Don Gibbs – 2013 Modern Masters Award
Don Gibbs, architect (active from 1961-present)
Donald Gibbs, FAIA is the son of architect Hugh Gibbs FAIA who opened his office, Gibbs and Miller, in 1934.
After studying Architecture at USC, working with several other firms, and completing a stint in the Navy, Don joined his father in the practice in 1960, and became a partner in 1963, spearheading the design of the Gibbs and Gibbs office building.
Their firm, Gibbs and Gibbs, built many projects such as Navy Regional Medical Center in San Diego; Long Beach Navy Hospital; the VA Biological Research Building in Long Beach; Walter Pyramid, Psychology Building, Music Complex, School of Dance and Theaters at California State University, Long Beach; Warner Brothers Records building in Burbank; various elementary, intermediate, and high schools; court houses, post offices, banks, and city halls of Long Beach and Downey; transportation facilities; and city service buildings.
Don received a Record House Award in 1963 for his house, the Gibbs House, in addition to 20+ AIA Chapter Awards for the firm. He worked with his father until he died in 1990. Don continued on in his own successful practice while finding time to design and build a custom sailboat and sail it all over the world with Donna, his wife of 57 years, and create wonderful art sculptures and painting that now fill his studio. Their son Kurt Gibbs, AIA, took over the firm and is now in practice.