de quesada architects, inc.
3030 bridgeway, sausalito, ca 94965, Suite 201 tel. 415 331 1718, fax. 415 331 1829
BRIEF HISTORY
The Principal of the Firm, Jorge de Quesada, after obtaining a master Degree in architecture from the University of Havana in late 1950, started his own
practice in Havana, Cuba. During the Fifties, JdQ was involved in an increasing number of single-family and multi-family buildings, acting both as an
architect and a builder. After Castro takeover of the Cuban government, JdQ decided to immigrate to the USA, arriving to San Francisco on April of 1960.
Later in that year, JdQ obtained employment in a leading local firm: Hertzka and Knowles, obtaining a great experience in the design of large commercial
buildings and succeeding in being the chief designer for the firm.
In August of 1962, JdQ obtained the California Architect’s License #C-3844.
After moonlighting in several small projects, JdQ opened his practice in San Francisco with two important commissions; the Saint Thomas Moore church in
San Francisco and the Borel Estate Office Park (phase 1) in San Mateo.
The Firm was incorporated in 1969 as Jorge De Quesada, Inc. and continued to grow during the Seventies and Eighties working in a great number of
buildings throughout the Western States and including office buildings, shopping centers, multi-family housing and large mixed-use projects such as Opera
Plaza and 1700 California Street, both in San Francisco.
The Firm was reorganized into its current form in 1992 under the name of De Quesada Architects, Inc. The Practice was re-oriented primarily towards
residential projects, from single-family to multi-family projects.
From the late Sixties, JdQ was instrumental in developing a construction system for office buildings based on the use of cast-in-site concrete components to
form a complete building structure including finished exterior walls.
During the late seventies and Eighties, JdQ was involved in perfecting the application of GFRC (glass fiber reinforced concrete) for exterior wall panels.
From 1996, JdQ was involved in the development of an innovative construction system based on the use of light-weight steel construction; the Pueblo
System. After obtaining a number of US and International patents, a separate company was formed to license the use of the Pueblo System; Pueblo Building
Technologies LLC. Pueblo structures have already been applied in two multi-family buildings in San Francisco.
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INNOVATIONS
In the Fifties, in his Cuban practice, JdQ employed many of the design strategies now being adopted as part of the green movement for energy
conservation. These included the use of thermal mass, cross ventilation, solar collectors and white reflective roofing to reject solar radiation.
From the late Sixties, JdQ was instrumental in developing a construction system for office buildings based on the use of cast-in-site concrete components to
form a complete building structure including finished exterior walls.
During the late Seventies and Eighties, JdQ was involved in perfecting the application of GFRC (glass fiber reinforced concrete) for exterior wall panels.
In the mid Seventies JdQ developed a multi-family housing system using pre-cast concrete components to be used in several large housing projects in Iran.
A master plan was produced in cooperation with Webcor Builders including a fabrication plant and a number of building prototypes. Unfortunately, the
Iranian revolution put an end to this endeavor.
Since 1996, JdQ was involved in the development of an innovative construction system based on the use of light-weight steel construction; The Pueblo
System. After obtaining a number of US and International patents, a separate company was formed to license the use of the Pueblo System; Pueblo
Building Technologies LLC. Pueblo structures have already been applied in two multi-family buildings in San Francisco.
Recently (2008) JdQ has created a new concept for single family detached housing integrating green technologies and able to be assembled with a
minimum of on-site labor. These houses use structural insulated panels (SIPs) to form a super-insulated building envelope, building integrated photovoltaic
(BIPV) roofing, ventilator systems eliminating the need for air conditioning and heating systems in mild climate locations such as most of California. A
variable cycle heat pump of small capacity connected to a geothermal system providing heating and cooling can be added as an option at locations with
more severe weather extremes.
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BRIEF HISTORY
The Principal of the Firm, Jorge de Quesada, after obtaining a master Degree in architecture from the University of Havana in late 1950, started his own
practice in Havana, Cuba. During the Fifties, JdQ was involved in an increasing number of single-family and multi-family buildings, acting both as an
architect and a builder. After Castro takeover of the Cuban government, JdQ decided to immigrate to the USA, arriving to San Francisco on April of 1960.
Later in that year, JdQ obtained employment in a leading local firm: Hertzka and Knowles, obtaining a great experience in the design of large commercial
buildings and succeeding in being the chief designer for the firm.
In August of 1962, JdQ obtained the California Architect’s License #C-3844.
After moonlighting in several small projects, JdQ opened his practice in San Francisco with two important commissions; the Saint Thomas Moore church in
San Francisco and the Borel Estate Office Park (phase 1) in San Mateo.
The Firm was incorporated in 1969 as Jorge De Quesada, Inc. and continued to grow during the Seventies and Eighties working in a great number of
buildings throughout the Western States and including office buildings, shopping centers, multi-family housing and large mixed-use projects such as Opera
Plaza and 1700 California Street, both in San Francisco.
The Firm was reorganized into its current form in 1992 under the name of De Quesada Architects, Inc. The Practice was re-oriented primarily towards
residential projects, from single-family to multi-family projects.
From the late Sixties, JdQ was instrumental in developing a construction system for office buildings based on the use of cast-in-site concrete components to
form a complete building structure including finished exterior walls.
During the late seventies and Eighties, JdQ was involved in perfecting the application of GFRC (glass fiber reinforced concrete) for exterior wall panels.
From 1996, JdQ was involved in the development of an innovative construction system based on the use of light-weight steel construction; the Pueblo
System. After obtaining a number of US and International patents, a separate company was formed to license the use of the Pueblo System; Pueblo Building
Technologies LLC. Pueblo structures have already been applied in two multi-family buildings in San Francisco.
brief history
beliefs
projects
testimonials
contact
