Remembering Paul Kinnison Jr., FAIA

Paul Kinnison Jr., FAIA (June 3, 1938–February 11, 2026), was born in San Antonio, the eldest of three children, and raised in a military family that moved throughout his early life. He received his Bachelor of Architecture degree from Texas A&M University in 1961, and after serving two years as a commissioned officer in the Army, returned to Texas to begin a 50-year career in architecture. Early years included time at Logston & Voelter in Temple and prominent San Antonio firms Ayres & Ayres, Phelps & Simmons, Reginald Roberts, and O’Neil Ford. While in Ford’s office, he worked on several prominent projects and was sent to New York to be the on-site project manager for both Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs and Marymount College in New York City. In 1978, he established Kinnison & Associates, which over its 35-year history was well known for thoughtful design and renovation projects in San Antonio and South Texas, as well as at military installations all over the United States and the world. Paul was also known for mentoring young architects. 

As a young architect, Paul began a deep involvement with the AIA through the San Antonio chapter, Texas Society of Architects, and AIA National. He held every leadership position in the AIA San Antonio chapter, served as the chair of numerous Texas Society of Architects committees and as vice president of the organization, and was the chair of the AIA’s 1984 national convention hosted by AIA San Antonio. In addition, he was a frequent representative and spokesperson for the profession and the AIA in front of City of San Antonio commissions, boards, city council, and the state legislature. In 1988, he was elevated to the College of Fellows in recognition of his service to the profession and community. 

His contribution to the community was quiet yet profound in ways still affecting San Antonio to this day. Recognizing the role of preservation and urban design as instruments of protection, Paul was a tireless advocate for the past and the future over the expedient. As a lifelong resident of the Monte Vista National Historic District, he served on the architectural review committee for more than 30 years as a member, chair, and facilitator, always seeking to balance respect for history with the relevance and appropriateness of new ideas. Generations of San Antonio architects owe him an enormous debt for the input and guidance he provided to redefine the selection process of design professionals by the city. 

Beyond the typical role of architects, he was a quiet but passionate leader throughout his life, addressing difficult and often uncomfortable challenges such as the lack of basic city services—water, sewer, transportation, and affordable housing—in the inner city. He led the local chapter in establishing a Community Design Center and supervising VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) volunteers. He ensured design assistance to hundreds of underserved San Antonians through the development of the private nonprofit San Antonio Community Housing Development Corporation.

While I wasn’t one of the young architects who came through his office, I came to know Paul’s commitment and integrity through a shared sense of purpose in the historic church we both attended and served. He was a fine architect, but a finer citizen of San Antonio.