Archinect
Richard Hofmeister

Richard Hofmeister

Los Angeles, CA, US

 

About 

Richard Hofmeister is a licensed architect with 25 years of project experience specializing in green, regenerative architecture.  Mr. Hofmeister attended the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture (Taliesin) obtaining the accredited, professional degree Master of Architecture.  He is a member of the American Institute of Architects and United States Green Building Council.  His efforts have produced a range of architecture from custom residences to multi-million dollar commercial, industrial, institutional, and civic projects built in California, Arizona, Hawaii, Oklahoma, Texas, Japan, and Wisconsin. 

Mr. Hofmeister manages entitlements, design, technical production, and construction phase services for architecture and development projects.  He is a leader focusing on complex environmental, building, and planning issues.  Since the early 1990s, Richard has practiced sustainable design, and continues to make innovative contributions to this branch of architectural services now moving to regenerative design.  Richard has worked extensively with specialty consultants on environmental and energy systems.  His ability to synthesize and manage design with collaborative methods is an important skill for green, regenerative projects because they succeed by combining elements from diverse areas of expertise. 

On select projects, Mr. Hofmeister has employed adaptive reuse and historic preservation strategies.  He converted a historic 26-room courtyard hotel into an award winning private school, and designed the renovation for a registered historic home in West Adams, Los Angeles.  The Oakland Fox Theater Master Plan explored mixed-uses and phased development of this iconic building on Telegraph Avenue.  The Griffith Observatory expansion project updated an internationally known landmark with contemporary museum facilities including new astronomical observation exhibits designed as part of the architectural experience.  Mr. Hofmeister contributed to realizing un-built works designed by Frank Lloyd Wright with Taliesin Architects: a solar hemi-cycle residence in Kilauea, Hawaii; the Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center in Madison, Wisconsin; and the “Nakoma” Golf Clubhouse near Portola, California.  He assisted in architectural documentation and restoration construction at Taliesin and Taliesin West.

All new homes Richard has designed are cutting edge green including gray-water systems and renewable energy technologies.  In 1997 and 1998, Richard completed two environmental homes in Scottsdale, Arizona that were the first to be certified by the Green Building program of that City (the second nationally following Austin, Texas).  Richard was the featured architect in one episode of the Discovery channel’s television show “Greenovate” for his work on a residence in Pacific Palisades, California.  The Eley Residence in Fullerton, California demonstrates the effectiveness of classic courtyard design in a contemporary setting using active and passive solar technology.  In this project a unique solar-thermal energy system supplements the radiant-floor and pool heating.  Richard was project architect for three net-zero energy homes by Restore Neighborhoods Los Angeles fulfilling the Los Angeles Housing Department’s mandate with Federal Neighborhood Stabilization Program funding.

In his career Mr. Hofmeister has contributed to the realization of projects with a combined construction value of $523M.  As principal architect, he has built $22M in construction for clients with an overall real estate value far exceeding this amount.  Additionally, Richard enjoys working on joint ventures, pro bono public benefit projects, and architectural design using alternative materials and methods.  

Employment 

iD Group, West Hollywood, CA, US, Architect

Archicad BIM and virtual construction modeling. Design/Build. Project management and field coordination.

Jan 2014 - current
 

REGENARCH, Principal Architect

Principal Architect. Architecture and Planning Projects. Regenerative Architectural Design. Brownfield Redevelopment.

May 2010 - current
 

SPF:architects, Culver City, CA, US, Project Architect and BIM Manager

Archicad 15 for Teamwork BIM implementation. Construction Documents. Highlights: 82-unit apartment City submittals (in 3 months), 4-houses for Restore Neighborhoods Los Angeles. Custom residence in Beverly Hills plan check submittal.

Jan 2012 - Jun 2012
 

Drisko Studio Architects, Project Architect

Project Architect. Historic Preservation. Custom Residential.

May 2008 - May 2010
 

HOFarchitecture, Inc., Principal Architect

Principal Architect. Architecture and Planning Projects. Adaptive Reuse. Green Design. Resource-efficient building systems.

Sep 2001 - Dec 2007
 

Hardy Holzman Pfeiffer Associates, LLP, Project Architect

Project Architect. Civic, Institutional, and Theater Projects. Site Design. Sustainability.

Feb 2000 - Jun 2001
 

Moule & Polyzoides | Architects and Urbanists, Project Architect

Project Architect. Architecture and Urbanism. Project management. University Campus Planning.

Jan 1999 - Jan 2000
 

Weddle+Gilmore Architects (formerly BDG), Architect-in-Training

Project Manager. Design and Construction documents and administration. Alternative building systems.

Apr 1997 - Dec 1998
 

Wendell Burnette Architects, Architect-in-Training

Custom Residential. Construction documents and administration. Product research.

Jan 1997 - Mar 1997
 

Jones Studio, Architect-in-Training

Custom Residential. Construction documents and administration. Product research.

Dec 1995 - Dec 1996
 

Taliesin Architects, Ltd., Intern/Apprentice

Custom Residential and Civic Architecture. Master Planning. Construction documents.

Jun 1990 - Nov 1995
 

Education 

The Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture, Scottsdale, AZ, Spring Green WI USA, MArch, Taliesin + Taliesin West

Organic Architecture Studies. Historic Preservation. Renewable Energy Integration. Alternative Building Materials Applied Research. Earth Sheltered Design (Thesis).

Jun 1990 - Jul 1995
 

The University of Tennessee - Knoxville, Knoxville

1st and 2nd year Design Studios. History. Graphics and Computer Aided Drafting. Cultural Preservation. Co-designed and constructed models for the United South and Eastern Tribes 'Calumet' cultural center in Nashville, TN (unbuilt). Designed a Palestinian refugee camp (proposal) for the West Bank with studio-mate Jerry Sparkman (Prof. Kaplan. 2yr).

Sep 1987 - Jun 1989
 

Awards 

Publication, Other

ARCHITECTURAL RECORD. Griffith Observatory with Hardy Holzman Pfeiffer, Inc. June 2007.

2007
 

GREENOVATE on Discovery Channel, Other

Pacific Palisades residential project featured in residential remodel episode on Discovery Channel.

2007
 

Publication, Other

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA HOME & OUTDOOR. Eley Residence by HOFarchitecture, Inc. November 2006.

2006
 

GREEN DESIGN: AN INTEGRATED APPROACH TO PLANNING & ARCHITECTURE, Other

Presentation to Orange County Planning Directors Association with Walker Wells, AICP of Global Green International

2004
 

Publication, Other

ARCHITECTURAL DIGEST. ‘Nakoma’ Golf Clubhouse designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. November 2002.

2002
 

Publication, Other

HOT DIRT COOL STRAW. Low Compound Rammed Earth Estate with Jones Studio, Inc. Harper Collins. 2001.

2001
 

Publication, Other

ARCHITECTURAL RECORD. Schall Residence with Wendell Burnette Architects, Record Houses. April 2000.

2000
 

Monona Terrace Design Venture, Honorable Mention

In appreciation of efforts, perseverance, and dedication towards the realization of the Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright. - Monona Terrace Design Venture (Taliesin Architects, Potter Lawson Inc., Arnold and O'Sheridan Inc.)

1997
 

American Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA) Technology Conference Presenter (M.Arch candidate), Other

Proceedings hosted by the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. I was selected to present a paper to the ACSA faculty conference for my research and field work entitled: "Plastered Straw Bale Construction: A Renewable Resource for Energy-efficient, Self-help Housing" highlighting the history and modern adaptation of this building alternative and my residency in a rammed-earth & straw-bale desert shelter at Taliesin West.

1994
 

Areas of Specialization 

Skills