Celebrating African American Achievements - Paul R. Williams, FAIA

Celebrating African American Achievements

Please join us in attending an architectural tour of residential and commercial designs of renowned California Architect Paul R. Williams, FAIA.

Paul Revere Williams who was one of the foremost architects of Southern California, producing an almost incredible number of buildings over a career which spanned almost sixty years. During that exceedingly productive career Williams designed over 2,000 private residences and many major buildings both in Southern California and elsewhere.

Among the Los Angeles buildings and projects designed (completely or in part) by Williams are the Shrine Auditorium, Los International Airport themed futuristic restaurant Encounter, Franz Hall - UCLA, Los Angeles County Hall of Administration, Los Angeles County Court House, Hollywood YMCA, Saks Fifth Avenue - Beverly Hills, Beverly Hills Hotel and the MCA Building of Beverly Hills. Outside of California, Williams designed the United Nations Building - Paris.

Williams designed homes for such Hollywood luminaries as Lon Chaney, Lucille Ball, Frank Sinatra, Anthony Quinn, and Zsa Zsa Gabor, as he earned the title of "Architect of the Stars"

The guided bus and walking tour is scheduled to take place on Saturday February 27, 2010 at 9:00 AM and conclude at the Beverly Hills Hotel for lunch and lively discussion.

For further information regarding the Fourth Annual Paul R. Williams African American Heritage Month Architectural Tour-

Please contact:
Lynell Washington, AICP (818) 585-9255
Rhoden D. Skyles II, AIA (213) 703-7565

A donation of $30.00 will help in defraying transportation expenses/ Students half price

Celebrate African American Heritage Month
Take a historical journey during African American Heritage Month by touring the architectural designs of renowned Southern California Architect Paul R. Williams, FAIA. This is the fourth year of the event and it has been well attended by other design professionals and those interested in eloquent, traditional architecture. Last year the tour was narrated by architect Rhoden Skyles and urban planner Lynell Washington. The architectural tour covered Paul R. Williams' commercial designs such as the Wilshire Rodeo Building (Nike Town) - Est. 1939, Saks Fifth Avenue Store - Est. 1939, Beverly Hills Hotel - Est. 1911 and the Music Corporation of America Est. - 1940.

There were several residential designs of interest incorporated along the tour route. One such location was in prestigious Hancock Park on North McCadden Place - Est. 1920, where Paul R. Williams designed three homes for the same client, at a construction price of $16, 000 each with a 5% design fee. On the final leg of the residential design route the initial tour group was fortunate to meet Paul R. Williams' granddaughter, Karen E. Hudson, entering her grandfather's home in Lafayette Square (Crenshaw District). She was kind enough to give us a personal tour of the interiors and grounds, in addition to some personal insights regarding her Grandfather.

What made this tour interesting and an invaluable learning experience cannot be entirely attributed to his accomplishments as just an architect, who happens to be the first African American admitted into the AIA College of Fellows, but rather, one has to be astonished at the man who, as an African American overcame significant social economic barriers during a tumultuous time in our nation's history. Paul R. Williams, FAIA, the architect, was indeed the quintessential embodiment of "elegant traditionalism". He will always be remembered as a great man of color, a great American.

For more information, please contact:
Rhoden D. Skyles II, AIA
Associate
NADEL COMMERCIAL, INC.
1990 So. Bundy Drive, Fourth Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90025
P. 310.826.2100 ext. 270
F. 310.826.0182

Last Updated: February 10, 2010