Design Chief at Architect Firm DMJM Steps Down

Richard Keating, one of Los Angeles’ most prominent architects, has resigned as the design chief at DMJM as part of a shake-up announced Tuesday at one of Southern California’s largest engineering and architectural firms.

The split comes only four years after Keating, whose designs include the 52-story Gas Company tower in downtown Los Angeles, and several other partners merged their design firm into DMJM, which is also known as Daniel, Mann, Johnson & Mendenhall.

The firm said it will merge its interior design and architectural operations into one unit under the direction of Lauren Rottet, the company’s current head of interior design, and Paul Danna, an architect in the Los Angeles office of rival architectural firm HOK.

Keating, Rottet and Danna were partners in the firm that merged with DMJM in 1994. Danna later joined HOK. Keating, who came to Los Angeles in 1986 after designing skyscrapers in Houston, became design chief at DMJM, which is known for its engineering and project management operations.

“It was somewhat of a culture clash,” Keating said. “They are a very nice group of people. But they don’t have a passion for architecture like I do.”

Keating said he will remain in Los Angeles and was looking at several opportunities, including joining the local office of a national architectural firm.