Donald R. Goldman

Donald Goldman was born in St. Louis, Missouri. Since 1935, Goldman has lived in San Diego. More specifically, he grew up in Southeast San Diego and attended Sherman Elementary, Memorial Junior High and San Diego High School.

Mr. Goldman took his first architectural classes at San Diego Junior College with Eleanor Frazier before a tour of duty in the U.S. Army.  After his military tour he studied architecture at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo under George Hasslein (between 1955-59).  Following graduation, Goldman worked for John Ross in San Luis Obispo for one year.

Interviewing with several key firms upon returning to San Diego, Don worked for Paderewski, Mitchell and Dean then Deems Lewis. At the latter firm, he worked alongside Bill Lewis, Jack Stevenson, Bob Jones and Jim Purcell among others. While with Ward Deems' firm he worked on the TKE Fraternity House at San Diego State College, a fire station, the Rubin Seltzer Solomon law offices on 4th Avenue as well as Hillcrest North Medical Center -- all circa 1964.

In 1964 Mr. Goldman received his California Architectural license and started his own practice with his final paycheck from Deems Lewis for $100. His first solo effort was the Seymour Rabin Residence in Alvarado Estates. At first leasing space in Paul McKim's office to work on his own projects, Goldman, McKim and others moved (joining Lloyd Ruocco, Leonard Veitzer and others) to the Design Center on 5th Avenue where they shared space and talent while retaining their own clients.

In 1971 Don joined Liebhardt, Weston & Associates to form Liebhardt Weston & Goldman. Working on a number of projects such as the Ramona Civic Center and the Wild Animal Park, Don would leave the firm's 7877 Ivanhoe address in 1977. Again, with a key client, the City of Chula Vista (for a remodel of their Community Center) in hand, Donald Goldman hung his shingle and worked solo for a number of years While self-employed, his work spanned residential, commercial, medical, recreational and civic projects.

Goldman's expertise in Construction Administration work positioned a career shift of sorts. Closing his office he performed construction administration of Hazard Center, the San Diego Chargers' Training Facility, Margaret Sellers Mail Facility and a number of other major projects. He joined RJC Architects for seven fruitful years before retiring.

Through the years Don found a mentor in Robert Mosher, and inspiration to hold firm on one's design principals through Bill Lewis. Through his career, Donald Goldman remained inspired by post-war architectural pioneers such as A. Quincy Jones, Craig Ellwood, Raphael Soriano and Henry Hester.

Partial Projects List

Adams Avenue Recreation Center

Adams Avenue Recreation Center
3491 Adams Avenue

Bank of America, Carlsbad

Bank of America
Carlsbad

Bottle and Keg
6060 El Cajon Blvd.
*stained glass work by Ira Spector

Chula Vista Civic Center Remodel

Dental Office Building, El Cajon

Dental Office Building
337 West Madison Ave., El Cajon

Dental Office Building, Carlsbad

Dental Office Building
1273 Las Flores Drive, Carlsbad

Fire Station
*While working for Deems Lewis

Donald R. Goldman Residence (1969)

Goldman, Donald R. Residence (1969)
2451 Poinsettia Drive
AIA Award Honor

Hillcrest North Medical Center
*While working for Deems Lewis

Home Federal, Ramona

Home Federal
Ramona

Howe Residence

Howe, Gerald & Elsie Residence (1983)
4560 Yerba Santa Drive

Hultgren, Lee & Carolyne Residence (1970)
4970 Academy Street

Jacobson Residence (1968)
5827 Overlake

Mombasa Cooker, Wild Animal Park

Mombasa Cooker
Wild Animal Park

Psychiatric Office Building (1968)

Psychiatric Office Building for Furman, Shipman and Baran (1968)
6310 Alvarado Court
AIA Award Honor

Rabin, Seymour Residence
Alvarado Estates

Recht, Rubin Residence (1963)
6363 Dwane, Del Cerro

Rubin Seltzer Solomon Law Offices
*While working for Deems Lewis

Ruselso Office Building (1963)
3003 Fourth Avenue
Award of Merit from the AIA San Diego Chapter

Santa Clara Boat Center, Mission Bay

Santa Clara Boat Center
Mission Bay

Spring Valley Community Center

Spring Valley Community Center
Spring Valley

Sunset Award Winner
Point Loma house remodel while working for Deems-Lewis

Tierrasanta Library

Tierrasanta Library
4986 La Cuenta Drive

TKE Fraternity House
San Diego State College
*While working for Deems Lewis

Partial Awards List
Sunset Magazine Design Award - Pt Loma remodel
AIA Design Honor Award - Law Offices (with Deems, Lewis)
AIA Design Honor Award - Psychiatric Office
AIA Design Honor Award - Residence, San Diego
AIA Design Honor Award - San Diego Wild Animal Park (Liebhardt, Weston,  Goldman)

Donald R. Goldman Residence (1969),