Welton Becket facts for kids

Welton David Becket (born August 8, 1902 – died January 16, 1969) was an American architect. He was known for designing many important buildings, especially in Los Angeles, California. His work helped shape the look of modern cities.

About Welton Becket

Welton Becket was born in Seattle, Washington. He studied architecture at the University of Washington and earned his degree in 1927.

In 1933, he moved to Los Angeles. There, he started a company with his college friend, Walter Wurdeman, and another architect, Charles F. Plummer. Their first big project was the Pan-Pacific Auditorium in 1935. This building was so good that famous movie stars like James Cagney and Robert Montgomery hired them to design their homes. Sadly, Plummer passed away in 1939.

The company, now called Wurdeman and Becket, kept designing cool buildings. They came up with an idea called "total design." This meant their company would handle everything for a building project. They would plan the whole area, design the inside, pick the furniture, and even choose things like silverware for restaurants!

The 3,000-seat Santa Monica Civic Auditorium opened in 1958.

After Wurdeman died in 1949, Becket started his own firm, Welton Becket and Associates. His company grew very big. By the time he died in 1969, it was one of the largest architecture firms in the world. Later, in 1987, his company joined with another firm called Ellerbe Associates. Today, it is part of a larger company called AECOM.

Becket's buildings often used interesting materials on the outside. He liked ceramic tile and shiny stainless steel patterns. He also used lots of natural stone, like travertine and flagstone, on the walls.

His firm even worked with The Walt Disney Company and United States Steel Corporation. Together, they designed Disney's Contemporary Resort at Walt Disney World Resort. This hotel opened in 1971. It was designed as a tall A-shaped building with a monorail train running right through it! The hotel rooms were built on the ground, then lifted by cranes and put into the building frame.

Welton Becket was recognized for his great work. He became a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects in 1952. This is a special honor for architects.

His sons, Welton MacDonald Becket and Bruce Becket, also became architects. His nephew, MacDonald G. Becket, and granddaughter, Alexandra Becket, are architects too!

Famous Buildings and Designs

Welton Becket and his firm designed many well-known buildings. Here are some of them:

• The Pan-Pacific Auditorium in Los Angeles, California (1935). This was one of his first big projects.
• The Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California (1953). This is a famous hotel.
• The Capitol Records Building in Los Angeles, California (1956). This building looks like a stack of records!

The 13-story Capitol Records Building in Hollywood.

• The Santa Monica Civic Auditorium in Santa Monica, California (1958).
• The Los Angeles Music Center in Los Angeles, California (1964). This includes places like the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion where many shows happen.
• The Cinerama Dome in Los Angeles, California (1963). This is a unique movie theater with a curved screen.
• The master plan for Century City in Los Angeles, California (1963). This was a huge project to design a whole new area of the city.
• The City Hall in Pomona, California (1969).

City Hall in Pomona, California, built in 1969.

• Disney's Contemporary Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida (1971).
• The Glendale Central Library in Glendale, California (1973).

Glendale Central Library, finished in 1973.

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See also

In Spanish: Welton Becket para niños