Don Goldman was born in St. Louis, Missouri and moved to San Diego in 1935. Following his tour of duty in the U.S. Army he studied architecture at Cal Poly, SLO under George Hasslein (between 1955-59). Upon returning to San Diego, Don worked for Paderewski, Mitchell & Dean and later for Deems Lewis. In 1964, he launched his own practice from an office in Lloyd Ruocco’s Design Center.
Don 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 1976. 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.
Adams Avenue Recreation Center
3491 Adams Avenue, North Park
Bank of America
Carlsbad
Biology Building - Building 2B (1969)
UC San Diego Muir College
*Designed by Liebhardt, Weston & Goldman
Bishop Residence (1967)
Laguna Seca, CA
*Designed by Liebhardt, Weston & Goldman
Bottle and Keg
6060 El Cajon Boulevard, College Area
*Features stained glass work by Ira Spector
Cardiac Catheterization (1967)
UC San Diego Medical Center
*Designed by Liebhardt, Weston & Goldman
Chula Vista Civic Center Remodel
276 Fourth Avenue, Chula Vista
Cochrane Residence Remodel (1968)
Location not known
*Designed by Liebhardt, Weston & Goldman
Crabtree Apartments (1967)
Pacific Beach
*Designed by Liebhardt, Weston & Goldman
Dental Office Building
337 West Madison Ave., El Cajon
Dental Office Building
1273 Las Flores Drive, Carlsbad
Fire Station
Location not known
*Designed while working for Deems Lewis
Goldman, Donald R. Residence (1969)
2451 Poinsettia Drive, Point Loma
*AIA Award Honor
Harris Offices & Bank Building (1969)
Downtown San Diego
*Designed by Liebhardt, Weston & Goldman
Hillcrest North Medical Center (1964)
550 Fifth Avenue, Hillcrest
*Designed while working for Deems Lewis
Home Federal
Ramona
Howe, Gerald & Elsie Residence (1983)
4560 Yerba Santa Drive, Alvarado Estates
Hultgren, Lee & Carolyne Residence (1970)
4970 Academy Street, Pacific Beach
Humanities & Classroom Bldg. (1975)
San Diego State University
*Designed by Liebhardt, Weston & Goldman
Intensive & Special Care (1968)
University Hospital, San Diego
*Designed by Liebhardt, Weston & Goldman
Jacobson Residence (1968)
5827 Overlake Avenue, Del Cerro
*Liebhardt Weston Goldman
La Jolla Country Day School Library & Playing Fields (1967)
9490 Genesee Avenue, La Jolla
*Designed by Liebhardt, Weston & Goldman
La Jolla Country Day School Science Addition (1969)
9490 Genesee Avenue, La Jolla
*Designed by Liebhardt, Weston & Goldman
La Jolla Methodist Church (1968)
6063 La Jolla Boulevard, La Jolla
*Designed by Liebhardt, Weston & Goldman
Lodge Residence (1967)
Pala
*Designed by Liebhardt, Weston & Goldman
Marine Biology (1974)
Scripps Institution of Oceanography
*Designed by Liebhardt, Weston & Goldman
Marine Research Library (1976)
Scripps Institute of Oceanography
*Designed by Liebhardt, Weston & Goldman
Mombasa Cooker at San Diego Wild Animal Park (1973)
San Pasqual Valley
*Designed by Liebhardt, Weston & Goldman
Muir College Recreation Gym (1972)
UC San Diego
*Designed by Liebhardt, Weston & Goldman
Nathan, C. George Residence (1962)
4422 Monaco Street, Ocean Beach
*Photographed by Bob Boyd
Newman, Howard & Ruth Residence (1970)
6321 Rancho Park Drive, Del Cerro
Northwest YMCA Gym (1967)
*Designed by Liebhardt, Weston & Goldman
Private Residence
Point Loma
*House remodel while working for Deems-Lewis earned an award from Sunset Magazine
Psychiatric Office Building for Furman, Shipman and Baran (1968)
6310 Alvarado Court, College Area
*AIA Award Honor
Rabin, Seymour Residence
Alvarado Estates
Recht, Rubin Residence (1963)
6363 Dwane, Del Cerro
*Designed by Liebhardt Weston Goldman
Ruselso Office Building (1963)
3003 Fourth Avenue, San Diego
*Designed while working for Deems Lewis
*Award of Merit from the AIA San Diego Chapter
San Diego Wild Animal Park (1973)
San Pasqual Valley
*Designed by Liebhardt, Weston & Goldman
San Diego Zoo - Food Service Addition & Staff Dining Room (1967)
San Diego Zoo
*Designed by Liebhardt, Weston & Goldman
San Diego Zoo Film Stand (1968)
San Diego Zoo
*Designed by Liebhardt, Weston & Goldman
Sea Lodge Hotel & Restaurant (1969)
8110 Camino Del Oro, La Jolla
*Designed by Liebhardt, Weston & Goldman
Santa Clara Boat Center
Mission Bay
Sloan Residence (ca. 1980)
14016 Mira Montana Drive, Del Mar
*Attribution direct from Mr. Goldman
Spring Valley Community Center
8735 Jamacha Blvd, Spring Valley
System Science & Software (1971)
Sorrento Valley Road, Sorrento Valley
*Designed by Liebhardt, Weston & Goldman
Tierrasanta Library
4986 La Cuenta Drive, Tierrasanta
TKE Fraternity House
San Diego State College
*While working for Deems Lewis
United States Naval Hospital Barracks (1968)
Balboa Park
*Designed by Liebhardt, Weston & Goldman
White Residence (1968)
4420 Ladera Street, Sunset Cliffs
*Designed by Liebhardt Weston Goldman
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)
Sign up for our newsletter and get exclusive content from Modern San Diego.
