Fisher, Lake & Traver was an architecture firm based inFresno andLos Angeles,California. It was the successor toShields, Fisher and Lake, based in Fresno. Three of their buildings (Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel,The Willmore, andWestward Ho) have been entered into theNational Register of Historic Places.
H. Rafael Lake | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1894-02-09)February 9, 1894 |
| Died | August 9, 1958(1958-08-09) (aged 64) |
| Education | University of California, Berkeley, 1913 B.S.,Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1916 |
| Occupation | Architect |
| Practice | Shields, Fisher and Lake Fisher, Lake & Traver Lake and Hastrup |
H. Rafael Lake was born in 1894 inSan Rafael, California and grew up in thebay area. He started college at theUniversity of California, Berkeley in 1913 and completed hisundergraduate degree inarchitecture atMassachusetts Institute of Technology in 1916.[1][2]
After graduating andWorld War One military service, Lake moved toNew York, where he worked withCass Gilbert from 1918 to 1923. In 1923, Lake moved toFresno, California after receiving a commission to design the Hotel Californian. In 1924, he partnered with Fisher and Shields to create Shields, Fisher and Lake, and in 1925, Traver replaced Shields to create Fisher, Lake & Traver. For the latter, Fisher and Traver manned the firm's Los Angeles office while Lake manned its Fresno office.[1][2]
Post Fisher, Lake & Traver, Lake partnered with William Hastrup, then with Elso Di Luck.[2]
Harrison B. Traver | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1881-12-02)December 2, 1881 |
| Died | March 4, 1973(1973-03-04) (aged 91) |
| Education | B.Arch.University of Pennsylvania, 1906 |
| Occupation | Architect |
| Practice | Coates and Traver Fisher, Lake & Traver |
Harrison B. Traver was born in 1881 inHudson, New York and completed hisundergraduate degree inarchitecture at theUniversity of Pennsylvania in 1906. From 1907 to 1911, he worked as adraftsman forPaul Cret andHarvey Wiley Corbett and was a Staff Architect inCalifornia. In 1911, he partnered with William Demmond Coates Jr., and in 1912, they gained statewide attention when their proposal for aSan Francisco City Hall design competition took second prize. The partners moved to Fresno in 1914, where they designed Liberty Theatre,Fresno High School,Hanford High School, andPorterville High School.[3][4]
In 1925 Traver replaced Shields at Shields, Fisher and Lake to create Fisher, Lake & Traver, where Fisher and Traver manned the firm's Los Angeles office while Lake manned its Fresno office. Post Fisher, Lake & Traver, Traver partnered with Theodore Jacobs, then he practiced alone.[2][4]
In 1924, Fisher partnered with Shields and Lake to create Shields, Fisher and Lake, and in 1925 Traver replaced Shields to create Fisher, Lake & Traver.[5] For the latter, Fisher and Traver manned the firm's Los Angeles office while Lake manned its Fresno office.[2]
In 1924, Shields partnered with Fisher and Lake to create Shields, Fisher and Lake, and in 1925, he was replaced by Traver.[5]
Shields, Fisher and Lake built the Wilson Theatre inFresno, California.[6]
Fisher, Lake & Traver are known for their works the southwest United States, particularly inFresno and in and aroundLos Angeles. Their notable works include (in California unless otherwise noted):
