Peter W. Pfau, AIA, LEED AP

Peter W. Pfau, AIA, principal of Pfau Long Architecture, Ltd. in San Francisco, has earned a reputation as a modernist who balances conceptual rigor with a love for building. Peter was born and raised in San Francisco and established a passion for design and construction early in his childhood through training in the fine arts, and later, working as a woodworker, carpenter and contractor. He started his college studies in fine arts at the California College of Arts (CCA) and earned a B.A. with honors in Architecture from U.C. Berkeley and a Master of Architecture from Columbia University.

In 1986 Mr. Pfau left New York City to return to the Bay Area to become a partner in the newly formed office of Holt Hinshaw Pfau Jones. During its six year existence, the firm quickly rose to international fame as a result of the numerous architectural awards, successful competition entries and the publication of many of its architectural projects, including the Astronauts Memorial at Kennedy Space Center, which was dedicated as the 25th National Memorial.

In 1991 Peter established his own practice, Pfau Architecture, in San Francisco. The smaller firm was founded on the premise that a more atelier-like organization can do the highest quality work by focusing intensely on selected projects.

Over his 20-year career, Peter Pfau has been recognized with numerous design awards. In 2003, Contract Magazine honored him as its 2003 “Designer of the Year,” stating that Peter Pfau is a designer “pushing the envelope in terms of materials, concepts, and processes in his passionate quest to establish the future of architecture and design in the Bay Area and beyond.”

Mr. Pfau’s ongoing activities as an adjunct professor of Architecture at California College of the Arts (CCA), lecturer, frequent architectural juror, national “peer” for the GSA (General Services Administration) “Design Excellence” Program, an active promoter of the Bay Area Design Community, founder of the Art and Architecture Exhibition Space (2AES), and a frequent participant in design competitions, design experiments, symposiums, installations and exhibitions complement the ongoing work of the firm.