Ratcliff Celebrates 100 Years of Distinguished Architecture

Ratcliff, the architectural firm that designed Mills College, Oakland Airport Terminal II, and dozens of Bay Area landmarks, celebrated its Centennial in 2006 with a series of public activities devoted to chronicling the firm’s distinguished history.

A recipient of the American Institute of Architects California Council Firm of the Year award, the East Bay firm was founded by Walter H. Ratcliff, who began his practice in 1906. It has grown to an organization of 75 design professionals with healthcare, academic and civic clients throughout the Western United States. As one of the nation’s longest continually-operating architectural firms, Ratcliff has evolved with the industry, from the days when architects inked their life-size sketches on long linen sheets to today’s thriving computerized practice illustrated by 3-D virtual image building models.

“We view the lasting influence our buildings have on their occupants as the strongest testament to our 100 years of practice,” said Christopher P. Ratcliff, AIA, the third-generation president of the Ratcliff firm. “Our primary focus is on the people who live, work, heal, and learn in our buildings. We take pride in the enduring value our buildings provide the communities they serve.”

Ratcliff was recognized with the Firm of the Year Award for an organizational culture rooted in a core set of values that began with Walter H. Ratcliff and have been carried on by his son Robert, his grandson Christopher, and the firm’s designers today. What began as a family enterprise has evolved into a dynamic group of architects who are driven by a sincere interest in helping others and are dedicated to improving the built environment through design excellence. Ratcliff offers a broad range of architecture, interior design and planning services to healthcare, academic and civic clients, choosing these practice areas for the opportunities they provide to interact with people at critical junctures in their lives.

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