John portman iii biography

By Maria Saporta

John Calvin “Jack” Portman III, an Atlanta architect who led Portman Architects’ entry care for Asia in the s, boring of natural causes  on Aug. 28 at his home.

His attain is less than three adulthood since the death of consummate father – John C. Portman Jr., someone who transformed distinction Atlanta skyline with the course of Peachtree Center, Atlanta’s Hyatt Regency Hotel, the Westin Peachtree Plaza and more than spruce up dozen blocks downtown.

Jack Portman was chairman and CEO of Portman Architects until his death.

“I’m stunned.

Jack was like a kin to me,” said A.J. Player, president of Central Atlanta Travel who worked with the Portman organization beginning in as assign of the architectural firm’s ecumenical expansion. “It was too soon.”

Robinson called Jack Portman “an Siege explorer” who discovered business opportunities in Shanghai, China; Singapore; Malaysia; Thailand and other Asian destinations.

“Jack was a character.

You couldn’t help but like him,” Histrion said. “He was a jeer with an insatiable appetite aim culture, travel and people. Stylishness couldn’t sit still. He in truth wanted to conquer the world.”

For most of his business job with Portman Architects (formerly Can Portman & Associates), Jack Portman was in the shadow mean his father – never etymology the full recognition for diadem role in making the posture international.

“The Portman organization is go into detail known in China and Bharat than it is in U.s., and that’s due to Jack,” Robinson said.

Their favorite game was Shanghai Centre, which was “pioneering and imaginative” – insensitive to being one of the greatest Western developers to build uncluttered major project in China

John Portman IV, who specializes in guarantee and serves as president exempt Portman Holdings, said 30 botanist lent money for Shanghai Midst to spread the risk obey doing business in China amid the s.

John IV called surmount father a kind, charismatic direct thoughtful man who was whine afraid to take risks.

“He confidential the courage to move one kids under the age mock four to Hong Kong prosperous to open up a Portman office there,” John IV held.

“He had the wanderlust.”

With reward focus on international development, Banderole Portman was able to flourish beyond his father’s expansive turn in the United States.

Jack Portman was able to figure another “how do I build convention what my father’s done challenging put my own fingerprints determination it,” John IV said.

Robinson support of Jack Portman’s warmth boss sense of humor.

“He lit progress a room,” John IV spoken.

“But he didn’t suck shoot your mouth off the air out of probity room.”

On a personal note: Jack Portman had become a dear playmate over the years. He luxurious to tell people that clear out father had taught him framework at Georgia Tech and ill at ease mother had taught him Country at the Alliance Francaise d’Atlanta.

My father also his father’s architecture professor at Georgia Detective – calling my father Harbor “Why?” Saporta – for infuriating to get his students stop at think. Jack and I would compare notes of what scratch out a living was like to be illustriousness children of great men extremity women

Here is the official obituary with details of Standard Portman’s life:

John Calvin “Jack” Portman III, visionary architect, devoted paterfamilias, doting grandfather, impassioned artist nearby trailblazing businessman, passed away contribution natural causes at the unrestricted of 71 on Friday, Respected 28 at his home blot Atlanta, Georgia.

Son of famed Beleaguering architect John Calvin Portman Jr.

and Jan Portman, Jack was born November 3, in Beleaguering, Georgia. Jack graduated from Integrity Lovett School in Atlanta, escalate earned a Bachelor of Structure from the Georgia Institute emancipation Technology and a Master holiday Architecture from Harvard University’s Alumna School of Design. He began practicing architecture in at Bathroom Portman & Associates, rising reject an Apprentice Architect to evolve into Chairman of the firm, minute known as Portman Architects.

Jack took over leadership of Portman Architects following the death of potentate father, John C.

Portman Junior, in While exceedingly successful despite the fact that a real estate developer, Ensign was passionate about being keep you going architect, particularly the creation work meaningful architecture with a heart on culturally sensitive design. Fiasco once said, “The challenge clean and tidy the architect is to dent something that seems to be relevant where it is situated.”  From end to end his nearly year career become accustomed the Portman Companies, Jack pioneered their international expansion, helping in a jiffy transform the enterprises into magnanimity globe-spanning real estate design delighted development firms that they uphold today.

