Henry Filmar Bugenhagen

Henry Bugenhagen was born on May 10, 1919 in Minot, North Dakota. His father, George H. Bugenhagen, was a self-taught architect, structural engineer and patent inventor. As a young man, Henry moved to San Diego and on July 22, 1939 he married Charlene Yvonne Malone who he had met in El Centro where his Aunt Re and Uncle Bil lived. During the War Charlene and Henry were coworkers at Convair Aircraft Manufacturing Company where Henry was an assembly inspector. After the War they stayed in San Diego and had two sons, Bill and Tom.

Henry's choice to become involved in the design and construction of buildings was a logical choice as he had learned about this profession from his father while growing up. Initially, he was a carpenter for Henry Wheeler. By 1948, Henry had acquired professional relationships, including with the Callahan Brothers, and opened a small office on Turquoise Street in Pacific Beach producing residential designs while continuing his carpentry work. It was about this time that he met R.J. Stinkorb, a San Diego developer who recognized his talent and was influential in getting Henry his early design commissions.

By 1951, Henry opened his office at 5632 La Jolla Boulevard where he worked for the next 29 years. The staff eventually reached six persons and produced a significant amount of work.

Around 1980, Henry relocated the office to 4536 Cass Street in Pacific Beach. The building had been a medical clinic he had designed for Marshall P. Wees, M.D. He worked out of this location until July, 1993 when he retired.

Henry's office produced designs for over 750 projects, including 38 custom residences primarily in La Jolla and the greater San Diego area, tract homes that led to the construction of over 18,000 units, about 50 industrial buildings, as well as apartment buildings, condominiums, restaurants, retail and office buildings.

Henry was also a licensed general contractor and built customs homes and commercial buildings. Most projects were located in San Diego, but there were also projects elsewhere in California, Nevada, New Mexico, Colorado, Texas and Maryland.

Early in his career, Henry was a member of The American Designers Guild (ADG). He later became a member of The American Institute of Building Design (AIBD) and served as President of the San Diego and national chapters. Having started out as a carpenter and draftsman, Henry went on to become a registered building designer, certified architect and general contractor. His architect's license was awarded by California Governor Deukmejian for lifetime achievement.

Partial List of Projects

3-Unit Apartment Building
Riviera Drive, Pacific Beach

6-Unit Apartment Building
Neptune Place

20-Unit Condominium Building
6th & Thorn Streets, San Diego

Anthony's Fish Grotto & Star of the Sea Room
Construction Supervision on Liebhardt & Weston project
*Demolished

Arendsee, Residence Remodel for Mr. & Mrs. R.W. (ca. 1971)
Rancho Santa Fe

Barringer, Mr. & Mrs. W.G .3-Unit Apartment Building. (1951)
Escondido

Brotherton, T.W. Residence
Location not known

Bugenhagen, Henry F. ADG Office
5632 La Jolla Boulevard, La Jolla

Bugenhagen, Residence & Garage for Mr. Mrs. H.F. (1948-49)
3541 Promontory Street, Pacific Beach

Burton Place 27-Unit Apartment Building for Lloyd Burton (1962)
733 Kline Street, La Jolla

Capra, Frank Residence
Location not known

Collins, H.R. 22-Unit "Country Club" Apartment Building (1963)
La Jolla

Courtney, Edward M.D. Residence
Location not known

Dimarzio, Residence & Garage for Mr. Mrs. R.D.
Santa Fe, New Mexico

Dore Residence
Location not known

Elevation Drawing of Modern House (1931)
Unclear if this was built

Elevation Drawing of Modern Fire Hall (ca. 1931)
Unclear if this was built

Ferris, Henry H. Residence
Location not known

Four Winds World Headquarters
Campus Point

Ghio, Residence for Mr. & Mrs. Anthony Residence (1962)
San Diego area location not known

Grand Avenue Retail & Professional Center
Pacific Beach

Hervey, James E. Residence
Location not known

Hunke Residence
La Jolla

La Jolla Rattan Mfg. Co. Additions (1957)
Possibly at 1180 Morena Boulevard

Langsdorf, Gordon Residence
Location not known

Mary Star of the Sea Business Office
7669 Girard Avenue, La Jolla

McCoy, C.S. DDS Residence (1954)
La Jolla

Medical and Dental Clinic for Marshall P. Wees MD (1952)
Pacific Beach

Mercedes-Benz of San Diego
Location not known

Mission Bay Chapel & Pacific Beach Mortuary
Pacific Beach

Prouty, Phineas Jr. 3-Unit Apartment Building
Location not known

Puterbaugh, Rex & Polly Residence (ca. 1960)
La Jolla

San Diego BCA Builder Magazine
Location not known

San Diego Teamsters Union Office and Hall (1964)
Mercury and Dagget streets, Clairemont

Scott, C.R. Residence (1968)
La Jolla

Smith, Earl Store Building
Location not known

Spec House
Promontory Street, Pacific Beach

Stinkorb, R.J. Apartment Building
Location not known

Stinkorb, R.J. Adobe Residence (1952)
Near Windandsea, La Jolla

Strep, Alexander Residence
Location not known

Trudersheim 4-Unit Bayard St. Apartment Building
Location not known

Wees, Marshall P. M.D. Medical Clinic (1952)
4536 Cass Street, Pacific Beach

Wilson, James G. Residence (1963)
La Jolla

Young, Douglas Jr. Residence
Location not known

Zarkos, George Fisherman's Wharf Café
Location not known