PCAD - Gene Kapiton Zema

Portrait of Gene Zema (left) and Albert Bumgardner (right), Seattle, 1955; photo by Art Hupy, from the University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections Division, Modern Photographers Collection

Detail of an exterior view of Gould Hall under construction, as seen from NE Pacific Street, Seattle, WA, 1970. From Seattle Municipal Archives Collection 1802-0P: Comptroller/Clerk File photographs, Item #CF 268044)

Exterior view of Gould Hall seen from the west, across 19th Avenue NE, Seattle, c. 2018; from "Facilities," University of Washington, Department of Architecture, accessed 08/22/2018

Exterior view of main building, Wells Medina Nursery, Medina, WA, 2021. Photo by Alan Michelson, added 04/15/2024

view all images (41 of 9 shown)

Male, US, born 1926-09-02, died 2021-10-09

Associated with the firms network

McAdoo, Benjamin F., Jr., Architect; Ridley, John T., Architect; The Artists and Architects Group (TAAG); Zema and Bumgardner, Architects; Zema and Streissguth, Associated Architects; Zema, Gene, Architect

Professional History

Résumé

Draftsman, Benjamin McAdoo, Architect, Seattle, WA, c. 1950.

Draftsman, John Ridley, Architect, Seattle, WA, c. 1950.

Partner, Zema and Bumgardner Architects, Seattle, WA, 1955-before 1962.

Principal, Gene K. Zema, Architect, Seattle, WA, -1976; while practicing, Zema also sold Asian antique objects from his gallery in the Eastlake Neighborhood of Seattle. He gained a reputation as a connoisseur of Asian art.

Professional Activities

Zema joined the American Institute of Architects (AIA), Washington State Chapter, in 1954; Chair, AIA, Washington State Chapter, Exhibits Committee, 1954-1955.

When queried in 1955, Zema indicated that he was a Registered Architect in the states of WA and NV.

Education

College

B.Arch, University of Washington (UW), School of Architecture, Seattle, WA, 1950; Zema first matriculated at the UW in 1944, to study aeronautical engineering. In the Spring of 1945. He enlisted in the US Navy's V5 pilot training program.

Personal

Relocation

Zema was born in San Francisco, CA, and grew up in the Sacramento Valley, CA.

He attended the University of Washington (UW), Seattle, between 1946-1950.

The architect passed away at his residence on Whidbey Island, WA, at the age of 95.

Spouse

Gene Zema married Janet Bothwell on 04/21/1951 in Seattle, WA.

Children

When surveyed in 1955, Zema reported having had two children.

Associated Locations

San Francisco, CA (Architect's Birth)
San Francisco, CA
OpenStreetMap (new tab)
Google Map (new tab)

PCAD id: 1847

map

Buildings and other works

Name	Date	City	State
2222 16th Avenue East House, Seattle, WA	1969	Seattle	WA
3919 48th Avenue NE House, Laurelhurst, Seattle, WA		Seattle	WA
4234 51st Avenue NE House, Laurelhurst, Seattle, WA	1962	Seattle	WA
4518 West Mercer Way House, Mercer Island, WA	1965-1966	Mercer Island	WA
6850 35th Avenue NE Medical Clinic, Seattle, WA		Seattle	WA
8241 45th Avenue NE House, Wedgwood, Seattle, WA	1954	Seattle	WA
Heaney House, Mercer Island, WA	1954	Mercer Island	WA
Holm, William, House, Richmond Beach, Shoreline, WA		Shoreline	WA
Johnson House, Mercer Island, WA	1957	Mercer Island	WA
Johnson, Dr. Richard and Shirley, House, Bellevue, WA	1962	Bellevue	WA
Kalis, Donald, House, Cougar Mountain, Bellevue, WA	1957	Bellevue	WA
Lupton, Homer and Myra, House, Mercer Island, WA	1961	Mercer Island	WA
Stamey Medical Clinic, Lynnwood, WA	1962	Lynnwood	WA
Stephens House, Montlake, Seattle, WA	1969-1970	Seattle	WA
University of Washington, Seattle (UW), Gould, Carl F., Sr., Hall, University District, Seattle, WA	1971	Seattle	WA
University of Washington, Seattle (UW), Nuclear Reactor Building, Seattle, WA	1961	Seattle	WA
Wells Medina Nursery, Medina, WA	1968	Medina	WA
Zema, Gene, Architectural Office and Gallery, Eastlake, Seattle, WA	1961	Seattle	WA
Zema, Gene, House #1, Lake Forest Park, WA	1952	Lake Forest Park	WA
Zema, Gene, House #2, Laurelhurst, Seattle, WA		Seattle	WA
Zema, Gene, House, Lopez Island, WA		Lopez Island	WA

Publications

"Zema, Gene K.", American Architects Directory 1956, 628, 1955. "Zema, Gene K.", American Architects Directory 1962, 790, 1962. "A teaching Reactor in a Glass Pavilion [University of Washington, Seattle]", Architectural Record, 134: 182-183, 1963-09. "Strong Lines Lead Students to Nuclear Learning", Architecture / West, 18-19, 12/1962. "Nuclear Reactor Building", Arts and Architecture, 80: 22-23, 01/1963. Johnston, Norman J. , Campus Guide University of Washington, 108-109, 2001. Hildebrand, Grant, "The University of Washington's Gould Hall", Gene Zema Architect | Craftsman, 70-73, 2011. Lucas, Patricia Latourette, Growing with Seattle: The Story of the Sellen Construction Company, 90, 1996. Woodbridge, Sally, Montgomery, Roger, Guide to Architecture in Washington State, 225, 1980. Woodbridge, Sally, Montgomery, Roger, "House, 1966", Guide to Architecture in Washington State, 235, 1980. Woodbridge, Sally, Montgomery, Roger, Guide to Architecture in Washington State, 225, 1980. Woodbridge, Sally, Montgomery, Roger, Guide to Architecture in Washington State, 231, 1980. Woodbridge, Sally, Montgomery, Roger, Guide to Architecture in Washington State An Environmental Perspective, 168, 1980. Woodbridge, Sally, Montgomery, Roger, "Stephens House, 1970", Guide to Architecture in Washington State: An Environmental Perspective, 171, 1980. Streissguth, Daniel, Zema, Gene, Proposed Building for the College of Architecture & Urban Planning, University of Washington, Seattle, Washingto, c. 1968. Perry, Nick, "It's hot, but is it historic?", Seattle Times, B1-B2, 2008-03-04. "UW architecture grads set reunion: Gould Hall is an "appropriate" site because of namesake's work", Seattle Times, F14, col 1, 05/11/1980. "Central court highlight of U.W.'s Gould Hall", Seattle Times, 67, 12/26/1971. Johnston, Norman J., "Additional Significant Seattle Architects Zema, Gene K.", Shaping Seattle Architecture, 355, 1994. Onouye, Barry, Kane, Kevin, Statics and Strength of Materials for Architecture and Building Construction, 568, 2007. Harrill, Rob, "Decommissioning of More Hall reactor ends", University Week, 23: 22, 2, 04/06/2006.

Links

An historic hot house Gene K. Zema September 2, 1926 - October 9, 2021 King Marriage Records - Gene Zema - Janet Bothwell Northwest Modernism: A Style for the Elements Seattle Times/AIA Home of the Month/Year 1954-2004 Should the UW's Brutalist Nuclear Reactor Building be Saved? The Nuke Building could get nuked UW regents vote to demolish old reactor building listed as historic UW suing Seattle over control of historic campus buildings