After Architectural School at Cal Poly, San Luis Obisbo, California, and a stint as an officer in Army Intelligence during the Viet Nam years, J.Spencer Lake worked in San Diego with Homer Delawie architect FAIA, Sim Bruce Richards architect AIA, Jim Hubbell architect/artist, Kendrick Bangs Kellogg architect, and Tucker Sadler Associates AIA prior to opening his own residential practice in 1980.  A hands-on architect with over 35 years experience, he is known for his award winning custom residential architecture and for restoration and preservation of historic architectural sites. His symposiums, public works and advocacy for quality design have been applauded from coast to coast. He is an expert in the life and works of the Frank Lloyd Wright dynasty and late noted local architect, Sim Bruce Richards AIA.  J.Spencer Lake centers his architectural practice on innovative design for new custom residential projects, remodeling, consultation, preservation and restoration.

Awards, Honors, and Recognition

AIA MERIT AWARD

American Institute of Architects San Diego Chapter, 1995 - Heller Residence - in recognition of Outstanding Design." the addition...so seamlessly at one with the character and spirit of the [Sim Bruce] Richards original...conveys the sense of an invisible architect at work." Rob Quigley FAIA

AIA CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION AND TWO AIA SPECIAL AWARDS
American Institute of Architects San Diego Chapter, 1987, for chairing Spark Forum, a citizen's roundtable concerning architecture and the quality of city life; 1985, for initiating and funding the monthly 1985 SPARK FORUM for which he served as moderator. "In recognition of a major contribution to expanding awareness and the advancement of architectural and urban design thinking in San Diego;" 1984, for book design and publishing: Nature in Architecture the Work of Sim Bruce Richards, AIA San Diego. " In recognition of extraordinary effort and dedication in focusing attention on a significant American Artist."

CIVIC AWARD
San Diego Educational Cultural Complex 20th Anniversary Celebration;Publicly recognized for the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Tapestry, May 1996.

February, 1983, Tapestry dedicated to Martin Luther King Jr. at a ceremony attended by Coretta Scott King,  "... the abstract art was created and contributed to the people of San Diego by J. Spencer Lake Architect AIA, in response to an appeal by Mayor [and later, California Governor] Pete Wilson." 

SAN DIEGO 44TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT CITIZEN OF THE MONTH
March, 1987, "… in grateful recognition of outstanding service to the community" presented by Congressman Jim Bates.

SAN DIEGO CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL COMMENDATION
May, 1986, "Recognizing J. Spencer Lake for renown in the field of...architecture, for sharing his progressive combination of art and architecture with his fellow San Diegans, and for his civic minded contributions."

J Spencer Lake AIA     6225 hobart street     san diego ca   92115     619.297.6300     info@jspencerlake.com