George Chandler Hatch

George Chandler Hatch was born in Melrose Highlands, Massachusetts on October 24, 1911. After securing his Bachelor’s of Architecture from MIT in 1935, Hatch eventually moved to the San Diego area and worked as Chief Draftsman for William Templeton Johnson (1945-1947).

Hatch would go on to form the architectural firms Johnson & Hatch (1948-1949); Johnson, Hatch, and Wulff (with Franz Victor Leonard Wulff) between 1950-1953. The firm continued to evolve into Wulff, Fifield & Associates (with the addition of Herbert Pray Fifield) (circa 1953-1969); and finally Hatch, Heimerdinger and Associates, Incorporated in 1969.

George served as President of the American Institute of Architects, San Diego Chapter (1950); Planning Commission of El Cajon (1952); a Member of the San Diego Chamber of Commerce (1970); as well as a Member of San Diegans, Incorporated (1970).

As yet to be considered a modernist, Hatch could be considered key to changes in local architecture - serving as a generational transition from the old guard to the new. As his partnership with Johnson waned, Hatch’s later firms and his recruitment of young talent changed the direction of the firm’s output. For example, architects Art Simpson and Joseph Gerber served the firm prior to their launching Simpson & Gerber Architects.

Partial List of Projects

Bird Rock Elementary School (1950)
*Designed by Johnson, Hatch, and Wulff

Café del Rey Moro & Dining Terrace Remodel
Balboa Park

Chula Vista Recreation Center (1955)
Chula Vista

City Administration Building (1960)
La Mesa

College Park Presbyterian Church (1952)
5075 Campanile Drive, College Area
*Designed by Johnson, Hatch, and Wulff

El Cajon Civic Center Group, (1954)
El Cajon
*Designed by Johnson, Hatch, and Wulff

Engineering Laboratory Building
San Diego State College (now university)
*Designed by Johnson, Hatch, and Wulff

Eugene Field Elementary School (1955)
*Designed by George C. Hatch

First National Bank (ca. 1958)
Oceanside
*Photographed by Julius Shulman

Hatch Residence (1960)
3745 Trudy Lane, Point Loma

Industrial Arts Building
San Diego State College (now University)
*Designed by William Templeton Johnson and George Chandler Hatch. Later remodel by Johnson, Hatch, and Wulff

Industrial Arts Building Addition (1956)
San Diego State College (now University)
*Johnson, Hatch, and Wulff

James Madison High School (1963)
San Diego

Old Globe Theatre addition and remodel (1966–1969)
Balboa Park, San Diego

Pacific Beach Junior High (1953)

Pacific Beach

Reuben H. Fleet Science Center and Planetarium
Balboa Park

San Diego Centre City Community Concourse, Administration Building (1963)
*Samuel W. Hamill with Wulff Hatch & Associates

San Diego City Administration Building (1964)
*With Victor L. Wulff & Herbert P. Fifield

San Diego City Hall
San Diego

San Diego City Operations Building (1970)
San Diego

San Diego County General Hospital (1963)
San Diego

San Diego County Water Authority Building (1968)
San Diego

San Diego Main Library (1954)
San Diego
*Johnson, Hatch, and Wulff. Original building was by Harold Abrams in 1935

San Diego State College Master Plan (1950)
*Johnson, Hatch, and Wulff

San Diego State College Training School (1953)
*Johnson, Hatch, and Wulff

Valencia Park Branch Library (1961)
101 50^th Street
*Designed by George C. Hatch

Vista Courthouse and Jail Complex
Vista

Western Salt Building (ca. 1958)
Chula Vista
*Photographed by Julius Shulman

YMCA - San Diego North Branch (1955)
San Diego