Collection context
Summary
- Title:
- Eldon Beck Collection
- Dates:
- 1968-2014, bulk 1990-2006
- Creators:
- Beck, Eldon, 1931- and Royston, Hanamoto, Mayes & Beck
- Abstract:
- The Eldon Beck Collection spans the years c. 1968-2014 and includes files created by Beck and his time with the firm RHBA. The collection is organized into three series: Professional Papers, Office Records, Project Records. These records contain correspondence, project files, drawings, photographs, slides, research notes, articles, and lectures.
- Extent:
- 10.87 Linear Feet: 1 carton, 1 over-sized flat box, 27 tubes
- Language:
- English .
- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of Item], Eldon Beck Collection, Environmental Design Archives, University of California, Berkeley.
Background
- Scope and content:
-
The Eldon Beck Collection spans the years 1968-2014 (bulk 1990-2006), and includes files created by Beck while working for RHBA and for his own practice. The collection is organized into three series: Professional Papers, Office Records, and Project Records. The collection documents his career including his work at RHBA, his own landscape architectural practice, and teaching at the University of California, Berkeley. His career focused on designing landscapes for commercial and recreational spaces, of which many are well documented in this collection.
The Professional Papers series contains correspondence, presentation materials, records relating to involvement with associations and committees, awards, research, and reference files. The most significant materials in the Office Records series include brochures, photographs, and news clippings that extensively document completed projects. Project Records containing drawings, photographs, and files comprise the majority of the collection and span the entirety of Beck's career. Well documented projects include the Olympic Athletes Village in Whistler (2006-2010), Whistler Village and Town Center (1978-2010), Mont Tremblant Village (1991-2000), Snowmass Village (2001-2004), and Remarkables Park (1996-2005).
- Biographical / historical:
-
Eldon Beck was born July 7, 1931 in Mill Valley, California. Beck graduated from the University of California, Berkeley's Department of Landscape Architecture in 1953. Eldon began his professional career with Eckbo, Royston, and Williams in 1956 and was offered the position of Associate with the new firm of Royston, Hanamoto, and Mayes in 1958 when the Eckbo firm took a new direction. In 1960, he became a partner in the firm eventually known as Royston, Hanamoto, Beck, and Abey.
In September 1978, Beck was offered an appointment as Adjunct Professor of Landscape Architecture at UC Berkeley so he took a one year leave of absence from RHBA. Although he had no intention of pursuing professional work, that same year, Beck was asked to prepare the masterplan for a new village at Whistler, British Columbia. According to Beck, "The appeal was irresistible. This was to be the first new mountain resort village in North America, pedestrian spaces were to be dominate, free of automobiles, and the village leadership was enthusiastic. This was the beginning of a thirty-five year working relationship with Whistler."
In September 1979, Eldon left RHBA and established the firm of Eldon Beck, Landscape Architects with three employees, Steve Perkins, Renee Bradshaw, and Hope Rehlander, all graduates of the UC Berkeley Landscape Program. In 1985 additional major projects were offered and the corporation of Eldon Beck Associates was formed. Eldon continued to teach at Berkeley until 1987.
With many projects throughout North America, Australia, New Zealand, and France, the office grew in size. All projects from 1998 to 2013 were with Canadian clients, and collaborative working arrangements were established with Architects and Landscape Architects in Vancouver, Montreal, France, and Australia. Village master planning was the dominate work in Eldon's practice during this time. After completing the initial plans, Beck often provided services as a design advisor through approval and construction stages.
Eldon also served on design review boards, including the BCDC (A Bay Conservation Development Commission) (1983-1989 Chairman 1986-1989), The Sea Ranch Design Review Board (1986-1996), and the University of Colorado Design Review Board (1994-2006). Beck was an active ASLA (American Society of Landscape Architects) Board Member (1979-1983), elected as Fellow, and served in the National CLARB committee (Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Boards, 1982-1987, Chairman 1984-1986) responsible for preparing the national examination.
- Processing information:
-
Arrangement and description of this collection was funded by Eldon Beck.
- Arrangement:
-
This collection is organized into three series: Professional Papers, Office Records, and Project Records.
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Indexed terms
About this collection guide
- Date Encoded:
- This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2023-07-20 16:17:33 UTC .
Access and use
- Restrictions:
-
Collection is open for research. Many of the Environmental Design Archives collections are stored offsite and advance notice is required for use.
- Terms of access:
-
All requests for permission to publish, reproduce, or quote from materials in the collection should be discussed with the Curator.
- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of Item], Eldon Beck Collection, Environmental Design Archives, University of California, Berkeley.
- Location of this collection:
-
230 Bauer Wurster Hall #1820Berkeley, CA 94720-1820, US
- Contact:
- (510) 642-5124