Eldon Beck was born July 7, 1931 in Mill Valley, California. Beck graduated from the University of California, Berkeley’s Department of Landscape Architecture in 1953. Eldon began his professional career with Eckbo, Royston, and Williams in 1956 and was offered the position of Associate with the new firm of Royston, Hanamoto, and Mayes in 1958 when the Eckbo firm took a new direction. In 1960, he became a partner in the firm eventually known as Royston, Hanamoto, Beck, and Abey.

In September 1978, Beck was offered an appointment as Adjunct Professor of Landscape Architecture at UC Berkeley so he took a one year leave of absence from RHBA. Although he had no intention of pursuing professional work, that same year, Beck was asked to prepare the masterplan for a new village at Whistler, British Columbia. According to Beck, “The appeal was irresistible. This was to be the first new mountain resort village in North America, pedestrian spaces were to be dominate, free of automobiles, and the village leadership was enthusiastic. This was the beginning of a thirty-five year working relationship with Whistler.”

In September 1979, Eldon left RHBA and established the firm of Eldon Beck, Landscape Architects with three employees, Steve Perkins, Renee Bradshaw, and Hope Rehlander, all graduates of the UC Berkeley Landscape Program. In 1985 additional major projects were offered and the corporation of Eldon Beck Associates was formed. Eldon continued to teach at Berkeley until 1987.

With many projects throughout North America, Australia, New Zealand, and France, the office grew in size. All projects from 1998 to 2013 were with Canadian clients, and collaborative working arrangements were established with Architects and Landscape Architects in Vancouver, Montreal, France, and Australia. Village master planning was the dominate work in Eldon’s practice during this time. After completing the initial plans, Beck often provided services as a design advisor through approval and construction stages.

Eldon also served on design review boards, including the BCDC (A Bay Conservation Development Commission) (1983-1989 Chairman 1986-1989), The Sea Ranch Design Review Board (1986-1996), and the University of Colorado Design Review Board (1994-2006). Beck was an active ASLA (American Society of Landscape Architects) Board Member (1979-1983), elected as Fellow, and served in the National CLARB committee (Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards, 1982-1987, Chairman 1984-1986) responsible for preparing the national examination.