Remembering Beverly Willis, FAIA (1928-2023)
Beverly Willis, FAIA (1928-2023)
Cynthia Phifer Kracauer AIA, Executive Director of the Beverly Willis Architecture Foundation, wrote in remembrance of Beverly Willis (1928-2023):
We share with deep sadness the passing of our dear founder, Beverly Willis FAIA, a titan in many fields, who showed us, among other lessons, that women can have many careers as they grow and find their true voices. Bev always wanted to be remembered for her work as an architect, but that was never enough for her: she became a real estate developer, an artist, an author, a producer and an impresario of intellectual activity creating institutes of study including BWAF, Beverly Willis Architecture Foundation, her most recent venture, which emerged first as a means for scholarly recognition of women in the building industry, but which became a vehicle for creating a more inclusive and equitable culture in those professions. She truly did encourage and inspire other women throughout her life, stiffening their backbones and opening a new chapter for their achievement.
The Beverly Willis Architecture Foundation website includes links to additional obituaries and tributes to Willis from numerous outlets. Read more.
Willis built her practice in San Francisco and made many notable contributions to the city. Some of our favorites include the Union Street Shops adaptive reuse (1965), Vine Terrace Apartments (renamed Nob Hill Court, 1973), San Francisco Ballet Building (1984), and Margaret Hayward Park Playground Building (c.1978-82, demolished).
Vine Terrace Apartments photograph © Wanda Bubriski. All others courtesy of Beverly Willis Archive.
