Since 1961, Delawie has made a lasting impact on Southern California’s built environments with designs that complement skylines, activate learning environments, transform communities, create corporate identities, and advance the functionality of civic and government facilities.
We have been privileged to provide comprehensive design services to the most prominent private, institutional and public entities throughout the country, with a shared goal to build partnerships with our clients and the community through experience, creativity, and integrity. Our focus is open and frequent communication within the team, to meet project goals and address project constraints at each phase of the development.
“Design matters” is how Delawie approaches projects, whether they are ground-up buildings or existing building renovations. Our design philosophy reflects the client’s personality, not a preconceived design style. Delawie’s primary goal is to achieve our client’s design vision.
We listen to what the client wants, and our mission is to design every project to reflect the client’s goals.
We are most recognized and known in the design community by the name of our founding principal emeritus, Homer Delawie, a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects (FAIA), and we honor his legacy of a style that promotes humanistic modernist ideals – “simplicity with attention to detail.
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Key Facts & Statistics
Our firm is comprised of some of the brightest minds in architecture and interior design, with many staff holding technical designations in their respective industries. We have maintained a strong architectural presence in San Diego for decades, completing thousands of noteworthy projects in the private and public sector since our founding. In 2023, we expanded our Southern California presence with the acquisition of another architecture firm in Long Beach, Calif.
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Our Legacy
“Architecture is a way of life. If not, you shouldn’t be doing it.” – Homer Delawie
Homer Delawie, a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects, founded our firm in 1961. Homer’s style and vision promoted humanistic modernist ideals— “simplicity with attention to detail,” and for more than 60 years, the firm’s principals, associates and staff bring a range of interests and expertise together to honor the founding principal emeritus.
Homer Delawie’s influence on San Diego began in the design of small houses, including his own personal residence “The Boxcar House,” which was 17 feet wide. Signature features of these early designs include minimal disturbance of the site, flat roofs, wood sidings, and large glass areas.
As the practice expanded, the firm’s reputation increased for its success in a range of designs for the military and landmarks such as the Bea Evenson Fountain in Balboa Park. By the mid-1980s, the firm’s major commissions such as the SeaWorld Penguin and Shark Exhibits, the San Diego Police Headquarters and the James R. Mills MTS Building launched the firm into larger scale, public buildings where the design emphasis was to create spaces for people to enjoy.
The firm focused on private clients throughout much of the 1990s and 2000s working with Science + Technology companies, including Pfizer and Qualcomm. The firm also worked on projects with for the United States Military and some of the local colleges. During this period, the firm went worldwide, helping our clients realize the benefit of our involvement within the development stages of any project. Paul E. Schroeder, Frank Ternasky and Mike Asaro were named Principals in 2002.
The firm rebranded itself to Delawie in 2012. Chosen to honor a great San Diego architect, and firm founder, who helped shape San Diego with his iconic designs and positively impact the city through his community involvement and patronage. The firm relocated in 2015 to a renovated office on Morena Boulevard in the Bay Park neighborhood.
Delawie continued to expand its practice in the market sectors of Science + Technology, Education, Government and Hospitality + Entertainment. The firm helped clients realize their design vision in both Architecture and Interior both regionally in San Diego and aboard in England, South Korea and India. McClure was promoted to Principal in 2017.
After celebrating 62 years since its founding , Delawie continues to serve both public and private clients in select market sectors and continues to provide clients with exceptional design delivered with integrity and a commitment to service pioneered by Homer Delawie. We are honored to continue his practice and serve San Diego under his believe of, “Simplicity with attention to detail.”