Charles Warren Callister (1917-2008) was born in Rochester, NY. He studied at the University of Texas, Austin from 1935-1941 before serving in the United States Corps of Engineers during WWII (1941-1955), where he helped to build the ALCAN Highway in Alaska and later served as a pilot for the Air Force. Upon returning from the war, Callister, his wife Mary Frances, and their two sons moved to Northern California where he and his former Texas classmate Jack Hillmer (1918-2007) established an architectural practice in San Francisco. Their first project was Hall House in Kentfield (1947) considered to be the first residential application of post-tensioned concrete slab technology in the United States. Callister and Hillmer were both active in Telesis, an organization of architects and urban planners who wanted to create art that would make a better world.

Callister went on to establish the firm of Callister, Payne & Rosse in Tiburon, California in 1950, which would later expand to include an east coast office in Amherst, Massachusetts during the 1960s. John Payne and Martin Rosse worked with Callister designing residences, churches, and communities for which they received many awards including the National Lumberman’s 1965 Wood Structure Design Award. Later design partners included Jim Bischoff, David Gately, and Michael Heckmann.

Callister is well known for incorporating high-level design in large developments and new communities. Rossmoor (1964), a retirement community in Walnut Creek, California, gained the firm national attention. His numerous sub-division developments for client Otto Paparazzo show a unique understanding of community planning and residential needs. His recognized designs include the Christian Science churches in Belvedere (1953) and Mill Valley (1955), California; the Mills College Chapel (1958) in Oakland, California; and the UC Santa Cruz Field House (1955). Though he did not receive his architect’s license until 1988, Callister’s design process focused on “creating together appropriate designs that belong to the natural environment and that are rooted in the nature of the clients.”

Callister was an active researcher and educator throughout his career. During the 1960s he lectured at Stanford University, Syracuse University, Columbia University, University of Colorado, and University of British Columbia. He was the recipient of the Award of Excellence, Urban Land Institute, 1982 and the prestigious Award of Honor, San Francisco Art Commission, 1983.

Callister died in Novato, California on April 3, 2008.

Firm History: • Callister, Payne, and Rosse Tiburon, CA 1955-1969 • Callister, Payne, and Rosse Amherst, MA 1968 • Callister and Payne Tiburon, CA 1969-1972 • Callister, Payne and Bischoff Tiburon, CA 1972-1981 • Callister, Gately, Heckmann, Bischoff Tiburon, CA ca. 1982-1995 • Callister, Gately, Heckmann Associates Tiburon, CA 1995- [1999] Sources: Richard Ehrenberger and Charles Sholten, “Charles Warren Callister, 1917-2008,” The Architect’s Newspaper, April 30, 2008.

Weinstein, Dave. “Appreciation: Architect Warren Callister.” San Francisco Chronicle 31 May, 2008. Retrieved from: http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Appreciation-Architect-Warren-Callister-3212823.php