Charney was born in San Francisco, California.^[1] While working as a licensed general contractor, Charney attended the Art Center School where he studied architecture under Rudolph Schindler and Richard Neutra.^[2]

By February 1955 Charney had won the construction contract for the second rebuilding of landmark Hollywood restaurant Perino's, at 4101 Wilshire.^[3] The architect was Charney's sometime collaborator Alfred March. Charney later opened his own solo firm, Jack Allen Charney AIA Associates, based in Los Angeles, California,

Thumb — Sierra Towers, West Hollywood, 1965

Like his mentor Neutra, in residential designs Charney was known for an open-concept plan, with indoor/outdoor living areas, sliding glass door walls and light-filled rooms. It was Charney's philosophy "to take maximum advantage of views of city, mountains and ocean".^[4]

In his public buildings, Charney was known for impressive, mid-century architectural conceptual designs for apartment complexes, commercial and office buildings, and restaurants across southern California—in Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, San Diego and Long Beach. His largest single project was the Sierra Towers at 9255 Doheny Road in West Hollywood, which remains a prestigious address, the tallest building for miles, condo units held by an array of celebrities, and an appearances in Grand Theft Auto Online as Eclipse Towers.^[5]

Charney died in Los Angeles County in 2002, at 82.^[6]

Life and career

Buildings

References