William Hefner Architect
Principal
As a principal, William Hefner leads the office in the design of a wide variety of projects. He is the center of the project team and is the principal designer and managing project architect for every commission. While working closely with each team member, he manages the efforts of the entire team, carrying projects from inception to completion. Mr. Hefner received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Art History in 1977 from Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon (including a year of study in Greece.) He went on to receive hisMaster of Architecture degree at University of California, Los Angeles, during the tenure of Charles Moore, in 1981. Mr. Hefner has been a registered architect in the State of California since 1984. From 1981 to 1989 Mr. Hefner was a Senior Designer and Associate Architect for the firm of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill in Los Angeles, where he played a major role in the design of many projects. Included in these projects are Hughes Aircraft Headquarters in Marina Del Rey, Getty Oil Tower in Universal City Plaza, Columbia Savings Building in Beverly Hills, the Asian Development Bank located in Manila, the Philippines, and the Southern California Gas Company's new Headquarters in downtown Los Angeles. In 1985, Mr. Hefner began undertaking design commissions independent of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. After a series of successfully completed projects, he opened his own architectural firm in 1989. Projects of note include: a major remodeling and addition of a Paul Williams house in Bel-Air; the opening of a new fast food concept in Irvine, and a new interior for a Beverly Hills high-rise condominium, featured in Metropolitan Home Magazine. Mr. Hefner's residential work has included a wide range of multi-family housing complexes for both low and high income markets, and large custom houses. Active in the American Institute of Architects, Los Angeles Chapter, Mr. Hefner participated in the Design Awards Committee as Co-Chairman in both 1987 and 1988. In 1988, he was elected by his fellow members to serve a two-year term as a Director of the Chapter. Since 1990, Mr. Hefner has been involved with the Chapter's Small Practice Committee, first as Co-Chairman and subsequently as Chairman.
The Office
William Hefner founded his architectural office in Los Angeles in 1989. The office was founded with the intent of bringing the discipline and quality of commercial modernism to smaller projects. The projects executed in the office have included private residences, office and residential interiors, restaurants, condominium residences, and retail buildings. The office has a strong commitment to design excellence. We believe that each project should have unique architectural character which evolves from and draws upon the special circumstances surrounding its design: the aspirations and requirements of the client, the opportunities of the site, and the physical and economic context. By maintaining a small practice, we assure both high quality architectural services and great degree of personal attention for each project in the office. The principal, William Hefner, AIA, is personally involved in all phases of every project and develops the design in close coordination with the owner, our staff and the project team. The office has achieved considerable success in developing unique design solutions. Although varied in style and project type, the work is marked by a quest for timeless elegance, an appreciation of the craft of building and the use of natural materials. A keen interest in interior space has led to design methodology of working from the inside to the outside of the building. In addition to projects in California, the office has designed projects in New York; Washington, D.C.; Sun Valley, Idaho; and Seoul, Korea. Recent projects include five completed townhouse condominium projects in Westwood with a sixth, in the same area, to begin construction in the fall of this year. Currently in the office are a variety of office interiors projects, development of a drive-thru fastfood proto-type, and the architectural and interior design of several large homes.
