Paul Revere Williams Architect.....February 10, 2024

Paul Revere Williams Los Angeles Airport Theme Building, 1961

Los Angeles Architect of Note: Paul Revere Williams, FAIA

Paul Revere Williams, an African American Architect, had a successful practice in the Los Angeles Area and designed many well-known buildings. He was born in 1894 and was an orphan by age 4 when both parents passed away from Tuberculosis. Despite these early setbacks, Williams went on to start his career, culminating in receiving posthumously the AIA’s highest award: the 2017 AIA Gold Medal.

He had early drawings skills early in life that propelled him to an architectural career. He attended University of Southern California architecture school and recieved his degree in Architectural Engineering in 1919.

He became a licensed architect in California in 1921 which also made him the first African American Architect west of the Mississippi River .

Mr. Williams first designed many traditional homes for many Hollywood stars and other clients. He went to also do commerical buildings and also designed post-war housing tracts and model homes for the growng middle class in the Los Angeles Area.

His most well known building and probably Los Angeles’ best known building is his Futuristic Mid Century Modern Theme Building at the Los Angeles International Airport. The building is the center piece of the airport and is cleary visible to millions of airport users from all over the World since 1961.

This newspaper items says it all about his Los Angeles career.

Willams designed Colonial style homes in Southern California community of Rolling HIlls, CA in the 1930’s

Mr. Williams, as most architects, was a product of histimes and his styles reflected the current state of architectural design—often changing to fit the period.

Back in the early 1900’s, architectural students were trained to learn of all the traditional styles (Colonial, Gothic, Classic) and learned when their use was appropriate.

I know of these first hand as I grew up in the area and had many friends that lived in Williams’ designed houses on Williamsburg Lane (see image above)

Later on, Mr. Williams design more contemporary housing designs. His 1960 housing development “Sea View” were designed in the Mid Century Modern style a style that reflected the Southern California way of life we all know about..

And yes…many of my high school friend lived in Sea View.

Williams Sea View designs were quite modern. The large glass windows faced Pacific Ocean views.

His firm also designed the US Navy base buildings in the Long Beach Naval Base.

And yes, I went to many functions held at the Officers Club for some High school functions since some of my friends’ fathers were officers in the Navy.

Officers C;lub sitting & lounge area, Naval Station Long Beach, CA