James Nutt

AIA • ALA • LEED AP • NCARB

James grew up in the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas, and was constantly drawing and designing as a child.   During Desert Storm he enlisted in the Air Force and served four years in the Civil Engineer squadron as an electrician. He developed a love and knowledge of buildings by working in and with the building trades.  Architecture became the obvious next step. During school, multiple internship opportunities included ecclesiastic architecture with Elton Roe Architect, running a small prefab residential design and fabrication department for a light-gauge metal framing manufacturer, and various projects with the architect Albert Skiles.  In 2001 James graduated cum laude from the Fay Jones School of Architecture. Immediately upon graduation, James and Marcy relocated to Minneapolis where James worked with the highly regarded firm of Meyer, Scherer & Rockcastle.  After three years, an important mentor coaxed him to join the construction/development business of Ryan Companies, to help revitalize their design-build architecture department. Since that time James has designed and lead 30+ projects, of which some have won local and national awards, as a senior design architect. In 2009 James and Marcy began Conrad + Nutt Studio.

James is a people person at his core and has a strong commitment to community, civic responsibility, and social justice.  He volunteers regularly through teaching and mentoring, has lead relief volunteer construction crews (to include Biloxi and New Orleans), currently serves on various building committees, and has served as an elder of his church. James is currently a Boardman on the Minneapolis Zoning Board of Adjustment.

James Nutt is a licensed architect in the state of Minnesota and a LEED accredited professional.  Other memberships and affiliations include the AIA, ALA, NCARB, USGBC, the University of Arkansas Alumni, and he has participated in the University of Minnesota School of Architecture mentorship program.