Kenneth G. Francisarchitect

Kenneth G. Francis09.02.1945 — 02.04.2012

Ken Francis was born on September 2, 1945 in Los Angeles, Calif., to Gordon and Merna Francis, who preceded him in death. Ken and his wife, Carol of 25 years, moved to Auburn in 1991 to raise their daughters, Christina and Sarah.

Ken graduated from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, with a degree in Architecture. After graduation, he served as an officer in the Army Corp of Engineers in Vietnam. After serving, he returned to Los Angeles and worked as an Architect. During that time he had the opportunity to move and work in Greece as an architect for six months. Shortly after returning from Greece , Ken still had a thirst to travel so he returned to Europe and purchased a VW Van and traveled all over Europe for another six months. Once again, Ken returned to Los Angeles to continue his career in Architecture and eventually had his own practice in Santa Monica, Calif. Before Ken passed he was employed as a Project Manager for Stafford King Wiese Architects in Sacramento, Calif.

Ken was a member of The American Institute of Architects (AIA) all his career. He served as a volunteer on many committees, starting with The Santa Monica Historical Society. Ken also worked with a group of Architects that developed ideas and formats for teaching Architecture to children in Los Angeles. He and his peers were invited to Russia for an exchange of their ideas. Ken served on the Field Act Advisory Board for Architects for the State of California. Locally he served on a committee to help create guidelines for the Historical Preservation of Auburn.

Ken had a passion for the arts, but his real passion was his involvement with raising his daughters, especially in their academics and watching them play volleyball, (one of his favorite sports).

Ken was a kind and wonderful man and will be missed by many. Ken is survived by his loving wife Carol Francis, daughters; Christina and Sarah Francis, sisters; Linda Leuty and Gayle Francis, and cousin; David Francis.

Cosumnes Oaks High School, Culinary Arts InstituteElk Grove Unified School District

Pleasant Grove High School, AgricultureElk Grove Unified School District

Westmore Oaks K-8 ConversionWashington Unified School District

Leroy Green AcademyNatomas Unified School District

Architectural Practice History

2009-2012

Project Architect/Project Manager -- Stafford King Wiese Architects, Sacramento, CA; Ken brought a balanced background in design, master planning, project management and construction administration. He was a true asset to the Education Studio focusing on the most challenging of renovation and construction projects for school districts in Elk Grove, West Sacramento and Natomas.

2000-2008

Senior Project Manager -- LPA, Inc., Roseville, CA; Responsible for design development, construction documents and construction administration for three new K-8 school campuses, one new middle school campus, additions and modernizations to K-12 schools and an adult education center; new construction for the College of San Mateo Integrated Science Building, Solano CC Student Services Center and Learning Resource Center at Lake Tahoe CC community college; two new aquatic centers; a low rise office building; pre-master planning for city owned recreation centers; construction documents and construction administration for a 1.2 million s.f. regional life style retail center.

1997-2000

Project Manager, Associate -- NTD Architects, Auburn, CA; school campus programming, district wide master planning, design, construction documents, construction administration, business development and client relations for K-12 projects, including additions and modernizations for four school districts, and pre-programming for a combination community college/high school campus for Sierra College and Western Placer USD.

1993-1996

Manager of Educational Facilities -- Nacht & Lewis Architects, Sacramento; K-12 programming, master planning, design, construction documents, construction administration, business development, profitability and client relations for new construction and modernizations.

1992-1993

Project Manager -- Vanir Construction Management, Sacramento; scope, budget and schedule responsibility for 22 K-8 modernization projects in a single school district.

1980-1992

Private practice -- Ken Francis, Architect and Son & Francis Architects, Venice and Santa Monica; K-8 educational, health care, military base facilities, office buildings and interiors, parking facilities, utility company, retail, industrial and single family residences, involving new construction, remodeling, adaptive use, and commercial/hotel proposals.

1976-1980

Project Architect -- Frank O. Gehry & Associates, Santa Monica, CA; design, construction documents and construction administration for new regional retail center and parking structure, museums, commercial interiors, single family residences, and renovation/expansion proposals for performing arts facilities.

1975-1976

Project Architect -- Frank E. Basil, Inc, Athens, Greece; design and construction documents for two large sports/cultural clubs and design for military housing, all in Saudi Arabia.

1972-1975

Designer, Project Architect -- Benham-Blair and Affiliates, Los Angeles; design, construction documents, construction administration for military base facilities, space re-purposing for county government and health care, prototype design for Navy relocatable field hospitals.

