have helped to create. Interacting with them and addressing their needs is the fuel that keeps my engine going.”

Since his father served in the U.S. Air Force, Jim Pettit, AIA, grew up in Virginia, Maryland, Japan, and predominantly Arizona. He spent his high school years in Hopewell, south of Richmond, Virginia. Although Jim always enjoyed art and drawing privately, he considered a career in mathematics or engineering since his skills lay there. However, the results of a high interest vocational test taken late in high school advised Jim to become an architect. (Airline pilot and forest ranger were also well up on that list!)

He looked into it, and ultimately, Jim won a major academic scholarship to the University of Virginia, from which he graduated with a B.Arch. in 1969. In addition to AIAS activity, he was art editor of the UVM publication. Jim was also active on several UVA committees including the Honor Committee which heard and determined charges of honor system violations, and that experience had a lasting impact on him.

Upon graduation, Jim and his young family moved to Baltimore where he began his career at RTKL in the studio of Frank Taliaferro, FAIA, doing institutional work. He next worked at Meyer Ayers Saint & Stewart where he was honored to have Kelsey Saint, AIA, as a mentor who taught him “how buildings go together.” For several years at DesignBank, Jim worked on a variety of projects that included master planning, interior architecture, graphic design and, of course, commercial architecture. In 1975, he was recruited to serve as Head of Design at the former Bureau of Construction Management for Baltimore’s Department of Public Works. His group designed small city building projects, and reviewed design and construction documents for public buildings, including major projects like the National Aquarium and the Convention Center – both levels of activity giving him a wide range of perspectives.

Upon returning to Ayers Saint in the late 1970s, Jim worked predominantly in the retail area, but also renovated several historic buildings for the Baltimore Culinary Arts Institute. In 1984, he joined Meyers & D’Aleo where he designed a variety of project types including Scarlett Place, the U.S. Custom House restoration, and space planning for the William Donald Schaefer Tower. He also did a great deal of signage and graphic design, what he refers to as his “second career”. In 1997, Jim joined Jeffrey Penza, AIA, where he is now Senior Associate of Penza Bailey Architects, and specializes in commercial and ADA work.

Jim’s volunteer work in the AIA began at the University of Virginia, where he served as president of its AIAS chapter. He also served on the executive board of the Association of Student Chapters/AIA. He helped design and launch the national Architecture Student (AS) quarterly, which he edited for its first two years. After arriving at Penza Associates Architects, Jim joined the AIA again and became very active when Anath Ranon, AIA, founded our Historic Resources Committee several years ago. This year, he began serving on our Board of Directors.

Jim has also contributed substantial volunteer leadership to other groups, including the Board of the Baltimore Architecture Foundation and the Original Northwood Association through its architectural review group. Jim served on the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center Steering Committee for several jazz oriented fundraisers and he has served for many years on the Curriculum Advisory Board for the Villa Julie College Art Department where he helps with curriculum evaluation and portfolio review in graphic arts. He is also vice president and acting president of the Northeast Development Alliance (NEDA) founded several years ago by Morgan State University, Good Samaritan Hospital and the Northeast Community Organization (NECO). As a non-profit community development corporation, NEDA’s mission it is to “serve as a catalyst for programs, policies and initiatives which will foster a healthy and vibrant environment for residents, businesses and institutions in the Northern Neighborhoods of Baltimore City.” Some of NEDA’s work includes renovating HUD foreclosed properties and selling them to first-time homeowners. Jim also taught foundation courses in architecture at Morgan State University for several years.