Ralph Haver AIA: A Chronology

Compiled by Alison King, founder of Modern Phoenix LLC

This chronology features just a sampling of highlights from the firm's inventory. Many buildings listed here were personally designed by Ralph Haver AIA but several were also designed by principals of the firm. James Salter AIA was responsible for the overall look during the award-winning years. Jimmie Nunn FAIA was responsible for on-site supervision of projects, and interfacing with the public and civic groups in order to get projects approved.

Some projects like the Phoenix Municipal Complex, Quebedeaux Chevrolet, the Ciné Capri Theater and Tower Plaza were completed in collaboration with other firms. Surely dozens of collaborators assisted in design over the decades, but individual credits for the architect of record are difficult to verify.

An Arizona Republic article marking Haver & Nunn's 30-year collaboration cited that the firm built in excess of $500 million dollars worth of buildings by the mid-70s. Verified research documents more than a dozen tract home developments officially bearing Haver's name, totaling hundreds of homes — but the inventory was reported to total roughly 20,000 tract homes built within a five-year span across Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado, thanks to the Johnny Appleseed of affordable Housing, Sam Hoffman.

Primary and secondary sources document dozens of custom homes in the Valley of the Sun. Over 250 individual churches, schools, factories, commercial buildings, apartments, townhomes, and civic buildings were cited in the firm's portfolio by 1967.

The Early Years

• 1915 Born in Pasadena, California the son of a Harry, a mason and Alice, a schoolteacher
• 1941 Graduated University of Southern California, Pasadena with a degree in Architecture
• 1942 Works for Gilmore & Varney architecture firm in Phoenix, AZ
• 1942 Enters the Army Corps of Engineers
• 1943 Serves as a "90 Day Wonder" in the South Pacific and marries wife Millie, whom he met at a USO dance,
• 1946 Separated as Captain from Army Corps of Engineers

• 1945 Built his family a home in Hixson Homes subdivision [now Canal North], Uptown Phoenix
• 1945 The Hopkins House, Uptown Phoenix
• 1946 Continued to work for Ed Varney in Uptown Phoenix on Architect's Row
• 1946 Designed his first architectural office building on Architect's Row

• 1947 Develops Southdale subdivision with his brother, South Phoenix
• 1948 Kensington Terrace subdivision, Uptown Phoenix
• 1949 Mañana Vista subdivision, Phoenix
• 1949 Country Club Apartments [FHA Housing], Uptown Phoenix
• 1949 Madison Rose Lane and Madison #2 schools, Uptown Phoenix
• 1950 Luke Air Force Base Housing, Glendale

• 1950 The Peggy Reed Residence at Ingleside Country Club, Central Phoenix
• 1950 The Nelson Residence, Uptown Phoenix
• 1950 The Morse Residence, Uptown Phoenix
• 1950 Mayfair Manor subdivision, Uptown Phoenix
• 1951 Hoffman Homes with F&S Construction, Uptown Phoenix
• 1951 Poladian Residence, Uptown Phoenix
• 1951 Koko Theater and Restaurant aka Koko Club, Biltmore Area

The Civic Boom Years

• 1952 Forged partnership with Jimmie Nunn in Uptown Phoenix
• 1952 Marlen Grove subdivision, Uptown Phoenix
• 1953 Feltman Building [now Pima Plaza], Central Scottsdale
• 1954 Friedman office building, Uptown Phoenix [now Red Modern Furniture]

• 1952 Princess Homes in Northwood subdivision, Uptown Phoenix
• 1953 Entz White Lumber, Uptown Phoenix [demolished]
• 1953 G.E. Wonder Home, Paradise Valley [unrecognizable/demolished]
• 1954 Lou Regester Furniture [now Copenhagen Imports], Uptown Phoenix
• 1954 Quebedeaux Chevrolet [with Victor Gruen], Downtown Phoenix
• 1954 Starlite Vista subdivision, North Phoenix
• 1954 Maricopa School, Maricopa
• 1955 Haver Development Corp. is formed with Ralph, Millie and Alice Haver
• 1955 Various homes in Tonka Vista subdivision including second Haver family home, Uptown Phoenix

• 1955 Windemere subdivision, Arcadia
• 1955 Princess Homes in Regents Park, Arcadia
• 1955 Park Lee Alice Apartments, West Phoenix
• 1955 Encanto Estates for Del Webb, Downtown Phoenix
• 1955 San Manuel Company Housing for Del Webb, Southern Arizona
• 1955 Barrow's Furniture Store, Tucson
• 1956 Engineering Complex, Arizona State University, Tempe
• 1956 Starlite Model Home for Parade of Homes, North Phoenix
• 1956 Tower Plaza [with John Schotanus], Phoenix
• 1957 Ralph Haver and Jimmie Nunn become founding members of the Central Arizona Chapter of the AIA with five other officers

