Sanford L. Hirshen Collection
Scope and Contents
This collection is organized into four series and documents Hirshen’s architectural career from 1965 until 2004. Series I: Personal Papers comprises of Hirshen’s biographical information, including his curriculum vitae and oral history. Series II: Professional Papers consists of case study writings Hirshen collaborated on or wrote, clippings and photographs from HTA (Hirshen/Trumbo & Associates), and records regarding the exhibit Toward an Architecture of Conscience. Series III: Faculty papers contains a few documents on studio classes Hirshen taught at the University of British Columbia. Series IV: Project Records is composed of drawings, photographs and slides documenting projects including elderly housing and health centers, to migrant farm labor camps in the Central Valley of California. The Sanford L. Hirshen Collection consists of the exhibit materials—boards, photographs, and files—for the 2003 exhibition Toward an Architecture of Conscience: The work of Sandy Hirshen, partners, employees, and professional colleagues exhibited at the University of British Columbia SOA Downtown Gallery in Vancouver. Some of the materials exhibited includes Hirshen’s work on low-cost migrant farm labor camps, social housing for the elderly, and community schools.
Dates
- 1965-2004
Access Statement
Collection is open for research. Many of the Environmental Design Archives collections are stored offsite and advance notice is required for use.
Publication Rights
All requests for permission to publish, reproduce, or quote from materials in the collection should be discussed with the Curator.
Biographical Note
Sanford Hirshen (1935 – 2013) was born in New York City and attended the New York High School of Music & Art where his high school classmates and lifelong friends included architect Sim Van der Ryn and photographer Joshua Freiwald. After graduating high school, he enrolled at Columbia University School of Architecture receiving a bachelor of Architecture in 1959.
After forming a partnership, Hirshen Van der Ryn Architects (1965-1971), were awarded a contract from the federal Office of Economic Opportunity to construct Flash Peak Camps for migrant workers. They constructed thirty-three camps between 1965 and 1974 receiving the 1968 AIA National Honor Award for Indio Camp. During this time, he also participated in the United Nations Previ Project in Lima, Peru. As a partner with HGTC (Hirshen, Gammill, Trumbo & Cook) (1971-1974), his projects included Hale Mahaolu Elderly Housing, Hawaii and Housing for the Elderly in Pleasanton CA. Between 1989 and 1994 he was a partner in HTA (Hirshen/Trumbo & Associates).
In addition to his award-winning design career, Hirshen had an active academic career. He began teaching as a lecturer in the Department of Architecture at UC Berkeley in 1966, becoming a full professor in 1974 and serving as Chair of the Department from 1982-1983. He later became Director of the School of Architecture at the University of British Columbia (1991-1999) and an Associate in the Vancouver firm of Henriquez Partners Architects.
A recognized expert in social housing and shelter, public sector community services, health facilities, and child development and educational projects, Hirshen became a fellow of both the AIA (1981) and the Royal Canadian Institute of Architects (1992).
Extent
1.5 Linear Feet: (1 carton, 1 legal size document box)
Language of Materials
English
Systems of Arrangement
This collection is organized into four series: Personal Papers, Professional Papers, Faculty Papers, and Project Papers.
Custodial History
Records donated by Sanford Hirshen
Project Index
The following is a list of architectural projects from the Sanford L. Hirshen Collection. For more complete information about collection contents for each project download the complete Project Index in an Excel spreadsheet format by going to Sanford Hirshen i-Page. For instructions on interpreting the Project Index, see The Guide to the Project Index.
The project list below, derived from the Project Index, is arranged alphabetically by Project/Client Name and contains information, where available, about the location, date, project type, collaborators, photographers, and formats for each project in the collection.
Project/Client Name (location, date, project type) Collaborator (role), Photographer [Format - Ms=Manuscripts, Dr=Drawings, Ph=Photographs]
Funding
Arrangement and description of this collection was funded by a grant from the Joan Draper Endowment, Depart of Architecture, College of Environmental Design, U.C. Berkeley.
- Title
- Sanford L. Hirshen Collection
- Status
- Completed
- Date
- 2018
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the University of California, Berkeley. College of Environmental Design. Environmental Design Archives Repository