Barry Berkus
Barry A. Berkus, A.I.A., is the founder and President of B3 Architects and Berkus Design Studio. He has remained on the forefront of design in the US and abroad for over forty-five years. His firms are involved in a broad range of projects, including resort and master planned communities, urban infill, commercial and institutional projects and residential design. His firms have received more than 450 design and planning awards from regional and national competitions. Berkus has been featured in USA Today, Money, Architectural Record, Progressive Architecture, Art News, and Architectural Digest, which named him one of the world’s ‘top 100 architects’.
His firm was awarded two Operation Breakthrough awards through the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for new building technology; he was named “Innovator of the Year” by Professional Builder; Architectural Digest counted him one of “The AD 100 Architects”; Builder Magazine named him one of the 100 most influential individuals in the past century of American housing; Residential Architect called him one of the ten most significant figures of 20th century residential architecture, and Barry Berkus is a 2005 inaugural inductee into the Builder’s Choice Hall of Fame, as well as a 2007 inductee into the California Building Industry Foundation Hall of Fame and a 2008 inductee into the Best in American Living Awards Hall of Fame.
Mr. Berkus’ influence has not been limited to domestic architecture in the United States; his interest in building systems has spearheaded extensive research and development of modular housing and the study of building methods abroad. In Japan, his work has extended from the planning and design of new towns to developing the current building codes for framed construction. Other international projects have included the planning of communities in Malaysia, master planning of residential villages for EuroDisney in France, and a provincial government commissioned a plan for the redevelopment of the waterfront Expo site in Vancouver, British Columbia.
In addition to a long list of design awards, Mr. Berkus has received some of the highest awards within his community for his contributions to society. Positions and awards include; University of California, Santa Barbara Alumnus of the Year (1989); Honorary Chair of The Arts Fund’s first Canvas Project fundraiser (2001); Innovator of the Year Award by the Santa Barbara Chamber of Commerce (2002); Maritime Museum Award, Outstanding Service to the Community (2002); Lifetime Achievement Award by the Santa Barbara News-Press (2004); congressional recognition by congressperson Lois Capps (2004); letter of recognition by Santa Barbara City Council (2004) and the Santa Barbara Beautiful Business in Art Award (2006). California Building Industry Foundation Hall of Fame inductee (2007), Best in American Living Awards Hall of Fame inductee (2009), and the Santa Barbara Beautiful 2010 Winner of the Moreton Bay Fig Award for Outstanding Body of Work.
Each design takes into account human scale and context. With a broad spectrum of projects throughout the United States and abroad, our diversity of experience results in a proven ability to create regionally and culturally relevant architecture, regardless of physical constraints. From market assessment, conceptual master planning and entitlement through construction administration, our professionals are accustomed to collaborating closely with our clients and other design disciplines to form an effective design team. Our ability to value-engineer a project program starts at conceptual design and continues throughout, utilizing the latest design and drafting technology.
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