John R. Ross - San Luis Obispo

John R. Ross (1923 - 1990) was a San Luis Obispo architect.

Early life

Ross grew up in Minneapolis and later moved to Los Angeles with his family.⁶He served in World War II and studied architecture at University of Southern California, graduating with a BArch in 1949.⁷ He was first introduced to the Central Coast when he was stationed at Vandenberg Air Force Base during the Korean War, living in Halcyon and Grover City.⁸Ross practiced in San Jose, first associated with the firms of Kress, Goudie, & Kress, and Higgins & Root before opening his own offices.

He was married twice.

Architectural Practice

In 1956, Ross moved to San Luis Obispo to work with William D. Holdredge,⁹ practicing as Holdredge and Ross, AIA. After Holdredge retired, Ross ran the practice as John R. Ross & Associates, AIA (offices at 1149 Marsh Street), then as John R. Ross and Associations, Inc. It operated in a corporate form in professional practices as Ross and Levin Associates, Architects, AIA when Rodney R. Levin became a member of the firm. In 1976 the business moved into its own building at 1129 Marsh St. (aka Ross Building). In 1977 the firm added Kenneth H. MacIntyre, a 1967 Cal Poly graduate, and changed its name to Ross Levin MacIntyre Architects. Ross retired from Ross Levin MacIntyre Varner in 1981.¹⁰

Projects Ross and firms designed in San Luis Obispo County include:

San Luis Obispo Elks Lodge 322 Clubhouse (1960-1961) ³
Atascadero medical Building (consulting architect George Hasslein), c. 1957¹⁸
1149 Marsh Street (Ross office), 1957
San Luis Obispo Golf and Country Club ⁴
Lacterman's Building, 749 Higuera, 1959
San Luis Obispo General Hospital, c. 1960 (chief architect following William Holdredge) ⁵and renovation, c. 1982
Inn at Morro Bay (originally known as Golden Tee), c. 1957-1959 ¹⁹
Cambria hospital district clinic, 2511 Main St, 1958²⁰
Medical building, 878 and 886 Boysen Ave., 1958
1250 Osos Street (originally for Evans Brokerage), c. 1960
Sunny Acres Juvenile Hall, c. 1960?
San Luis Obispo Golf and Country Club clubhouse, 1960
100 San Luis Street, Avila Beach (as fire station), 1961 ²¹
Palarola building remodel, 895 Monterey St, 1961 ²²
Oaks-Schultz Exotic Gardens, Cambria, for Robert Oaks and W. A. Schultz, 1961 ²³
Social Security Building, 784 Santa Rosa Street (now 1120 Mill Street), 1962 ¹
City of San Luis Obispo Corporation Yard (needs confirmation)
Police facilities (with Robert R. Levin)
Breakers Restaurant
Our Lady of the Nativity Church
Sebastian's Restaurant, (With Robert R. Levin), 1972 ¹⁷
Greyhound Depot, South and Parker Streets, 1970.¹³
California Medical Center, 628 California, 1970-1971^{14, 15}
SESLOC office building, Johnson and Peach, 1270 Peach St., 1970-1971¹⁶
Municipal swimming pool complex in Sinsheimer Park, c. 1978

Professional Service

Ross was a member of the state Board of Architectural Examiners in 1968, and appointed to the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards in 1969 and installed as president in 1979. In 1980 Ross was installed as a fellow of the AIA. Ross was a lecturer at Cal Poly from 1956-86. ¹²