Board of Directors

SPOTLIGHT...

Although he was born in Baltimore, Paul Taylor, AIA, moved at the age of 10 with his parents to upstate New York. He had a stereotypical suburban upbringing in Wappingers Falls, just south of Poughkeepsie. His family always maintained a close relationship with their very large extended family here, and, in his 30s, Paul eventually returned to Baltimore. Paul recalls that when he was six, his godfather asked him about the things he liked to do. When Paul replied that he liked to draw and build things, his godfather told him he should be an architect. Although Paul didn’t know what an architect was, he so respected this man, that he decided that he, not just wanted to be an architect, but would be one. Each educational and vocational decision that he made thereafter was directed by this advice and decision.

Paul graduated from the University of Notre Dame’s 5-year program with a B.Arch. in 1979. A highlight of Notre Dame experience was the study abroad program. Paul spent his entire Junior year living in Rome, Italy studying architecture. After working for several firms in Westchester County outside New York City, and getting his license, Paul was asked to manage the in-house design and construction department for Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan. This experience set the course for the remainder of his career – director of design and/or construction for institutions, primarily hospitals and universities.

In 1987, Paul returned to Baltimore with a position at Sinai Hospital. He then worked for the University of Maryland for a decade, during which time he also earned a M.A. in Urban Studies. Paul also led the design team for the Nymburu Cultural Center – the first contemporary building in the United States designed to reflect the architectural traditions of West Africa. Using a design/build process, Grimm & Parker was the architect of record.

Around the turn of the century, Paul worked for a few years at The Johns Hopkins University. In 2001, he was asked to initiate, coordinate, and teach in the new Bachelor of Science in Architecture and Environmental Design program at Morgan State University’s Institute of Architecture and Planning. Growing quickly to enrollment surpassing 200, this and the pre-existing graduate program in the Institute of Architecture and Planning have recently been elevated to a “School” at Morgan State University. After his first students graduated, Paul began working for Baltimore County Public Schools, where he is currently the Supervisor of Project Management.

During his career, Paul has always found time for other activities. While in Westchester, New York, Paul served as a director and treasurer of the Westchester/Mid-Hudson Chapter of the AIA. He also taught part-time in K-12 Artist-in Residence programs. While at the University of Maryland he became President of the campus Black Faculty and Staff Association, and later he helped Johns Hopkins employees form their own group. During the late 1990s, he was very active in the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA), serving as national president in 2001. That year, working with AIA national president, John Anderson FAIA, Paul reinvigorated the Institute’s diversity efforts. He also initiated the AIABaltimore Diversity Committee in 2002, and joined our Board of Directors in 2004.

As a teacher and NOMA leader, Paul has had considerable opportunity to think and comment on the profession. These unrelated quotes are valuable for our consideration:

“Architecture is about built works. If it is not built it may be a great idea for architecture but it is not yet architecture.” “The profession must evolve significantly to justify its relevance to society. The change is not for those of us who are currently architects but for our grandchildren who may become architects.” “Architects used to be the master creators of ‘human environments.’ This was our past and needs to be our future.” “The profession must evolve so that its membership reflects the society that we serve and are a part of.” “The problem of diversity in the profession is not the fault of white males, it is the fault of the profession.” “The task of making the profession more diverse is not the purview of minority members but of all members.”