2009 marks the centennial celebration for the firm that has had strong ties to the University of Oregon. The architecture firm, Lionakis, headquartered in Sacramento, California, has been designing sustainable and innovative buildings for 100 years. Formerly known as Lionakis Beaumont Design Group, the firm currently has California regional offices in San Francisco, Modesto, and Orange along with offices in Reno, Nevada and Seattle, Washington.

The firm’s connection to the UO began with former firm founder, Whitson Cox, FAIA. Cox, a 1948 graduate from the architecture department, teamed up with fellow architect J.R. Liske, AIA, to continue the firm started by California’s first State Architect, George Sellon in 1909.  Recognizing the need for a more expansive design team, they recruited architect George Lionakis, AIA, a 1951 UO architecture alumnus. The three architects along with structural designer Klyne Beaumont spent the greater portion of the 1960’s and 1970’s designing buildings that served the local Sacramento community and the northern California region. The group’s most notable projects include the Sacramento County Administration Building, the Sacramento Bee headquarters and numerous Pacific Telephone facilities.  Cox became the first member of the firm to serve on the School of Architecture and Allied Arts Board of Visitors as a charter member.

Both Lionakis and Cox were extremely active within the architecture community throughout their careers. In 1976 Lionakis served as chapter president of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Central Valley.  Cox stayed active with the profession by serving as local chapter president, California Council president, and as a director on the national board of the American Institute of Architects.  After his retirement in 1978, the firm was honored by Cox being offered the prestigious position of serving as the California State Architect in 1983, becoming the second firm principal to do so.

In 1985, the fifteen person firm was growing a new leadership team and was joined by Bruce Starkweather, FAIA, ’72 to lead the next generation.  The ensuing opportunities and growth enabled the firm to expand throughout the western region resulting in 230 highly skilled professionals located in six offices today. Starkweather, now chairman, has served on numerous national, state, and local boards and committees, as well as, on the A&AA Board of Visitors.  Today the Lionakis firm has six UO graduates currently working in the Sacramento office, including firm chairman Starkweather ‘72, FAIA, , Rob Samish ’82, Jason Ellis ’96, Ryan Starkweather ’02, Candace Epstein ’04 and Kaljit Athwal ’07.  The firm is a regular visitor to the school’s Professional Visiting Firms Day, a recruiting fair held on campus.

Bruce Starkweather, FAIA, credits the architecture program at the UO for the success that many of the firm’s designers now experience. “The foundation of the Lionakis legacy of 100 years is built on the core values found in our firm’s leaders who benefited from the “Oregon experience” in Lawrence Hall.  The depth and quality of our education instilled a passion in all of us to leverage our creativity and make a difference in whatever we pursued.  We live that passion daily, challenging that creativity to go beyond design.”

Whitson Cox passed away in 2007 at the age of 86. George Lionakis, now retired, often visits and consults with those working in the firm to assure himself that the foundation laid by himself, Cox, Liske and Beaumont is still intact.

» Learn More About Lionkais

» Learn More About UO School of Architecture and Allied Arts