Born July 22, 1914, Charles Albert Lawrence Jr. grew up in Seattle and received his Bachelor’s in Architecture from the University of Washington (UW) in 1938. He continued his education in Boston, with a Master’s degree from MIT. IN the summer during his schooling, Lawrence gained valuable experience working as a draftsman for the National Park Service (1937), Loveless & Frey in Seattle (1938), and the firm of B. Sumner Grozen in New Jersey (1939).  Upon his return to the Pacific Northwest in 1940, he took a job as a draftsman with the Seattle firm of McClelland & Jones (1940-1942).

In 1943, Lawrence formed a lasting partnership with fellow UW and MIT graduate George W. Hazen. Their own office building at 8626 Roosevelt Way in Seattle won an AIA National Merit Award in 1953. The firm, which focused primarily on residential design, was published in a variety of architectural magazines including Popular Home, Architectural Record, and Better Homes & Gardens. Known projects include the John Irwin House (1940); the W.H. Connon Jr. House (1940); the Patricelli House (1947); the Floyd Flint House (1949); and the Susan Anne Apartments (1955) —all located in Seattle.  Between 1954 and 1976, eleven designs by the firm were featured in the Seattle Times / AIA Home-of-the-Month program. The partnership also had the distinction of designing the first model home after WWII for the Seattle Home Show.

Other notable projects include the 2600 Thorndyke Apartments (1954); the Dr. Anderson Medical Clinic (1959); Crown Lutheran Church (1962); Morrison Building (1963) in Kenmore; and Bellevue First Baptist Church (1960).

The Lawrence & Hazen partnership lasted for over thirty years until Lawrence retired in 1988. He passed away in Seattle on July 12, 1991, just shy of his 77^th birthday.

– Michael C Houser