Gin Dan Wong

Architect Gin D. Wong was born in Guangzhou, China and entered the United States as 10 year old Jeen Dep Wong on January 1, 1932 at the port of Los Angeles. Gin was the fourth of nine siblings - his father ran a grocery store. In 1942, he graduated from John H. Francis Polytechnic High School and then attended Los Angeles City College (1942).

Changing his name to Gin Dan Wong, the young man served in the US Army Air Corps during World War II (1942-45), as a lead crew navigator and radar bombardier in B-29 bombers of the 20th Air Force.

In 1948, he married Louise Yvonne Tom – the daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Tom K. Lai. Working as Chief Designer for Daniel, Mann, Johnson & Mendenhall (1948-50), he graduated from the University of Southern California in 1950.

Mr. Wong worked for Pereira & Luckman between 1950-58. When the William Pereira and Charles Luckman ended their partnership, Gin went with the former and helped establish William L. Pereira & Associates. During is his time with Pereira, Wong likely contributed to San Diego projects by the firm(s).

Known for his work in Los Angeles – on the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), CBS Television City, Union Oil Center and Jack Colker’s Union 76 Gas Station in Beverly Hills – his connections to the Transamerica Building in San Francisco may be among his most memorable projects.

Launching Gin Wong Associates in 1974, the firm’s design for the Arco Tower in 1989 put his mark on the Los Angeles downtown skyline – and would add Gibraltar Savings to La Mesa’s built environment

Partial List of San Diego Projects

Gibraltar Savings & Loan (ca. 1978)
5270 Jackson Drive
*Photographed by Julius Shulman

Lai, Tom K. Residence (ca. 1957-65)
3872 Bandini Street, Mission Hills