1971-1972

Designer -- Bodrel Jordan Smith and Associates, Los Angeles; new specialty retail centers.

1969-1971

First Lieutenant, Army CE -- Construction Battalion Operations Officer, Maintenance Platoon Leader; Stateside and Viet Nam.

1969

Designer/Draftsman -- Neptune and Thomas Architects and Engineers, Pasadena, CA; religious, higher education, health care, remodeling and new construction.

Architectural Practice History

Elk Grove Promenade regional retail center, Chicago based General Growth Properties, LPA (2006-2008)

• This fast track project had a team made of LPA and our SMPE consultants, the owner’s corporate contacts (planning, design, financing, construction management, leasing, operations and technology), plus the owner’s outside consultants (design, entitlements, civil engineering, waste management, lighting design, solar and sound systems), the architects for the four anchor tenants, and the City of Elk Grove Planning and Building departments. Howard S. Wright was the general contractor.

• This sophisticated and exciting project continued in construction on the fast track until the economic downturn forced General Growth to stop work in late 2008.

Integrated Science Building, College San Mateo, LPA (2003-2006)

• Project Manager -- LPA and McCarthy Builders formed a Design/Build team to deliver the 60,000 s.f. three story building, the first new building at the College of San Mateo in 20 years. As Project Manager for the LPA/consultant team, I worked closely with McCarthy and their MPE sub contractors to obtain DSA approval and complete construction of labs for Biology, Chemistry and Physics, lecture rooms, chemical storage, roof top observatory with roll back roof, and a geodesic dome enclosed Planetarium.

• The project received rebates under Savings by Design and several design awards.

K-12 Educational facilities (1985-2007)

• Son & Francis – S&F completed several modernizations and two new major elementary school buildings for the Los Angeles Unified School District during the 1980’s. These projects launched my interest in educational facilities.

• Studio Manager, Nacht & Lewis -- I led the programming of a new academy based high school for Galt, and oversaw new high school campus construction for Vallejo USD and Tracy USD.

• Project Manager, NTD Architects -- While modernizing several Sacramento City USD schools, I studied the impact of school facilities on student performance for the first time. Though a modest but significant effort, we specified indirect (T5) lighting that worked in conjunction with the existing tall North windows at the finger plan classrooms to save energy (reduced FC levels at the desk) and to significantly reduce lighting glare for students. I repeated this model of high North natural light and indirect artificial lighting for Travis USD in their new Alternative Education Complex for high school students and adults constructed in 1999, and subsequent modernization and new school projects. I continue to have an interest in the facilities/performance connection.

• Senior Project Manager, LPA -- I saw three completely new elementary schools completed (Witter Ranch and Heron for the Natomas USD, and Landmark for Pajaro Valley USD). The big lessons involved the cost/funding/facilities relationship so critical to State funded public school construction, and A/E team leadership where tight schedules and changes of mind can impact morale.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

Private Practice (1980-1992)

• Ken Francis, Architect and Son & Francis Architects, Santa Monica/Venice area of Los Angeles – The practice was modest, but invaluable lessons were learned about striving for good Architecture and reality, employees, colleagues, consultants, revenue, and most importantly clients.

Health Care (1974-1987)

• Benham-Blair Affiliates -- I lead (2) projects, the renovation of the Brotman Memorial Hospital Pathology laboratory, completed without disruption of normal hospital operations, and the design and erection documents for fully relocatable containerized Navy field hospitals, deployable anywhere in the world.

• Ken Francis, Architect -- As an on call Architect for the UCLA Medical Center, I completed renovations of the Microbiology laboratory, Chart Room and main Chapel. Each required OSHPD approval.

Working with Gehry (1976-1980)

• Frank O. Gehry -- This eye opening experience gave me a deeper and clearer understanding of Architecture. As Project Architect, I completed projects that included commercial interiors, a retail mall and parking structure, single family residences and museums. Most of the projects were published nationally and many won design awards.

Cultural exposure (1975-1976)

• Athens, Greece -- Once in a lifetime opportunity to work for an international A/E firm as a Project Architect with a team of exceptional people from a number of countries. I was responsible in part for the design and construction documents for large sports and cultural complexes in Saudi Arabia valued at $160,000,000 total.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

Ken,

It was an honor working with you. You will be dearly missed. Sincerely,

Your friends at Stafford King Wiese Architects

Stafford King Wiese Architects Company Picnic, September 2011