Breathing New Life into History

In 1978, preservation architect Wayne Donaldson, FAIA, opened an office in San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter. For over two decades, he grew the firm’s reputation by unifying historic building methods and archaic materials with twenty-first century construction technologies.

When he was appointed as California’s State Historic Preservation Officer, the firm was renamed Heritage Architecture & Planning, representing our common goal—to breathe new life into historic buildings and places. More than forty years have passed, and our work can be experienced at many of the Southwest’s most iconic buildings and sites.

“As a preservation firm, Heritage honors the architects of the past. We help preserve their buildings for future generations to learn from and enjoy.”

—Brian Ricking, AIA, NCARB
Principal, Architect

Original  |  Restored
Hotel Sandford

Our Markets

Protecting Our Unique Historic Resources

By working together across disciplines, our team of architects, planners, historians and conservators bring new meaning to the practice of historic architecture. Every one of us believes in the value of preserving our past for the future.

Our History

1978 1978
1979 1979
1992 1992
1998 1998
2003 2003
2004 2004
2004 2004
2004 2004
2004 2004
2006 2006
2006 2006
2010 2010
2010 2010
2014 2014
2014 2014
2015 2015
2016 2016
2017 2017
2018 2018
2020 2020

1978

Architects Donaldson + Lake is established with partners Wayne
Donaldson and Spencer Lake

1979

Name changed to Architect Milford Wayne Donaldson + Associates.
Gaslamp Quarter rehabilitation projects begin

1992

Wayne Donaldson is named a Fellow of the AIA

1998

Heritage wins a National Trust award for the House of Hospitality reconstruction

2003

Wayne Donaldson celebrates 25 years in architecture at the San Diego Air & Space Museum

2004

Wayne Donaldson changes the firm’s name to Heritage Architecture & Planning

2004

Wayne is named State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO)

2004

Petco Park opens as an “addition” to the Western Metal Supply Co. Building

2004

Heritage wins a National Trust award for the Fourth Ward School in Nevada

2006

Heritage selected to be the historic architect for the Quieter Home Program

2006

Heritage wins three preservation awards from the California Preservation Foundation

2010

National Trust Award given to Heritage for the restoration of the Fifth Street School in Las Vegas

2010

The firm’s Balboa Park Ornamentation Restoration project receives award from the American Public Works Association

2014

Junipero Serra Museum Historic Structure Report receives California Preservation Foundation Award under the Cultural Resources, Studies, or Reports category

2014

San Diego Old Police Headquarters Rehabilitation receives a San Diego AIA Award

2015

Cabrillo/Laurel Street Bridge receives American Public Works Association Project of the Year Award

2016

The Osborn Electriquette receives a California Preservation Design Award for Reconstruction

2017

Horton Plaza Park and Hotel Churchill both receive a Save Our Heritage Organisation People in Preservation Award

2018

Heritage celebrates 40 years headquartered in the Historic Gaslamp Quarter in San Diego

2020

Heritage moves to the new office in the historic Ingersoll-Tutton building

WORKING WITH US

We’d like to know more about your project and how we can collaborate.