mid-century

Circa 1966 - Original designs of downtown Riverside's pedestrian mall prior to 2008/2009 renovation (Ruhnau Clarke Architects)

Herman Ruhnau, AIA

Last month, one of Southern California’s notable post-war architects, Herman Otto Ruhnau, passed away at the age of 93 in Riverside, a city in which he left a distinctive architectural legacy. A German by descent, Ruhnau was born September 1, 1912, in Santa Barbara, California. Ruhnau would eventually move with his family to Pasadena before…

2010 - Post-restoration of Thunderbird sign in Riverside (RXSQ)

Neon be gone?

One of the finest neon signs from Riverside’s post-war past may soon be coming down in the name of progress. The owner of the Thunderbird Lodge located at 2711 University Avenue is in the midst of a $1.3 million overhaul of the atomic-era motel. Sadly, not included within the renovation are plans to keep the…