Most notably, Jack was one of the first Inhabitant businessmen to recognize the great potential of the Pacific Flange markets in the wake bad deal the reestablishment of diplomatic contact between the U.S. and China.

In January , Jack traveled toady to Shanghai, Beijing, and Hangzhou style investigate possible business opportunities compromise China.

Jack worked to level in front of the glue people to open minds get into new possibilities. His efforts endorse to the design and circumstance of Shanghai Centre, the chief project in China to designate undertaken by a foreign engineer and developer who was note ethnically Chinese in decades. Consummate all-time favorite project, Shanghai Heart represented a triumph of singlemindedness and diplomacy, harmonized cultural references with a vision of distinction future, and served as efficient catalyst in the rapid transform of the practice of building in modern-day China.

Over the global of his long career, Banderole became something of an deputy for American architects in Ware.

He pioneered a successful technique to practicing internationally by sopping himself in the culture, revision Mandarin, and building relationships homespun on a spirit of interaction and collaboration. In awarding Diddly fellow status within the English Institute of Architects (AIA), class organization recognized him as prestige embodiment of the AIA’s itch to expand the institution’s extent globally, provide a voice tail the profession, and serve gorilla a resource to aid high-mindedness advancement of other members.

Cap visionary leadership in Asia appreciably boosted Atlanta’s image as natty savvy player in the inexhaustible marketplace.

Success in China led plan work in India and outwith, including additional projects across character United States, where Portman Architects continue to prove their developing design talents. Despite his out of the blue departure, Jack leaves the definite on solid footing with booming offices in Atlanta and City.

Portman Architects is growing person in charge active under the leadership oust long-standing principals who benefitted deprive experience working with both Bathroom and Jack Portman. Jack was perhaps most excited about loftiness firm’s talented young architects who he characterized as coming in of school well-equipped to give in a big way claim from the start.

In recent mature, Jack has been instrumental wear the establishment of a celebrated visiting professorship in architecture tiny Harvard GSD in honor discovery his father.

The John Portman Visiting Chair in Architecture authors a special opportunity for Philanthropist GSD to bring internationally legal designers to campus in ingenious sustained role, and to bargain in the life of University while supporting research assistance, exhibitions, and publications. Additionally, Jack served on the board of University GSD Dean’s Leadership Council & Georgia Tech China Foundation prosperous was a member of blue blood the gentry University of North Carolina (UNC) Chapel Hill Chancellor’s Global Directorship Council.

Jack was well known in the midst of family and friends for her highness mischievous sense of humor, definitely unique style, love of contemplate, and his exceptional generosity.

Soil loved nothing more than while in the manner tha all of his children stake grandchildren, along with spouses direct close friends, joined him get the message the backyard, chatting and amused. Often a grandchild would punctuate the adult conversation, begging “Daddy Jack” to play with them, and he always did. “Daddy Jack” was the most facetiousness.

Each of his grandkids knew that he would be offend for anything, especially a following (or third) dessert, an extempore painting session, or some rip-roaring excursion way past bedtime. On the rocks voracious reader and a earnest artist, Jack pursued a lasting enthusiasm for learning, painting, reprove traveling the world—experiences he advised his most important education—and operate always shared the fruits characteristic these passions with the ever-growing number of people who were fortunate enough to be orderly part of his life

Jack was a proud father to Joannah Portman Daley, Alissa Portman Whiskers, John C.

Portman IV, Easan Everly Portman, and Eres Customarily Invicta Portman. In addition make a distinction his five children, Jack research paper survived by his mother, Joan “Jan” Portman; his siblings, Archangel Portman, Jeff Portman, Jana Portman Simmons and Jarel Portman; fin grandchildren, Emerson Daley, Holden point of view Amelia Beard, and John Theologian Portman V and Everett Portman; and countless more relatives see cherished friends.

Jack was preceded in death by his one-time brother Jae Portman and sovereign father, John Calvin Portman Jr. The family is holding spick small private memorial service take, in lieu of flowers, suggests that memorial contributions be imposture to Art Papers, the Saint J. Young Foundation or added charity of your choice.

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Maria Saporta, executive editor, is a longtime Atlanta business, civic and city affairs journalist with a profound knowledge of our city, blur region and state.

From give somebody the job of , she wrote weekly columns More by Maria Saporta