Thomas W. Ventulett III, Co-Founder of TVS and Architect of CNN Center, Dies at 90
On August 24, Thomas W. “Tom” Ventulett III, a 90-year-old architect and watercolor artist from Atlanta, passed away. In 1968, he co-established Thompson, Ventulett, Stainback & Associates, where he contributed to iconic structures such as the Omni Coliseum (1972) and the Georgia World Congress Center (1976). Serving as Head of Design until 2015, Ventulett led the firm to secure over 260 design accolades, including the National AIA Honor Award for McCormick Place and the 2002 National Architecture Firm Award. A graduate of Georgia Tech (1958), he was honored by Julie Ju-Youn Kim for his insight into architecture's human dimension. Post-retirement, he dedicated his time to watercolor painting, showcasing his work in several galleries. Janet Simpson lauded him as a visionary and mentor.
Key facts
- Thomas W. Ventulett III died on August 24 at age 90.
- He co-founded Thompson, Ventulett, Stainback & Associates in 1968 with William H. Thompson Jr. and Raymond F. Stainback Jr.; the firm is now TVS.
- TVS designed the Omni Coliseum (1972), Georgia World Congress Center (1976), and Omni International (1976, later CNN Center).
- Ventulett was Head of Design at TVS until his retirement in 2015.
- Under his leadership, TVS received over 260 design awards, including the National AIA Honor Award for McCormick Place, the Honor Award for Urban Design for the Pennsylvania Convention Center, the 2002 National Architecture Firm Award, and the 1977 College of Fellows of the AIA.
- He graduated from Georgia Tech’s School of Architecture in 1958.
- After retiring at 65, he pursued watercolor painting, focusing on flora, fauna, and buildings; his work was shown at the Ventulett Gallery and Theresa Forman Fine Art.
- Tributes came from Julie Ju-Youn Kim of Georgia Tech and Janet Simpson, President of TVS.
Entities
Artists
- Thomas W. Ventulett III
- William H. Thompson Jr.
- Raymond F. Stainback Jr.
- Julie Ju-Youn Kim
- Janet Simpson
Institutions
- TVS
- Thompson, Ventulett, Stainback & Associates
- Georgia Tech School of Architecture
- American Institute of Architects (AIA)
- Ventulett Gallery
- Theresa Forman Fine Art
Locations
- Atlanta
- United States
- Chicago
- Philadelphia
- Georgia