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by: Abrams,
Harold |
Ward Wyatt Deems, FAIA Early History of the Firm Deems-Lewis William S. Lewis Jr. Biography Ward Deems was born on the 16th of November, 1929 in Hollywood, California. Raised in Alhambra and Pasadena/Altadena, Ward graduated from Pasadena High School in 1947, and then Pasadena Community College in 1949. While still in high school he put himself on the path toward architecture – working in carpentry, framing, home building, and soon therafter as draftsman with architects in Monrovia and Claremont while attending junior college. Ward benefited most significantly from the guidance of USC School of Architecture faculty Calvin Straub, Conrad Buff, Donald Hensman, A. Quincy Jones, Gregory Ain, Garret Eckbo, Emmett Wimple, Harry Burge, and Verne Annis. He graduated alongside his classmate William Sperry Lewis in 1953 with a Bachelor of Architecture degree. While attending USC he designed and constructed a home in Altadena for a client with USC classmate Jack Causey. Following his graduation from USC, Deems worked as design assistant at Jay Dewey Harnish Architects in Ontario (1953-54). In 1955, he earned his California Architect license. Between 1954-1959, Mr. Deems was employed as project designer at Albert C. Martin & Associates in Los Angeles. He recently commented on this period of time: “My employment with AC MA provided me with an extraordinary opportunity to participate as lead architectural designer on several important projects (Rose Hills Memorial Park facilities, Whittier, CA; Orthopaedic Hospital, Los Angeles, CA.), followed by the position of Director of Business Development.” “The Martin firm was going through a period of growth while awaiting the two younger Martin sons, (David and Chris Martin, also from USC), to mature into the firm. Thus, several young graduates from USC were employed by the Martins and advanced into leadership positions of planning, design, practice and management.” “I was privileged to work directly with both of the Martin partners (Albert C. Martin, Jr., FAIA and J. Edward Martin, CE/SE) and thereby accelerated my education and experience as a practicing architect. I was appointed an Associate of the Firm in 1958. At the Martin office I met and became friends with William Sperry Lewis, Jr. (Bill) who was a lead designer on several Martin projects, including the Mission Valley Shopping Center project in San Diego.” “During 1958-59, I explored the potential of opening an office in San Diego since the possibility of becoming an owner-partner at the Martin firm was slim to none…I advised the Martins that I had decided to practice in San Diego. The Martins stated that they wished to retain me as a part of their expanding operation and suggested that they join in opening a San Diego office as they had previously begun this concept in other cities...” In April 1959, they signed a corporate agreement to launch Deems-Martin Associates. At the time, Bill Lewis was completing the design of the May Company store in Mission Valley and agreed to join Deems in launching the firm. Within a few years, Bill became a co-owner and the firm became Deems Lewis Martin & Associates. Between the years 1959-1986, Deems served the new firm as Senior Principal; President, Chairman of the Board; Principal-in Charge and designer of selected projects. His responsibilities ranged from business development-public relations and business management for the firm to assignments as Principal-In-Charge of selected projects while partner Bill Lewis concentrated exclusively on project management and project design. During the firm’s operations in San Diego it successfully sought a wide variety of design commissions for commercial, institutional and educational projects. In the beginning years the young firm’s association with the Martin firm enabled it to thrive. Of the firm’s operational philosophy, Deems recently commented, “Our firm’s commitment to its clients centered upon each project being assigned one of the firm’s two principals to oversee and/or plan and design the projects to their completion. A Team concept was instituted which included responsibility for all elements of planning and design including structural, mechanical, electrical, civil engineering, landscape architecture, interior design and graphics design. In addition to my personal design work, it was my approach to allow other employed designers the freedom to create the projects, subject to partner critique and comments from a peerJury system.” Ward Deems received his Fellowship in the American Institute of Architects College of Fellows in 1973. His involvement with the AIA included Secretary of the Pasadena Chapter AIA, President of the AIA San Diego Chapter (1963) and President of the AIA California Council (1975), along with serving on several Statewide and National AIA Committees. These activities resulted in meeting a number of prominent architects and firms around the country which led them to several successful joint venture projects. “In 1967 Bill and I realized that the joint arrangement with the Martin brothers was not truly workable over time and, after prolonged negotiations and payments to acquire their shares of the corporate stock, the firm became Deems/Lewis & Partners. Subsequently the firm name became Deems Lewis McKinley Architects with the addition of John C. McKinley, AIA as a corporate owner, Ward Deems added." Partial List of San Diego Projects by Ward Deems Carter-Higgins
Office Building (1963) Deems Residence
#1 (1963) Deems Residence
#2 (1977) Dr. & Mrs.
Robert J. Orr Residence (1960) Private Residence
(circa 1953)
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