Herman O. Ruhnau
Encyclopedia
Herman O. Ruhnau was a Postmodern
architect
who founded the firm Ruhnau, Runau, and Clarke. Ruhnau primarily designed buildings in Southern California
, particularly the Inland Empire region.
, but also lived in Pasadena, California
, and then Riverside, California
where he graduated from Riverside's Poly High School
in 1928. He studied architecture at the University of Southern California
and served as an architect in the United States Navy
during World War II
. After the war he settled in Riverside where in the 1950s he founded the architectural firm known today as Ruhnau, Ruhnau, and Clarke.
Ruhnau made many contributions to Southern California's Inland Empire. Since the 1950s he designed many of the region's homes, libraries, banks, schools, churches, and government facilities. Some of his most notable projects include: Riverside City Hall, Riverside County Administrative Center, Sherman Indian High School
, downtown Riverside's Main Street pedestrian mall, and the Corona Naval Hospital. Ruhnau also designed a colonial-style mansion in Rubidoux
in 1955 for restaurant owner and horse breeder Tiny Naylor that is now the headquarters of the Riverside County parks department.
In 1974 Ruhnau was inducted into the College of Fellows by the American Institute of Architects
. He received a lifetime achievement award from the AIA Inland Chapter in April, 2006.
Postmodern architecture
Postmodern architecture began as an international style the first examples of which are generally cited as being from the 1950s, but did not become a movement until the late 1970s and continues to influence present-day architecture...
architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
who founded the firm Ruhnau, Runau, and Clarke. Ruhnau primarily designed buildings in Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
, particularly the Inland Empire region.
Biography
Ruhnau was the son of a German artist and was born in Santa Barbara, CaliforniaSanta Barbara, California
Santa Barbara is the county seat of Santa Barbara County, California, United States. Situated on an east-west trending section of coastline, the longest such section on the West Coast of the United States, the city lies between the steeply-rising Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean...
, but also lived in Pasadena, California
Pasadena, California
Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
, and then Riverside, California
Riverside, California
Riverside is a city in Riverside County, California, United States, and the county seat of the eponymous county. Named for its location beside the Santa Ana River, it is the largest city in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario metropolitan area of Southern California, 4th largest inland California...
where he graduated from Riverside's Poly High School
Riverside Polytechnic High School
Riverside Polytechnic High School is a four-year public high school in Riverside, California, United States, and part of the Riverside Unified School District...
in 1928. He studied architecture at the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
and served as an architect in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. After the war he settled in Riverside where in the 1950s he founded the architectural firm known today as Ruhnau, Ruhnau, and Clarke.
Ruhnau made many contributions to Southern California's Inland Empire. Since the 1950s he designed many of the region's homes, libraries, banks, schools, churches, and government facilities. Some of his most notable projects include: Riverside City Hall, Riverside County Administrative Center, Sherman Indian High School
Sherman Indian High School
Sherman Indian High School is an off-reservation boarding high school for Native Americans. Originally opened in 1892 as the Perris Indian School, in Perris, California, United States, the school was relocated to Riverside, California, in 1903, under the name The Sherman Institute...
, downtown Riverside's Main Street pedestrian mall, and the Corona Naval Hospital. Ruhnau also designed a colonial-style mansion in Rubidoux
Rubidoux, California
Rubidoux was a census-designated place and an unincorporated community in Riverside County, California, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 34,280, up from 29,180 at the 2000 census. Like much of the fast-growing Inland Empire Metropolitan Area, Rubidoux is rapidly changing...
in 1955 for restaurant owner and horse breeder Tiny Naylor that is now the headquarters of the Riverside County parks department.
In 1974 Ruhnau was inducted into the College of Fellows by the American Institute of Architects
American Institute of Architects
The American Institute of Architects is a professional organization for architects in the United States. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the AIA offers education, government advocacy, community redevelopment, and public outreach to support the architecture profession and improve its public image...
. He received a lifetime achievement award from the AIA Inland Chapter in April, 2006.