James Walter McQuiston

James W. McQuiston, an architect and longtime resident of Indianapolis, Indiana, passed away quite unexpectedly on January 18, 2026, leaving his family, friends, and the architecture community in profound shock.

James was born on a hot summer night in 1949 in Battle Creek, Michigan, to Mary Elisabeth (née Bickerton) and William James McQuiston. He came home to his older sister, Malisa (Mary Elisabeth) McQuiston, and was later joined by his younger brother, Daniel McQuiston. His father worked for Kellogg’s, and James held a summer job there, putting the raisins in Raisin Bran.

James was drawn to artmaking and building things from a very young age. After earning his Master of Architecture degree from the University of Michigan, he moved to Indianapolis for his first job as an architect. In 1983, he built his own home, a project that he continued to refine and expand upon for the remainder of his life. A true work of art, his residence is a monument to his immense creativity and distinctive style.

In 1988, James established his own practice: J. W. McQuiston Architecture + Interior Design. Over the course of his career, James earned numerous awards and distinctions for his residential, commercial, and institutional work. His projects included commissions for Indiana University-Bloomington and many places of worship, among them North United Methodist Church. When traveling to new cities, he often sought out churches first, drawn to their architecture and the communities they served. Early in his career, his mural The Runners was selected in a competition as part of a downtown revitalization effort in Indianapolis. The mural graced the 7 E. Washington Street wall for 45 years and reflected his whimsical illustration style beloved by many.

In 1990, James married Julianna Eleanor (née Pratt) on the grounds of the McQuiston residence. In 1994, they welcomed their daughter, Ciaran Louise McQuiston. Although the couple divorced, James and Julie remained close and took pride in being co-parents of Ciaran. In 2018, Ciaran married Griffin Davis at the McQuiston residence. Ciaran and Griffin have since welcomed two children, Eden Charley McQuiston-Davis (born 2021) and Ewan James McQuiston-Davis (born 2025).

Grandpa Jamo was deeply loved by his grandsons and spent many hours helping the McQuiston-Davis family elevate the design and function of their own home. He was a devoted grandfather, a tireless designer, and a loyal friend and family member to many. Known for his quick wit and generous spirit, James brought light to those around him. As a father, he was always ready with steady support and the right advice at exactly the right moment. Some of his last words to Ciaran, nervous to return to work after being on maternity leave following the birth of her second child, were, “Mark Twain once said, ‘I’ve had a lot of worries in my life, most of which never happened.’”

James W. McQuiston believed strongly in creating well-crafted structures, and that “thoughtful design can dramatically change lives.” His contributions to the Indianapolis design community are immeasurable, and his passing represents a great loss. His legacy lives on in the beautifully crafted structures he created – enduring works that will stand the test of time.

In addition to his daughter Ciaran and her family, James is survived by his sister Malisa (Mary Elisabeth) McQuiston; and brother Daniel McQuiston, his wife Cathy, and their daughters Megan and Jenny. Megan McQuiston-Reuter’s daughters are Cambrie and Olivia, and Jenny Phelps’s daughters are Clarke and Riley. They will miss their Uncle Jamo very much.

Service will be held at North United Methodist Church on Saturday, January 24th. Visitation will be held at 10am, Service at 11am. Address: 3808 N Meridian St, Indianapolis, IN 46228