After graduating in architecture from the University of Washington in 1927, Welton Becket studied at the École des Beaux Arts, Fontainbleu, for a year, and then worked several years as a junior designer for firms in Los Angeles and his native Seattle. Becket settled in Los Angeles permanently in 1933, forming a partnership with established Los Angeles architect Charles F. Plummer and Washington classmate Walter Wurdeman. The trio gained considerable local publicity with their award winning design for the Pan Pacific Auditorium in 1935, which facilitated their entry into Hollywood film circles. The following years saw a series of residential commissions for movie stars such as James Cagney, Caesar Romero, and Robert Montgomery.
Welton Becket is credited by many as the architect who defined mid-twentieth century architecture of Los Angeles, California. Instead of defining a particular style, he was dedicated to serving the client in every way possible and was often quoted as saying, "A building should reflect the client, not the architect. I see no reason why I should express Welton Becket." He believed well-conceived, executed buildings included all aspects of design—a philosophy he dubbed "Total Design." He believed that by truly understanding his client, design ideas followed. Born in Seattle and drawn to architecture—both his father and brother were builders—Welton entered the practice of architecture as chief designer for a Los Angeles firm in 1929.
His practice really began when he teamed up with his University of Washington classmate, Walter Wurdeman and Los Angeles architect Charles Plummer to form Plummer, Wurdeman and Becket. In 1938, the two young men set out on their own, forming Wurdeman and Becket. When Wurdeman unexpectedly died in 1949, the firm was renamed Welton Becket and Associates. Welton's career spanned 40 years and his structures graced five continents. He was quick-thinking and skilled, confidently leading top executives, Hollywood celebrities, government officials, and educators through the rigors of architectural development.
He attracted and retained talented employees by rewarding good work and his firm handled complex projects, infusing new directions into modern, corporate buildings. Colleagues said Welton loved his work and golfing, and was a friend of some of the world's leading dignitaries who, like those in the office, called him "Welt." Throughout his career, Welton Becket focused on how to best serve his clients and just as he believed, excellent design ideas followed in that service. He is often associated with shaping Los Angeles' iconic "Hollywood" style, but his legacy extends well beyond the city limits. Through architecture, Welton Becket's contributions helped shape post-WWII lifestyles, through buildings where people worked, lived and had fun. His sons, Welton Becket II and Bruce Becket, are architects, as is his granddaughter Cayce.
After Walter Wurdeman's death in 1949, Becket formed Welton Becket Associates and continued to grow the firm to the extent that it was one of the largest architectural offices in the world by the time of his death in 1969. In 1987, his firm was acquired by Ellerbe Associates, and the merged firm continued as Ellerbe Becket until the end of 2009, when it was acquired by AECOM. It is now known as Ellerbe Becket, an AECOM Company. Becket's buildings used of unusual facade materials such as ceramic tile and stainless steel grillwork, repetitive geometric patterns, and a heavy emphasis on walls clad in natural stone, particularly travertine and flagstone.
With The Walt Disney Company and the United States Steel Corporation, Becket's firm co-designed Disney's Contemporary Resort, which opened in 1971 at Walt Disney World Resort. The Contemporary was designed as a 14-story steel A-frame with a monorail running through the building. Modular guest rooms were assembled, finished, furnished, fully equipped and their doors locked, on the ground, then lifted by crane and inserted (video below) into the frame like a dresser drawer. Welton Becket was elected a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects in 1952. Welton's sons, Welton Becket II & Bruce Becket, are also practicing architects.
Incorporated as Wurdeman and Becket in 1939 after Plummer’s death, the firm prospered and expanded during the World War II era, completing public housing and defense projects and positioning themselves well for the region’s post-war construction boom. Now focused on larger commercial projects, Wurdeman and Becket’s work of the mid- to late 1940s took on aspects of the Late Moderne and International styles. Their best known commissions included Bullock’s Department Store in Pasadena (1944) and buildings for General Petroleum (1946) and Prudential Insurance (1947) in Los Angeles. Following Wurdeman’s untimely death in 1949, Becket took over sole leadership of the firm as Welton Becket and Associates.
It grew to be one of the largest architectural firms in the United States, with headquarters in Los Angeles and offices in San Francisco, New York, Houston, and Chicago. Welton Becket and Associates completed numerous well known and high-profile projects around Los Angeles, including such icons of mid-twentieth century Modernism as the Capitol Records Building (1954-56) and the Cinerama Dome, the world’s first concrete geodesic dome (1963-1964). They were also responsible for the Beverly Hilton Hotel (1955), Memorial Sports Arena (1959), Los Angeles International Airport Theme Building (1962, with Pereira & Luckman and Paul R. Williams), and the Federal Office Building in Los Angeles (1966)
Welton Becket was named master planner for UCLA in 1948 and continued as supervising architect for the campus until 1968. At UCLA, Welton Becket worked closely with Ralph D. Cornell (later Cornell, Bridgers and Troller), supervising landscape architect for the campus, and the companies collaborated on a number of independent projects, such as the Pomona Civic Center and the Ford Motor Co. in Dearborn. While working with Walter Wurdeman in the 1930s, Becket embraced the philosophy of “total design,” which guided his firm’s approach thereafter. He encouraged clients to allow the firm to control all aspects of a design, including master/site planning, engineering, all interior work, finishes, fixtures, and landscaping, so that a unified and coherent building would be achieved.
As evidenced by the lengthy treatment of the complex in William Hunt’s 1972 biography of the firm, Total Design, the Los Angeles Music Center may well reflect the most complete realization of Becket’s philosophy. Welton Becket staff either designed, or had custom designed, all of the interior furnishings and fixtures, carpeting, signage, lighting fixtures, restaurant china and flatware, and even the menus and promotional brochures, announcements, and programs for the facility. Leadership of the firm was assumed by MacDonald Becket, Welton’s son, after his death in 1969. In 1987, Ellerbe Associates acquired Welton Becket Inc. to become Ellerbe Becket Inc. The firm continues today as Ellerbe-Becket.