John L. Atkins, III, FAIA, was born and raised in Durham and attended NC State, serving in student government for three years, including as student body president during his senior year. He earned a bachelor's degree in architecture from NC State in 1966. He went ont to earn a master's degree in regional planning from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1970.

Atkins is President and Chief Executive Officer of O'Brien/Atkins Associates, a multidisciplinary design services firm he co-founded in 1975. Located in Research Triangle Park, O'Brien/Atkins has grown to an 80-person firm specializing in the design of large-scale, commercial projects. Examples of the firm's work are: RDU Airport Terminal C; RDU Airport Terminal A and Terminal A Interim Gates, Cisco Systems Offices/R&D Buildings 1 through 15; WorldCom Network Management Center and Administration Building in Weston; and Biogen BIO 24 Lab/Administration Building and parking deck. Services offered are architecture, interior design, MEP engineering, landscape architecture/planning and construction administration.

In 1998, O’Brien/Atkins Associates was named the inaugural winner of the American Institute of Architects-North Carolina Firm of the Year Award. This statewide award is the highest honor bestowed by AIA-North Carolina. John received the prestigious honor of being elected to the American Institute of Architects’ College of Fellows in 1992. Fellowship in the AIA is the highest honor bestowed upon architects by the organization that recognizes significant contributions to the profession and society.

Atkins' leadership has continued to evolve at NC State. He was a founding member and former chair of the NC State Board of Visitors, and is a member of the board of trustees of NC State's Endowment Fund. He also served on the Chancellor Selection Committee that selected former chancellor Marye Anne Fox, and is a member of the Wolfpack Club. In 2003, Atkins was honored by NC State University with the highest nonacademic honor bestowed by the university, the Watauga Medal. John is also involved with the College of Design. He and his partner William O’Brien, FAIA, funded the O'Brien/Atkins Endowed Fellowship at the School (now College) of Design, and he is a former president and member of the executive committee of the college's Design Foundation. He currently serves as co-chair of the College of Design Achieve campaign committee. Atkins was recognized by the College of Design as its 2005 Distinguished Alumnus.

Atkins' service to the community includes co-founding both the Research Triangle Regional Partnership and the Greater Triangle Regional Council. He has also been involved with the N.C. Partnership for Economic Development and the Economic Development Coalition 2000. He has served on the board of directors of the N.C. Biotechnology Center and Wachovia Bank & Trust. He is also past president of the Durham Chamber of Commerce. In 2001, he was inducted in the Phi Kappa Phi honorary society.