Ward Wyatt Deems

Architect Ward Deems, FAIA passed away in 2009, at the age of 79 in Bend, Oregon. Mr. Deems was born on the 16th of November, 1929 in Hollywood, California. Raised in Alhambra and Pasadena/Altadena, Ward graduated from Pasadena High School in 1947, and then Pasadena Community College in 1949. While still in high school he put himself on the path toward architecture – working in carpentry, framing, home building, and soon thereafter as draftsman with architects in Monrovia and Claremont while attending junior college.

Ward benefited most significantly from the guidance of USC School of Architecture faculty Calvin Straub, Conrad Buff, Donald Hensman, A. Quincy Jones, Gregory Ain, Garret Eckbo, Emmett Wimple, Harry Burge, and Verne Annis. While attending USC he designed and constructed a home in Altadena for a client with USC classmate Jack Causey. He graduated alongside his classmate (and future business partner) William Sperry ‘Bill’ Lewis in 1953 with a Bachelor of Architecture degree.

Ward worked as design assistant at Jay Dewey Harnish Architects in Ontario (1953-54), following which, in 1955, he earned his California Architect license. Between 1954-1959, Mr. Deems was employed by the Los Angeles firm of Albert C. Martin and Associates (for partners Albert C. Martin, Jr. and J. Edward Martin) along with Bill Lewis.

According to Mr. Deems, “My employment with AC MA provided me with an extraordinary opportunity to participate as lead architectural designer on several important projects (Rose Hills Memorial Park facilities, Whittier, CA; Orthopaedic Hospital, Los Angeles, CA.), followed by the position of Director of Business Development… The Martin firm was going through a period of growth while awaiting the two younger Martin sons, (David and Chris Martin, also from USC), to mature into the firm. Thus, several young graduates from USC were employed by the Martins and advanced into leadership positions of planning, design, practice and management… I was privileged to work directly with both of the Martin partners (Albert C. Martin, Jr., FAIA and J. Edward Martin, CE/SE) and thereby accelerated my education and experience as a practicing architect. I was appointed an Associate of the Firm in 1958. At the Martin office I met and became friends with William Sperry Lewis, Jr. (Bill) who was a lead designer on several Martin projects, including the Mission Valley Shopping Center project in San Diego… During 1958-59, I explored the potential of opening an office in San Diego since the possibility of becoming an owner-partner at the Martin firm was slim to none…I advised the Martins that I had decided to practice in San Diego. The Martins stated that they wished to retain me as a part of their expanding operation and suggested that they join in opening a San Diego office as they had previously begun this concept in other cities...”

In April 1959, a corporate agreement was signed to launch Deems-Martin Associates. At the time, Bill Lewis was completing the design of the May Company store in Mission Valley and agreed to join Deems in launching the new company. With financial and brand support from the AC Martin firm, they opened their office in the El Cortez Building – Ward being responsible for public relations and business development functions while Bill focused on design and project management. Within a few years, Bill became a co-owner and the firm became Deems Lewis Martin & Associates.

One of their earliest, most notable, and visible to the public, projects, the steel screen ensconced Crabtree Building (at 3rd & A Streets) was designed by Robert Jones (who would leave the firm to partner with Henry Hester).

In 1961, the firm Deems/Lewis & Partners worked its way through their first San Diego recession. Embracing the city-wide motto “Try San Diego First” they and other firms worked to keep clients from heading to Los Angeles to have their projects designed. The firm watched San Diego grow larger and more sophisticated. One important milestone was the shift of retail from downtown to Mission Valley as Walker Scott and Marston's folded – in part because of their design for Mission Valley shopping center.

“In 1967, Bill and I realized that the joint arrangement with the Martin brothers was not truly workable over time and, after prolonged negotiations and payments to acquire their shares of the corporate stock, the firm became Deems/Lewis & Partners. Subsequently the firm name became Deems Lewis McKinley Architects with the addition of John C. McKinley, AIA as a corporate owner,” Ward Deems added.

As the firm grew rapidly in its early years, many strong architects cut their teeth in the drafting room. Several of these architects would strike out on their own, or join other partnerships to put their stamp on San Diego’s built environment. Among these were Robert E. Jones (1960-61), Edward Malone, Donald Goldman (1962-64), Walt Conwell, Jerry Shonkweiler, John Stevenson, James A. Purcell, John McKinley, Neil Larson and Jack Carpenter.

Between the years 1959-1986, Ward Deems served the new firm as Senior Principal; President, Chairman of the Board; Principal-in Charge and designer of selected projects. His responsibilities ranged from business development-public relations and business management for the firm to assignments as Principal-In-Charge of selected projects while partner Bill Lewis concentrated exclusively on project management and project design. During the firm’s operations in San Diego it successfully sought a wide variety of design commissions for commercial, institutional and educational projects. In the beginning years the young firm’s association with the Martin firm enabled it to thrive.

