USC to Honor Orange County Architect

Orange County architect William E. Blurock, FAIA, will be honored as the 1993 Distinguished Alumnus of the USC School of Architecture at an April 13 dinner sponsored by the school’s Architectural Guild.

A 1947 graduate, Blurock founded the Blurock Partnership in Newport Beach. The firm is recognized for a broad spectrum of educational, commercial and civic projects.

Blurock guided the planning and design of buildings on 32 California college campuses, most recently the expansion of Riverside Community College into two new campuses at Moreno Valley and Norco.

He also has worked on major Orange County civic projects, including the Orange County Performing Arts Center in association with Charles Lawrence of CRS, and the Orange County/City of Santa Ana Civic Center Mall. International projects include educational facilities in Europe, Asia, Australia and the Middle East.

“It is particularly fitting that (the) school of architecture . . . should bestow its distinguished alumnus award on a designer of educational facilities,” said Terry Dooley, president of the Architectural Guild.

“Bill Blurock is an Orange County pioneer whose prolific work has contributed to the positive character of the community and whose warmth, vision and professionalism have inspired a generation of architects,” said Victor Regnier, AIA, dean of the school.

Blurock was a 13-year member of the California State Board of Architectural Examiners and served as a national director of the American Institute of Architects.

In 1968, Blurock was elected a fellow of the AIA for outstanding contributions to the design and science of construction.

Proceeds from the dinner will fund student scholarships at the architecture school. The donation for individual seating is $75 for Guild members, spouses or guests, $100 for non-guild members, and $25 for USC students.

Reservations for the dinner, to be held on the USC campus, can be made through the guild office at (213) 740-4471.