• 1956 Town & Country Manor subdivision • Town & Country I [aka Rancho Vista], Central Phoenix
• 1956 Orchid Park subdivision, North Phoenix
• 1957 Kaibab Elementary School [AIA Regional Award for Excellence of Design]
• 1957 Janet Manor subdivision • Town & Country II, Uptown Phoenix
• 1958 Holiday Park Four-plexes for Omega Construction, Scottsdale
• 1958 St. Vincent de Paul Church complex, Maryvale
• 1958 Parker House, Arcadia
• 1958 James Salter AIA joins Haver, Nunn and Associates
• 1958 First Thrift Bank, Phoenix
• 1959 Evertson House, Marion Estates, Paradise Valley

• 1959 Finkelstein Residence, Tucson
• 1959 Town & Country Scottsdale subdivision • Town & Country III, Central Scottsdale
• 1959 Social Sciences Building at ASU, Tempe
• 1959 Newman Foundation, Arizona State University [demolished]
• 1959 Hohokam Elementary School, Central Scottsdale [partially demolished]
• 1959 The 4747 Building [demolished]

The Award-Winning Years

• 1960 Phoenix Municipal Complex, Downtown Phoenix [AIA First Honor Award, designed in collaboration with Edward L. Varney and Associates]
• 1960 Casa Blanca Estates with Butler Homes
• 1960 Coronado High School, Central Scottsdale [mostly demolished]
• 1960 Town and Country Paradise • Town & Country IV, North Phoenix
• 1960 Triangle Building (Scottsdale City Hall) for Butler Homes
• 1961 Villa Monterey Retirement Homes with Butler Homes, Scottsdale [phase 1 cited]

• 1961 Ralph Haver and Jimmie Nunn assume business name of Ralph Haver Associates
• 1961 Kon Tiki Motel, Phoenix [demolished]
• 1961 Arizona Bank on Thomas Road
• 1961 Arizona Bank branch, Uptown Phoenix AIA Chapter Award for Excellence of Design AIA Award of Merit [now The Vig Uptown]
• 1961? The 3308 N 3rd Ave Medical Building [hidden under Chanen Construction facade]
• 1961 Delta Chi Fraternity house on ASU's Greek Row, Tempe [demolished]
• 1962 Haver & Nunn Office Building on Missouri, Uptown Phoenix [now the Phoenix Boys Choir]
• 1963 the firm is incorporated as Haver, Nunn & Jensen Architects Inc. with Ross Jensen, James Harris and Jim Salter as fellow incorporators with Haver & Nunn
• 1963 First Federal Savings & Loan, Central Scottsdale [NSID Award for Excellence of Design and AIA Award of Merit, demolished]
• 1963 Barrow's Furniture Store, Tucson [AIA Award of Merit, AIA Honor Award]
• 1963 Engineering Complex expansion, Arizona State University, Tempe
• 1963 Paradise Valley United Methodist Church Master Plan and chapel [Valley Beautification Award]
• 1964 Ciné Capri Theater, [with Henry G. Greene], Phoenix [demolished]
• 1964 Phoenix College Library, additions and various buildings in years to follow, Phoenix
• 1964 Golden Keys Townhomes for Del Trailor, Scottsdale [phase 1 cited]
• 1964 Polynesian Dairy Queen at Polynesian Plaza, Scottsdale
• 1964 Polynesian Plaza, Scottsdale

The Industrial & Corporate Years

• 1965 Beekman Place townhouses, Phoenix
• 1965 Phoenix Country Club Townhouses [Valley Beautification Award]
• 1966 Revlon Factory, Phoenix
• 1966 Goldblatt's Home Center, Chicago
• 1966 Villa D'Este townhomes for Del Trailor, Scottsdale
• 1968 Hacienda Hermosa in Tierre Verde, Litchfield Park
• 1969 American Express Complex, North Phoenix
• 1969 Firm changes name to Haver, Nunn and Nelson and begins to offer engineering services
• 1969 Hillcrest townhomes for Del Trailor, North Phoenix
• 1970 Villa Adrian townhomes for Del Trailor, Scottsdale
• 1971 Avenida Hermosa and Casa Hermosa condos, Uptown Phoenix
• 1974 Key artistic director of the firm, James Salter AIA, dies in tragic accident in Honolulu
• 1973 Sentry Center, North Scottsdale
• 1975 The firm is reorganized into Haver, Nunn and Collamer
• 1978 Escondido custom homes, Southern California [including Haver's own personal "tree house"]

• 1979 Pueblo Bonita duplexes, Arcadia
• 1980 North Phoenix Baptist Church, North Phoenix
• 1981 Salt River Project Administration Building, Phoenix
• 1981 Intel Deer Valley Facility, North Phoenix
• 1983 Ramm Hill townhomes in Borrego Springs, CA [by the San Diego firm]
• 1980s Firm begins to disband, Haver semi-retires in San Diego, Nunn to Flagstaff
• 1986 Four Haver Family custom homes built in one year: Mesa, Carefree, Phoenix, and Cave Creek
• 1986 Jimmie Nunn is inducted as an AIA Fellow

Jimmie Nunn, Ralph Haver, Ed Varney and Fred Guirey

• 1986 Builds his last home in Cave Creek in a boxy international/southwestern style
• 1987 Ralph Burgess Haver passes away in Scottsdale, Arizona from complications of COPD [chronic obstructive pulmonary disease]