John Field (1930-2017)
Born in Minneapolis January 18, 1930 to Harold D Field and Gladys J Field, John Field holds a Bachelor of Arts (1952) and a Master of Architecture degree (1955), both from Yale University. Field has actively practiced architecture in San Francisco, starting as John L Field Architect in 1959, doing new and remodeled houses in San Francisco and the Bay Area including the first row house condominiums in the city. In 1968 he became a founding principal of Bull Field Volkmann Stockwell and the scope of his work increased in scale. In 1983 he became a founding principal of Field Gruzen Associated Architects, where he practiced until 1986 when he partnered with David Paoli as principals of Field Paoli Architects, from which he retired in 2000.
Field has been recognized as one of the country’s premier designers of urban in-fill retail, institutional and residential projects. His work includes Musto Plaza, one of the early remodeled warehouse buildings in San Francisco’s Jackson Square; The Rosston Townhouse Condominiums, an in-fill complex that is considered the first condominium townhouse project built in California; and Stanford Shopping Center, Stonestown Galleria, Corte Madera Towne Center, Broadway Plaza Renovation in Walnut Creek, Towne Center Napa, Paseo Nuevo in Santa Barbara and many other retail and mixed use centers. He has been one of the lead architects for the winning team in three competitions: The Design for a New Capital City for Alaska, The Downtown Redevelopment for Santa Barbara, and The Density—Myth and Reality design competition sponsored by the Boston Society of Architects which won a Citation of Excellence. John is also a filmmaker with two films about architecture: “Cities For People” and “The Urban Preserve” produced for KPBS public television in San Diego and shown on the full PBS network. He became an AIA Fellow in 1976 and in 2004 received the AIACC Lifetime Achievement Award which recognizes outstanding achievement in the architectural profession.
The Records of John L. Field contain one folder of awards and licenses but primarily consist of photographs and project records of his designs for a number his firms.
