Joseph Gerber secured his BA in architecture from the University of Michigan and served in the US Navy (between 1951-55) before moving to San Diego. Joe worked for Lloyde Therkelsen, George Hatch (where he and Art Simpson worked together), as well as Tucker, Sadler & Bennett prior to, in 1962, opening Simpson & Gerber Architects. UC San Diego’s Revelle College Provost’s Office is a highlight.
Joe Gerber was born on October 5, 1930 in Rochester, New York. He secured his BA in architecture from the University of Michigan and served in the US Navy (between 1951-55) before moving to San Diego.
Joe worked for Lloyde Therkelsen prior to joining George Hatch’s office (where he and Art Simpson worked together). Following a stint with Tucker, Sadler & Bennett he reconnected with Art to create their own firm.
Joe’s partnership with Art Simpson as, Simpson & Gerber Architects, was founded in 1962. At the time their office was located at 7911 Herschel Avenue Suite #410.
Through the decades the firm enjoyed a number of residential commissions throughout San Diego (including the Oaks North tract in Rancho Bernardo) and a number of commercial projects (especially hospitals) across the U.S. According to Art, their office was the largest firm in San Diego during the peak of their hospital work. In 1968, the office raised local eyebrows when they voluntarily raised their staff’s wages 20%. The local chapter of the AIA held a special meeting to discuss the ramifications of this wage increase on other local firms. Fellow architects like Ward Deems reached out to the team to gain the backstory behind such unprecedented pay raises.
According to author Dirk Sutro, “Some of Simpson & Gerber’s best-known designs are clean-lined La Jolla beach houses covered with rustic wood siding, and the Revelle College Provost’s Office draws from their residential work.” The Revelle College Provost wanted a glass building, according to Mr. Simpson, as he “…did not want anything between he and the students [at a time of campus student uprisings].” Joe Gerber created a structural roof system so it could be wrapped in glass.
Following service to the local AIA chapter on its membership committee (1966-67), Joe Gerber served as the chapter's chairman in 1967. He died in 1995 of Alzheimer’s disease.
Armbruster, Frazier & Portia House (1967-68)
12812 Via Esperia, Del Mar
Delano Community Hospital (1969)
Delano, CA
Ellis Residence Addition (1962)
4551 South Lane, Del Mar
Pool-Cabana Addition to a house attributed to Lloyde Therkelsen (ca. 1959)
Gerber, Joseph Residence (1970)
421 Serpentine Drive, Del Mar
Kriege, Jack and Peggy Residence Remodel (1962)
2012 Santa Fe Avenue, Del Mar
Laguna Hills Convalescent Hospital (1969)
Laguna Hills
Masek Residence #1 (1967)
1439 Calle Altura, La Jolla
Masek Residence #2 (1972)
La Jolla Shores, La Jolla
Masek, Lois and George Residence
727 J Ave.
*unclear if this was built
Masek Residence
Costebelle Drive La Jolla
Demolished in the 1980s
Neeley Residence #1
Del Mar
Nuuanu Doctors Hospital and Clinic (1969)
Gerber served as Associate Architect with Wilson/Okamoto Architects & Engineers
Oaks North Housing (ca. 1979)
Rancho Bernardo
Private Residence (1978)
12911 Via Latina, Del Mar
Private Residence (1973)
8521 El Paseo Grande
AIA Award of Merit on 10/19/74,
Published in San Diego Magazine
November 1974
Revelle College Provost's Office (1967-68)
UC San Diego
Seven Lamps Office Building (1974)
Possibly at 7825 Ivanhoe
AIA Award, 1974. Published in San Diego Magazine – November, 1974
Simpson, Art Residence (1969)
4875 Academy Street
US Navy Barracks (1967)
San Diego
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