Arthur AJ James Hammill

GASTONIA — Arthur James “A.J.” Hammill, 78, of Winston-Salem, died Thursday, July 4, 2013, at his home. A.J. was a founding partner of Colvin, Hammill and Walter, Architects, which later became Hammill-Walter Associates.

A.J. was born Sept. 20, 1934, in Gastonia, North Carolina, son of the late Arthur James Sr., and Louisa Ligon Hammill.He graduated from the North Carolina State College School of Design in 1960, and moved to Winston-Salem in 1965, where he and two architect friends, Lloyd Walter of Charlotte and George Colvin of Winston-Salem—also from the NC State School of Design—opened Colvin, Hammill & Walter, Architects, in the O’Hanlon Building. In the 1960s and 70s, the firm designed the Greek Orthodox Church Sanctuary and classrooms, Bermuda Run clubhouse, the N.C. Eye Bank, bank branches for Wachovia, city recreation centers, and residences.

George Colvin left the firm in 1971, and it became Hammill-Walter Associates. Hammill-Walter grew during the 1970s and early 80s and became known throughout the state, designing BB&T One Triad Park, Corpening Plaza, RJR Reynolds Plaza, the Lobby Renovation of RJ Reynolds Tobacco Building, the training center for Piedmont Airlines, the U.S. Courthouse and Federal Office Building, First Center Building at Five Points, McLean Trucking Company Headquarters, Mariah Condos at Beech Mountain, projects at WSSU, elementary schools, and parking structures in Winston-Salem and at UNC Charlotte. A.J. served as President of the North Carolina Chapter of the American Institute of Architects in 1982, and retired from the firm in 1985.

He is survived by a daughter, Leigh Hammill of Washington, D.C.; a son, Louis Hammill and his wife, Kristin of Mocksville; two brothers, Cheves Hammill of Gastonia, and Steve Hammill and his wife, Patricia of Belmont, and one granddaughter, Olivia Hammill of Mocksville. A memorial service will be held Tuesday, July 9, at 11 a.m. at Holy Family Catholic Church in Clemmons, in the Curlin Center, which was designed by Hammill-Walter Associates.