Born in Minneapolis January 18, 1930 to Harold D. Field and Gladys J. Field, John Field holds a Bachelor of Arts (1952) and a Master of Architecture degree (1955), both from Yale University. Field has actively practiced architecture in San Francisco, starting as John L Field Architect in 1959, doing new and remodeled houses in San Francisco and the Bay Area including the first row house condominiums in the city. In 1968 he became a founding principal of Bull Field Volkmann Stockwell and the scope of his work increased in scale. In 1983 he became a founding principal of Field Gruzen Associated Architects, where he practiced until 1986 when he partnered with David Paoli as principals of Field Paoli Architects, from which he retired in 2000. Field has been recognized as one of the country's premier designers of urban in-fill retail, institutional and residential projects. His work includes Musto Plaza, one of the early remodeled warehouse buildings in San Francisco’s Jackson Square; The Rosston Townhouse Condominiums, an in-fill complex that is considered the first condominium townhouse project built in California; and Stanford Shopping Center, Stonestown Galleria, Corte Madera Towne Center, Broadway Plaza Renovation in Walnut Creek, Towne Center Napa, Paseo Nuevo in Santa Barbara and many other retail and mixed use centers. Field led the way in revitalizing downtown Walnut Creek, Napa, and Santa Barbara, with theaters, offices, art galleries and department stores. He has been one of the lead architects for the winning team in three competitions: The Design for a New Capital City for Alaska, The Downtown Redevelopment for Santa Barbara, and The Density—Myth and Reality design competition sponsored by the Boston Society of Architects which won a Citation of Excellence. John is also a filmmaker with two films about architecture: "Cities For People" and "The Urban Preserve" produced for KPBS public television in San Diego and shown on the full PBS network.

Field has many published works and has earned several design awards in addition to being an award-winning film-maker on the nature of architecture and the environment. His study and reinterpretation of the spatial character of older American and European urban forms has made a significant impact in developing a livable urbanized California. Field served on the Northern California Chapter of the AIA Board of Directors for four years and served 20 years on the National AIA Committee on Design, of which he was Chairman in 1985. He also served on the Bay Conservation and Development Commission Design Review Board, The Society of Contemporary Art at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and many other organizations. He became an AIA Fellow in 1976 and in 2004 received the AIACC Lifetime Achievement Award which recognizes outstanding achievement in the architectural profession.

Sources:

CV provided by creator.

“Mr. John L. Field” ZoomInfo, 2014. Accessed 25 Aug 2014. http://www.zoominfo.com/p/John-Field/39189686