Projects, News & People
MiraCosta Library Collage Learning Commons
We have completed a transformative renovation of MiraCosta College’s library into a cutting-edge learning commons. This project blends modern technology with flexible, collaborative spaces to create a dynamic academic environment.
Mammoth Holistics
Architects Mosher Drew worked with The Holistics Group to pair their brand of approachable and highly-educated wellness with a space that elevates the local ski culture.
Coronado Bridge
In the 60s, Robert Mosher was selected to design the aesthetic of the bridge to connect San Diego and Coronado while allowing Naval ships to pass underneath, as well as serve as a local landmark. His box girder proposal, concealing all braces and stiffeners, was deemed “the most expensive, but the best”. Fun fact: In the design process, he had to overcome a proposal to paint the iconic blue bridge as pink!
Architects Mosher Drew is in Calexico!
We are thrilled to announce the opening of our new satellite office in Calexico! Headed by Associate Gerardo MacAlpin, this expansion reflects our commitment to bringing local expertise and exceptional design even closer to our Imperial Valley clients.
We craft innovative solutions which enrich programmatic and sensory intent, engage the greater community and achieve tangible success.
Our founders
Robert Mosher, a native of Los Angeles, embarked on his architectural journey by attending The Art Center School at USC and the University of Washington, where he pursued his passion for architecture. Despite being drafted into the US Army during World War II and later discharged on medical grounds, Mosher eventually completed his degree in Seattle as the war drew to a close.
Roy Drew, hailing from Pasadena, laid the foundations of his career by earning a Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Arts from Stanford in 1936, followed by a Master’s in Architecture from Yale in 1941. With the world engulfed in the turmoil of World War II, Drew gained invaluable experience working for notable figures such as Myron Hunt and Henry J. Kaiser. After serving in the US Navy from 1942 to 1946, Drew returned to the architecture scene and crossed paths with Robert Mosher in Paul Haynes’ Los Angeles office.
By 1948, they established the firm Mosher and Drew, Architects. Initially focusing on residential and commercial projects in La Jolla ranging from garage remodels to storefronts, Mosher and Drew quickly captured the attention of the San Diego community with their blend of humanist and modernist architectural principles. Their work garnered recognition from various publications, catching the eye of the editor of House Beautiful magazine, Elizabeth Gordon. Impressed by Mosher’s early home designs, Gordon invited him to work for the magazine. Roy Drew supported this endeavor, allowing Mosher to take a sabbatical from the firm to serve as Building Editor for the national publication. During this time, Mosher had a transformative experience living with Frank Lloyd Wright at Taliesin in Spring Green, WI, leaving an indelible mark on his architectural vision.
Robert Mosher – Art Center
The firm continued to evolve with the addition of talents like Bill Watson and Bill Ferguson, expanding their portfolio to include larger projects that firmly embedded Mosher Drew Watson Ferguson into the architectural landscape of San Diego. Notable achievements during this period included the master plan for UCSD’s John Muir College, the SDSU AztecCenter, the San Diego Fine Arts Gallery, and All Soul’s Episcopal Church in Point Loma. Additionally, Robert Mosher served as the consulting Design Architect for the iconic Coronado Bridge, further solidifying the firm’s reputation for excellence and innovation.
Legacy
Architecture is a shared endeavor.
Since its inception in 1948, Mosher and Drew, Architects’ early work was primarily commissions in La Jolla ranging from garage remodels, additions, signage, fencing, storefronts, houses, and any other work they were able to secure. Notable clientele such as Gordon Gray, Herbert Kunzel, and James Copley soon became patrons of their innovative designs, garnering attention from national publications.
Green Dragon Colony Office
Jack Borcher Residence
Coronado Bridge
With the addition of Bill Watson and Bill Ferguson to the firm, Mosher Drew Watson Ferguson expanded its horizons, securing larger-scale projects that have become the cornerstone of our legacy portfolio. Among these notable achievements are:
– La Jolla Art Center (later the LaJolla Museum of Art)
– UCSD Muir College Applied Physics and Mathematics
– SDSU Aztec Center (later the StudentUnion)
– Bank of La Jolla Building
– San Diego Fine Arts Gallery, West Wing(later the San Diego Museum of Art)
– Coronado Bridge
San Diego Museum of Art
“The firm believes that superior architecture when practiced with integrity, is capable of contributing to the higher aspirations of man and to the improvement and protection of the environment” – Robert Mosher.
“For many years, there was a small sign mounted over the entrance to the drafting room which read: We believe that the environment should reflect the warmth and unique quality of the human spirit. To the degree that man can accomplish this aim, so will he expand his total resources in our complex contemporary world.” – Robert Mosher
SDSU Aztec Center
UCSD Muir College Applied Physics &Mathematics
Over the years, Mosher Drew has been guided by strong leadership, ensuring our continued success and innovation
- Robert Mosher, FAIA
- Roy Drew, AIA
- William Watson, AIA
- William Ferguson, AIA
- Larry Hoeksema, AIA
- Don Leonard, AIA
- Jack Carpenter, FAIA
- Neil Larson, AIA
- Paul Lorhan, AIA
- William Magnuson, AIA
- Benjamin V. Meza, AIA, LEED AP
- Edward M. Holakiewicz, AIA
- Daniel Dubrow, AIA
- Eric Soldau, AIA, LEED AP, DBIA
- Victor Navarro, AIA, NCARB
- Alahe Aldo, AIA, LEED AP
- Kristi Byers, AIA, LEED AP BD&C
At Architects Mosher Drew, our legacy of excellence is a testament to the dedication and expertise of our team, past and present.
Timeline
