Following graduation from USC in 1952, Ladd worked for Pereira & Luckman before opening his own firm Thornton Ladd & Associates. By 1958, Ladd partnered with architect, and USC classmate, John Field Kelsey - Ladd & Kelsey was based in Pasadena. The firm is most well known for their design of the Pasadena Art Museum.
Thornton Ladd was born in Portland, Oregon on January 29, 1924. He attended the University of Southern California where he graduated with his bachelor’s degree in architecture in 1952. He was a designer for Pereira & Luckman for two years from 1952 to 1954. In 1954, Ladd opened his own firm Thornton Ladd & Associates. By 1958, Ladd entered into a partnership with architect, and USC classmate, John Field Kelsey. For many years Ladd & Kelsey was based in Pasadena. The firm is well-known for the design of the Pasadena Art Museum (which became the Norton Simon Museum circa 1974) as well as private residences throughout Los Angeles County.
Annandale Country Club (1978)
Pasadena
Bear, Donald House (1955)
Santa Barbara
Bridge House (1979)
819 Las Palmas Road, Pasadena
Busch Gardens (1966)
Van Nuys
CalArts
4700 McBean Parkway, Valencia
First Methodist Church (circa 1966)
La Verne
Herrick Memorial Chapel
Occidental College
Hilltop House (Home for Ladd's mother) (1949)
Pasadena
Kelsey, John Residence (1962)
1160 Chateau Road, Pasadena
Ladd, Thornton Studio & Residence (1951)
Pasadena
Lyon, W. Parker Residence (1948)
May Co. Department Stores
Mineral King Ski Resort (circa 1978)
*Unbuilt design for a resort near Sequoia National Park
Pasadena Art Museum (later the Norton Simon Museum) (1969)
Pasadena
Private Residence
13980 Midvale Drive, Whittier
Private Residence (1956)
1211 Laurel Way, Beverly Hills
Private Residence (1957)
Santa Barbara
Prospect Center (1965)
1020 Prospect, La Jolla
*Ladd & Kelsey Architects; Published in San Diego & Point - March 1966
Research Institute on Communist Strategy and Propaganda (1963)
USC Campus
Residence Towers
Claremont McKenna College
Student Activities Complex
USC campus
Stuft Shirt Restaurant (1961)
2241 West CoRast Highway, Newport Beach
*Ladd & Kelsey Architects
Tompkins, Elise Residence (1962)
40941 Thunderbird Road, Rancho Mirage
*Ladd & Kelsey Architects
Wolff Residence (1958)
2400 Carman Crest Drive, Hollywood Hills
Sign up for our newsletter and get exclusive content from Modern San Diego.
