Yesterday, the American Institute of Architects (AIA) announced that they had awarded the 2017 Gold Medal to Paul Revere Williams. Despite the manic production rate of his five-decade-long career, those not familiar with the architecture of Hollywood?s early years might be forgiven for not recognizing Williams? name. But he is notable for having designed around 3,000 buildings, for being ?the architect to the stars? including, among many others, Frank Sinatra... and for being the first black member of the AIA.

La Concha Motel, Las Vegas, 1961. Image Courtesy of the AIA

Yesterday, the American Institute of Architects (AIA) announced that they had awarded the 2017 Gold Medal to Paul Revere Williams. Despite the manic production rate of his five-decade-long career, those not familiar with the architecture of Hollywood?s early years might be forgiven for not recognizing Williams? name. But he is notable for having designed around 3,000 buildings, for being ?the architect to the stars? including, among many others, Frank Sinatra... and for being the first black member of the AIA.
Courtesy of the AIA

The details of Williams? life, as an African-American providing a service to some of the richest and most powerful people in the country, are so astonishing that they often eclipse the details of his work. In learning about his life, one is likely to read a lot about how he learned to dr...