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Wing, Kenneth (audio interview #2 of 2)
INTERVIEW DESCRIPTION - Wing was interviewed in his home with his wife present. 12/7/1983
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- 2020-10-28
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- *** File: cbkwing4.mp3 Audio Segments and Topics: (0:00-2:48)... Introduction. Wing started his architectural practice in 1930 out the living room of his home. A fraternity brother joined him as a draftsman and his wife did all of the typing. It was the 1933 earthquake that helped his business take off and by the end of the 1930s, he moved to an office building and had about 8 employees. He later moved his office downtown. Later he gave his practice to his son. (2:48-5:01)... Architectural fees are standardized and based on the value of the project. During WWII, he designed the Gold Star Mother's Home in association with an architect from Los Angeles. He also designed schools including Stephens and Franklin Junior Highs. (5:01-10:04)... Wing served on the state Architectural Board of Examiners, whose members were appointed by the governor for 4 year terms. The Board sponsors exams and every licensed architect in the state must pass both written and oral examinations before they can practice. To join the American Institute of Architects, you must submit an application. Then you are invited to a luncheon where many questions are asked about the architects's business. During WWII, Wing was involved with the War Housing Administration in Los Angeles. He served as head of the Long Beach War Housing Departments and was responsible for listing vacancies and referring people to them. He did the same in Los Angeles. (10:04-12:53)... Wing is a fellow of the American Institute of Architects, which involves sending drawings to Washington where they are judged. Only 2 per cent of architects are Fellows. Wind was the first Long Beach arcitect to become a fellow and the first USC graduate to become one. In 1951 the Long Beach Junior Chamber of Commerce presented award to 4 of the homes he designed. (12:53-14:30)... The First Baptist Church in Long Beach was unique because the pastor wanted a stairway that allowed people from the balcony to come downstairs in the sanctuary without going out into the lobby so that anyone coming forward would have easy access. He later got commissions to design other Baptist churches with this same feature. He designed the interior of the Jotham Bixby Company offices in the Security bank building. (14:30-17:47)... Wing designed many of the buildings in the Bixby Knolls shopping center including the Auto Club, Security Bank and Horace Green Hardware store. Buffums was going to build a store in that shopping center, but it never happened. Wing dealt with whoever bought land from the Jotham Bixby Company. Sometimes Llewellyn recommended him to new tenants. (17:47-21:36)... Wing designed Llewellyn Bixby's home on the peninsula and he designed several other homes and apartments in the area. He designed a Cape Cod style home in Naples for Mr. and Mrs. Fellows. It was difficult to find enough space on their lot for a driveway into the garage. He also designed home for the Fellows off Country Club Drive. In addition, he designed the Hamman's home on Country Club Drive. The Hammans now live in the Galaxy along with the Wings. (21:36-25:41)... Wing's first office was upstairs from Bob Avery's and Clare Hammon's insurance office. Wing served as the first president of the University Club in Long Beach. It was located on the top floor of the Lafayette Hotel. Wing also served on the Long Beach Planning Commission, which determined what kinds of building could be constructed, and the Board of Examiners and Appeals, which monitored and enforced building codes. (25:41-30:27)... There were 5 final architects on the new Long Beach city hall. Wing was one of them. They rented an office and hired a secretary specifically for the work on the city hall and at the same time they worked on the library and the Terrace Theater. He worked with Heusel on the Los Angeles County Courthouse. Heusel designed the jail as well and Wing designed the big garage. His office designed the State Building. It was Governor Jerry Brown's idea to build with timber. The library was built by the same contractor who build city hall. Most architects specialize in one area and often use consultants. The architects hired a special consultant when they designed the Public Library building. *** File: cbkwing5.mp3 (0:00-2:45)... Horace Austin had nothing to do with the design of the airport. Wing included Austin's name for political reasons. The airport was designed as a segment of a circle so it could be extended. (2:45-7:41)... There was a push for the Long Beach Civic Center to be moved out near Willow and Atlantic so that it would be more central. The University Club lasted about 4 years in Long Beach. Fred Bixby nominated Wing to be the first president. The International City Club was a good replacement. Members are asked to join and them must pay an annual fee. Wing was a founding member and designed the club. (7:41-10:40)... Fred Bixby was upset when the Navy took over some of his land to built a hospital. Wing did some work on the hospital during WWII. He was known as an expediter. He did lots of telephoning to get materials delivered. Fred Bixby also owned land south of 7th Street. It was beautiful land; the dirt was black like peat. The oil bearing land was beautiful, too, but in a different way. By the time of the interview, the land had been developed for homes. (10:40-13:35)... Wing was one of 3 architects on Long Beach Memorial Hospital. He also worked on Community Hospital although someone from San Francisco designed the final building. The manager had a friend up there and had him do it. There was politics involved in building hospitals. He also designed the Children's Hospital at Memorial. There were problems with the restoration of Rancho Los Cerritos which included deterioration of some of it's parts; they did their best to replace them and keep them the same. (13:35-17:15)... Wing designed the high rise Edison building. He also worked on the United California Bank building. It was a concrete structure 4 stories high. When the bank bought it, they tore half of it down to built a parking garage. They also removed the terra cotta from the outside of the building. There was talk in the early 1950s of moving the main library there. Wing did not recommend the move. (17:15-20:06)... Wing designed the Van Camp's sea food cannery on Pier A, which required deal with the Harbor Commission. At the time of the interview, he was not sure how much the building had been changed. He recalls the breakwater being put in when he was about 12. Long Beach had a nice beach before the breakwater was built. (20:06-23:25)... Wing built several gardine homes in Park Estates in 1952. A good architect never repeats the same house twice. That's what makes Park Estates look so diverse. Whaley started out in west Long Beach before he started on Park Estates. (23:25-30:28)... Wing is a member of the Church Architectural Guild. He designed Methodist, Presbyterian, Lutheran, Christian, Baptist and Catholic churches. Many of the old building downtown are being torn down and he believes more will be torn down soon. Wing designed the Los Angeles County Jail and a court building. In Signal Hill he designed the City Hall and a Juvenile Hall in Sylmar that was ruined by the 1971 earthquake. End of tape
- SUBJECT BIO - Kenneth Wing was an architect who designed public buildings such the Long Beach City Hall and Arena as well as many private homes and other buildings. He was the first architect in Long Beach to become a fellow of the American Institute of Architects and the first graduate of the USC school of architecture to be so honored. Wing's family moved from Colorado to Long Beach in 1917 and he finished high school here while working as an "office boy" for local architect Horace Austin. After graduating from USC, he began a private practice in Long Beach, primarily designing private homes. Soon, however, he was also designing schools, churches and other public buildings. In these 2 interviews, Wing talks about designing buildings as well as serving on the Long Beach Planning Commission and the Board of Examiners and Appeals. TOPICS - Topics on this side of tape include: family background; Gold Star Mother's Home; WWII; American Institute of Architects Fellow; Long Beach Junior Chamber of Commerce and First Baptist ChurchTopics on this side of tape include: Long Beach Airport; Horace Austin; Long Beach Memorial Hospital; Long Beach Civic Center and United California bank building
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