Harold Barnard Zook

Harold B. Zook was born in Chicago on February 27, 1920 the only child of architect Roscoe Harold Zook and Mildred Belle Barnard. Harold married Joan shortly after graduating from high school and had three children. 

Zook started his career drafting for his father (between 1937-40) while studying at Cornell. After he secured his Bachelor of Architecture, in 1941, he then worked as a draftsman for Consoer, Townsend & Quinlan as well as Battey & Childs, Architects-Engineers (between 1941-1942). In 1942 he worked for Graham, Anderson, Probst & White, Architects (1942) and for Shaw, Naess and Murphy, Architects.

After his service in the US Naval Reserve (ca. 1944), Zook worked in the role of Designer for Clark and Frey, Architects in Palm Springs (between 1946-1947) before launching the Pasadena partnership with Harold J. Bissner, AIA as Bissner & Zook (1947-48) followed by Harold B . Zook, Architect (1948).

Several of Zook’s projects were featured in Architectural Record and Arts and Architecture through photographs by Julius Shulman. On a number of occasions his work was promoted in the Pasadena Star-News’ “Home of the Week” column.

In 1962, Zook moved his office to Corona Del Mar where he shared office space with Dick Pleger, AIA. While he designed a few buildings with Pleger, most of Zook’s designs after 1962 were solo efforts.

Partial List of Projects

Alhambra Friends Community Church Sanctuary (1954)
1209 South 7th Street, Alhambra, California
*Attribution by American Architects Directory

Biggar Furniture Store (1950)
Pomona, California
*Attribution by American Architects Directory

Boulevard Chevrolet Agency (1953)
Los Angeles, California
*Attribution by American Architects Directory

Cat Clinic
1986 East Foothill Blvd.

Civil Defense Center
Pasadena, California

Devol, H. P. Residence (1953)
730 Chester Avenue, San Marino, California
*Photographed by Julius Shulman

Griffith Residence (1948)
California

Gwinn’s Drive-In (ca. 1948)
Pasadena, California
*Photographed by Julius Shulman

Hacienda Gardens Housing
Pomona, California

Inspiration Heights Housing (1960) 
Joshua Tree, California
*Attribution by Esoteric Survey

Los Angeles County Girls and Boys Club of Pasadena (1953)
Pasadena, California
*Attribution by American Architects Directory; Girls Club by Zook was located at 3160 Blanche Street later on Del Mar Blvd.

Lynch Residence (1955)
10881 Willowcrest Place, Studio City, California
*Attribution by Forbes and Los Angeles Times

Myers House (ca. 1952)
Los Angeles, California
*Photographed by Julius Shulman

Pratt, Residence for Mr. & Mrs. Herbert (1962)
5309 La Granada, Rancho Santa Fe
*Attribution by house plans

Private Residence (1947)
7681 Willow Glen Rd, Los Angeles

Private Residence (1956)
1252 Inverness Drive, Pasadena

Private Residence (1955)
730 Chester Avenue, San Marino

Private Residence (1955)
1215 Wynn Road, Pasadena

Private Residence (1966)
32551 Azores Road, Dana Point

Private Residence (1955)
4500 Don Timoteo Drive, Los Angeles

Saga Motor Hotel (1959)
Pasadena
*Attribution by American Architects Directory

Tract Housing (1954)
Covina, California
*Attribution by American Architects Directory

Whitney Estates Housing
Altadena, California

Zook Residence (1951)
1125 Mesita Road, Pasadena