Dan Palmer & William Krisel

William Krisel was born in Shanghai in 1924, a city his father had moved to with his work for the State Department. In 1937 the family returned to California where a young William would learn of Lillian Rice and Frank Lloyd Wright to name but a few influential architects of the era. Following his graduation from Beverly Hills High School in 1941, the 16 year-old entered USC’s School of Architecture, only to be interrupted by the U.S.’s entry into World War II. Following he war, in 1946 Krisel returned to his studies on the GI Bill. Here his mentors would be Cal Straub, Raphael Soriano and Garrett Eckbo. Alongside his studies the young apprentice worked in the offices of Paul Lazlo and Victor Gruen and joined in partnership with Dan Saxon Palmer.

The promising architect graduated from USC in 1949, obtained his license in 1950, and hung out his shingle with Palmer. At the outset the firm of Palmer and Krisel, A.I.A. Architects designed custom homes and commercial projects prior to investing their time in Los Angeles area tract homes.

As early as 1952 Palmer & Krisel’s system of modular post and beam construction proved popular and effective. 179 units of contemporary design later and Claremont Village was born. After years of success in Los Angeles, Palm Springs and Borrego Springs, the firm designed the Loma Palisades Apartments and a number of residential tracts throughout San Diego. By 1961 architect Krisel began his efforts in local high rise developments with the 24-story Kahn Building – within which the firm would house their San Diego office – before dissolving the partnership in 1964. Krisel may be most noted, locally, as the designer of the ten 15-story towers comprising Coronado Shores Condominiums adjacent to the Hotel Del.

Partial List of San Diego Projects

Commercial Building
5952 El Cajon Blvd

University City tract housing
On Stresemann, Lamas, Gobat, and Lord Cecil streets

North La Jolla tract housing
O n La Jolla Scenic Drive North, Sugarman, Kilbourn and Cranbrook streets  

College Area tract housing
On Baja Drive, Baja Court, Airoso Avenue, Bromley Court and Dartford Way

Pacifica Tract
On Pacifica Drive, San Aquario Drive, San Joaquin Drive and Loring Streets Kahn Building (1961)

Coronado Shores Condominiums