Of the firm’s operational philosophy, Ward Deems offered, “Our firm’s commitment to its clients centered upon each project being assigned one of the firm’s two principals to oversee and/or plan and design the projects to their completion. A Team concept was instituted which included responsibility for all elements of planning and design including structural, mechanical, electrical, civil engineering, landscape architecture, interior design and graphics design. In addition to my personal design work, it was my approach to allow other employed designers the freedom to create the projects, subject to partner critique and comments from a peer Jury system.”

Ward Deems received his Fellowship in the American Institute of Architects College of Fellows in 1973. His involvement with the AIA included Secretary of the Pasadena Chapter AIA, President of the AIA San Diego Chapter (1963) and President of the AIA California Council (1975), along with serving on several Statewide and National AIA Committees. These activities resulted in meeting a number of prominent architects and firms around the country which led them to several successful joint venture projects.

Mr. Deems served as President of the San Diego Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIASD), President of the California Council of the AIA (AIACC) along with numerous local and national committees and volunteer efforts. In 1973, Ward Deems was inducted as a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects (FAIA) for his community and national contributions and for his enduring influence on the profession.

Partial List of Projects

Armand Hammer Research Facilities
Salk Institute
*Mentioned in Ward Deems' obituary

Carter-Higgins Insurance Building (1963)
3580 5th Street, San Diego
*Design by Ward Deems. Pictured in San Diego & Point Magazine (March, 1963, page 85)

Christ The King Lutheran Church (ca. 1959)
750 Medford Street, El Cajon
*Designed by Deems Martin Associates

Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints
5299 Trojan Avenue, San Diego

Cordura Publications
Scripps Ranch

Country Club Village (ca. 1959-60)
San Carlos
*The epicenter of the new development listed homes on Blue Lake Drive
at Lake Murray Boulevard and Jackson Drive, "Nine beautiful model homes
designed by Deems-Martin & Associates, Edward H. Fickett, and
Richard Leitch... Exciting interiors designed and furnished by C. Tony
Pereira, AID."(August 25, 1961, San Diego Union). Designed for Tavares Development Co.

Crabtree Office Building (1961)
Third Avenue and A Street
*Project Architect: Robert Jones, AIA; Honor Award, AIA San Diego Chapter

Deems, Ward Residence #1 (1963)
Paseo del Ocaso and Calle Frescota, La Jolla
Remodeled

Deems, Ward Residence #2 (1977)
2555 Caminito Viejo, La Jolla

El Cortez Convention Center (1960)
7th Avenue and Beech Street
*Award of Merit, AIA San Diego Chapter; Project Architect: Edward Malone, AIA

Financial Square - San Diego Federal Building (1972)
Sixth Avenue and ‘B’ Street, San Diego

Hillcrest North Medical Center (1964)
550 Fifth Avenue at Washington Street, San Diego
Building of the Year, San Diego Magazine

Humanities Library-Galbraith Hall (1965)
UCSD Revelle College, La Jolla
*Building of the Year, San Diego Magazine

Industrial Indemnity (1970-74)
3255 Camino del Rio South, San Diego
*AIA Honor Award (Phase 1);AIA Award of Merit (Phase 2), AIA San Diego Chapter

LKRD Medical Office Building (1970)
3260 3rd Street, San Diego
AIA Award of Merit, AIA San Diego Chapter

Mission Valley Center (ca. 1960)
San Diego

Northeast District Office San Diego County Department of Welfare (ca. 1963-1969)
5001 73rd Street, San Diego
*HHFA First Honor Award

Orr, Dr. & Mrs. Robert J. Residence (1960)
2382 Via Capri Court, La Jolla
*Award of Merit, AIA San Diego Chapter

Private Residence (circa 1953)
Upper Lake Avenue, Altadena
*On the left hand side of the road when driving north

Ruselso Office Building (1963) AKA Rubin, Seltzer & Soloman Building (1964)
3003 Fourth Avenue, San Diego
*Remodeled; Project Architect: Donald Goldman, AIA; Award of Merit, AIA San Diego Chapter

San Diego Convention Center
Mentioned in Ward Deems' obituary

San Diego County Welfare Office Building (1963)
HHFA First Honor Award

San Diego Federal Savings & Loan Association (1974)
600 B Street, San Diego

Security First National Bank (1964)
211 North Freeman Street, Oceanside

Torrey Pines High School (1976)
3710 Del Mar Heights Road, Del Mar
*Honor Award, Unit Masonry Association

U.S. Customs Station (1969)
San Ysidro

U.S. Navy Anti-Submarine Warfare School Mess Hall (1967)
Nimitz Blvd and Harbor Drive

U.S. Navy Enlisted Men’s Barracks (1964)
Anti Submarine Warfare School at Harbor Drive and Nimitz Blvd.
*AIA Honor Award, AIA San Diego Chapter

U.S. Post Office Facility (1972)
2535 Midway Drive, San Diego
AIA Award of Merit, AIA San Diego Chapter

Voigt, Mr. & Mrs. Melvin Voigt Residence for (1968)
1209 Crest Road, Del Mar