Former College of Fellows Chancellor and AIA Board member Harold L. Adams, FAIA, RIBA, JIA, is the new chairman of the Board of Regents of the American Architectural Foundation (AAF). Adams' appointment follows quickly on his completion of a three-year term as chairman of the National Building Museum (1997–2000). He presided over his first full AAF Regents meeting April 10.

A past member of the AAF's Board of Regents and long active in the AIA, Mr. Adams is chairman of RTKL Associates Inc. and RTKL International Ltd., headquartered in Baltimore and one of the nation's largest multidisciplinary design firms, with a reputation for design and management strength. Adams joined RTKL in 1967 and became president in 1969, CEO in 1971, and chairman in 1987. Under his leadership, RTKL has developed into an international practice with nine offices in the United States, London, Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Madrid.

Adams has often been cited for his contributions to the architectural profession at the national, state, and local levels: In 1983, he was elected a Fellow of the AIA; in 1993, he was the Gold Medal recipient of the Tau Sigma Delta Award; in 1997, Adams was the recipient of the Kemper Award, the AIA's award for leadership in the profession. The Society of American Military Engineers honored Adams with the first Max O. Urbahn Award for achievement in architecture. Adams holds a "first class Kenchikushi" license (awarded by Japan's Ministry of Construction) and is also a respected architect in the United Kingdom. He served as chancellor of the AIA College of Fellows, 1997–1998, and is currently the Middle-Atlantic director (1999–2002) on the AIA Board.

Adams has long been active in business, arts, education, and civic organizations. He is a trustee of the National Building Museum, a director of Legg Mason Inc., and member of the board of directors of the Design-Build Institute of America. He was formerly chairman of the board of directors of the World Trade Center Institute, 1989–1998; chairman of the board of directors of the Downtown Partnership of Baltimore, 1997–2000; and director of the Maryland Economic Development Corporation.

Copyright 2001 The American Institute of Architects. All rights reserved.