Walter Ratcliff

Walter Harris Ratcliff Jr. (1881–1978) was an architect in Berkeley, California.[1] His work includes local landmarks and buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places. He served as Berkeley's first City Architect for part of his career and is credited with helping develop the first zoning regulations in the state.[2]

Ratcliff was born in London[2] and came to the United States in 1894.[1]

He partnered for a short time with John Galen Howard.[1] He also worked with Alfred Henry Jacobs (Ratcliff & Jacobs).[2]

He designed the John J. Cairns House at 2729 Elmwood Avenue,[3][4][5] Walter Keane and his wife Barbara Keane lived in it.

He also designed Armstrong College (Berkeley)'s Ratcliff building at 2222 Harold Way. Named for the architect it is a Berkeley landmark.

He designed the Charles W. Merrill House (1938) for mining engineer and San Francisco businessman Charles Washington Merrill. It is listed on the National Register.

He is one of the noted architects with buildings in Panoramic Hill, Oakland/Berkeley, California.

Lilian Bridgman worked as a draftsperson in his office.

He was one of the architects who designed buildings for Mills College.[2]

He designed Hillside Elementary School (1928), a building listed on the National Register. Converted to a residence, it is on the List of largest houses in the United States.

His son and grandson also became architects and have kept the firm he started in business.[1]

National Register of Historic Places

The buildings he designed that are listed on the National Register include:[6]

  • Anna Head School for Girls, 2538 Channing Way Berkeley, CA Ratcliff,Walter H.Jr.
  • Berkeley Day Nursery, 2031 6th St. Berkeley, CA Ratcliff,Walter H.Jr.
  • Chamber of Commerce Building, 2140--2144 Shattuck Ave. & 2071--2089 Center St. Berkeley, CA Ratcliff,Walter H.,Jr.
  • Hillside School, 1581 Leroy Ave. Berkeley, CA Ratcliff Walter H.
  • Charles W. Merrill House, 407 Camino Sobrante Orinda, CA Ratcliff, Walter Harris

Other buildings
  • Mason-McDuffie building at 2102 Shattuck Avenue (Sandanavian Designs building) 2018 Allston Way
  • Elks Club
  • 12-story Chamber of Commerce building (1925) (later Wells Fargo), Berkeley's first and only skyscraper until 1970.[7]
  • Wells Fargo Bank at College and Ashby
The Holbrook Building at Pacific School of Religion
  • Several homes in the Piedmont area
  • Berkeley Baptist Divinity School buildings at 2606 Dwight Way
  • Pacific School of Religion buildings including Holbrook Hall at 1708 Scenic Avenue [1]
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References
  1. Johnson, Robert E.; Byron, Janet L. (September 28, 2015). "Berkeley Walks: Revealing Rambles through America's Most Intriguing City". Roaring Forties Press – via Google Books.
  2. "Walter H. Ratcliff, Jr. biography". berkeleycitizen.org.
  3. Ormsby Donogh Real Estate Files, Berkeley Architectural Heritage Association.
  4. Berkeley Building Permit #483, March 8, 1910.
  5. Bruce, Anthony. Walter H. Ratcliff, Jr., Architect: His Berkeley Work. Berkeley Architectural Heritage Association, 2006, p.8.
  6. National Register database
  7. "Berkeley Landmarks :: The Studio Building". berkeleyheritage.com.
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