Arthur Simpson grew up in Fort Bragg and attended Cal (1951-56) before relocating to San Diego and working in Tom Shephard’s office. Shortly thereafter, Art would work for Richard Wheeler, Frank Hope and Henry Hester. The firm of Simpson & Gerber Architects, founded in 1962, closed its doors in 1995 the year Joe Gerber died. UC San Diego’s Revelle College Provost’s Office is a career highlight.
Art Simpson grew up in Fort Bragg, California where, in high school, an aptitude test reported that a good career option for him was as an architect. He attended Cal (1951-56) where he signed up for ROTC and served at Fort Ord. Following graduation, with an appreciation of Le Corbusier’s work, he drove south to San Diego not long after interviewing at William Wurster’s office.
In 1956, his first job was in Tom Shephard’s office. Shortly thereafter, Art would gain experience in the offices of Richard Wheeler (alongside Gayne Wimer), Frank Hope and Henry Hester. Of the latter experience, Art would recall it was a place where “…every detail was a work of art.” He joined the San Diego chapter of the AIA in 1961.
Art’s partnership with Joseph Gerber 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.
Simpson & Gerber Architects closed its doors in 1995 the year Joe Gerber died 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 Hopsital 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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