Chris W. Runge studied in an atelier of the San Francisco Architecture Club between 1928 and 1934 and graduated from the Harvard School of Architecture in 1935. Runge worked as a draftsman with Frederick Meyer, H.A. Minton, A.R. Williams, A.W. Earl, and Meyer & Evers. In 1954 he became a partner in the firm of Meyer & Evers and remained with its successor firms, including Ashley, Keyser & Runge.