April 12, 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Ray Ladd
College of Architecture and Environmental Design
(805) 756-2945
rladd@calpoly.edu

Cal Poly to Dedicate Peter and Ida Mae Berg Gallery April 16

SAN LUIS OBISPO--As a highlight to Cal Poly’s Open House activities, the College of Architecture and Environmental Design (CAED) invites the public to the dedication and reception for the Peter and Ida Mae Berg Gallery on Saturday, April 16, at 1 p.m.

“The naming of the college’s largest exhibition gallery is a tribute to the Bergs for their long-term involvement with Cal Poly students and their major support of the George Hasslein Endowed Chair for Interdisciplinary Studies,” said CAED Dean R. Thomas Jones.

The chair was created in 2004 due in large part to the Bergs’ $700,000 donation toward the overall $1.5 million endowment. Their gift is one of the largest cash donations yet to the college. The honorees will be on hand to take part in the dedication.

Peter Hoyt Berg graduated from Cal Poly in 1956 with a Bachelor of Science degree in architectural engineering. As a student teacher at Cal Poly his junior year, Berg taught a “Rendering and Perspectives” class and was mentored by founding Dean George Hasslein. Hasslein encouraged Berg to concentrate on architecture. After graduation Berg joined the Navy and then returned home to get his architect’s license, becoming the second in his class to do so.

The Bergs were involved in mentoring CAED students over the years by hosting them in a one-on-one “shadow program,” where students visited them in Tiburon to learn more about the “hands-on” aspects of architecture.

The dedication, with complimentary refreshments, will be held in the CAED Building 05, Room 105.

More about Peter Berg:

Peter Berg’s career includes his early work with SMP (Stone, Marroccini & Patterson). In 1963, Berg and seven associates founded M. Arthur Gensler & Associates, now Gensler Associates, one of the world’s largest architecture firms. In 1968, he was an associate partner at Campbell + Wong. Berg opened his own firm, Peter Hoyt Berg and Associates, in 1985.

He has designed seven hospitals, two schools, the South Terminal of the San Francisco International Airport, the Marin County Audubon Society Center near Tiburon, Harrah’s Hotel in South Lake Tahoe and numerous other projects. He won the competition to design the California Governor’s Mansion. He was very proud to be licensed and to help others who would guide the design of safety for public places and for the general welfare of the public.

Berg’s community involvement includes:
• More than 30 years on the State Board of Architectural Examiners.
• 15 years as a master commissioner on the State Board of Architectural Examiners, 35 years total on the commission
• “Parks and Recreation Commissioner of the Year” State of California, 1978, for work on Tiburon Park and Recreation Commission.
• 25 years Marin County Fish and Wildlife Commissioner.
• 12 years Tiburon and Belvedere Parks and Recreation Planning Commissioner.
• Led the effort to revitalize and restore acres of waterfront in downtown Tiburon.

About the gallery:

The CAED Gallery has 2,675 square feet of open space and is the college’s showcase venue for student displays from all five departments. It is one of the feature locations for both Open House and Homecoming.

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