About

Mr. Matthews founded John Matthews Architects in San Mateo in 1986. He was previously employed as Project Architect with Peterson Architects in Menlo Park from 1976 to 1986. Prior to that he was employed by: Whisler-Patri Architects, San Francisco; George Cody, Architect, Palo Alto; and Milton Johnson, Architect, Palo Alto. Registered Architect in California, 1976.

Awarded a Bachelor of Architecture Degree, California State Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo in 1972. Studied Architecture for one year in Florence, Italy 1970-71.

Corporate Member of the American Institute of Architects since 1976.
President for the San Mateo County Chapter AIA 1992.
Member of Board of Directors AIA California Council 1994-96.
Member of AIA California Council Legislative Committee 1994-1997.
Member of the Board of Directors for the AIA Center for Civic Leadership.

Member of the Board of Directors for the Human Investment Project Inc. for nine years including three as President.

Member of the Board of Directors for the Pacific Skyline Council of the Boy Scouts of America.

Deputized as an inspector by the California State Office of Emergency Services for inspection of buildings in the City of Oakland following the November 17, 1989 earthquake and then in Southern California after the Northridge earthquake of January 17, 1994. Registered Disaster Service Worker. Instructor in earthquake damage assessment.

Planning Commissioner, City of San Mateo: 1995-2003.
Member of City Council, City of San Mateo: 2003-2011.
Mayor, City of San Mateo: 2007, 2011.

A native of the San Francisco Peninsula, John joined the firm of John Matthews in 1997 following twelve years of dedicated & diverse design work with his own private practice, Rehfeld/Lucchesi Architects.

Prior to private practice, John was employed as a project architect at the firm of Rosekrans and Broder in San Francisco, focusing on the adaptive re-use of buildings for neighborhood cultural centers with the San Francisco Arts Commission and earlier as a designer at the Berkeley firm of Lyndon/Buchanan Architects.

Since 1986, in addition to architectural practice, John has enjoyed the pleasure of contributing to the education of future environmental designers as an Adjunct Professor in Architecture at the College of San Mateo, presenting courses in design, freehand drawing and 20th century architecture.

John supports the notion that a commitment to design quality at a very basic level is a commitment to people and community, to their experience of built form and to the making of their place in the natural and built world.

Licensed Architect C15358, State of California
Member, American Institute of Architects
2006 Chapter President, AIA San Mateo County
Member, Planning Commission, City of South San Francisco, 1992-96
Member, Design Review Board of South San Francisco, 1986-1992

Master of Architecture, University of California at Berkeley, California, 1983
J.K. Branner Travel Fellowship, 1982-83
International Laboratory of Architecture and Urban Design in Siena, Italy, 1982
Bachelor of Science, Architecture, Washington State University, Pullman Washington, 1978

Linda brings to the firm a broad background that includes experience in project design and management, urban design and education.

Architectural projects on which she was involved include the renovation of a 41,000 square foot townhouse in Manhattan for the Office of Thierry W. Despont and the renovation of a Byzantine-style villa in Southern France for Charles T. Young Architects. In New York she was also involved in project management on educational projects as a consultant for the NYC School Construction Authority.

While in private practice in Mississippi she received an Honor Award from the AIA for her design work for a children’s gallery at the Mississippi Museum of Art. The project was a joint venture with Samuel Mockbee, Architect, and was published in Architectural Record and in Architecture. During that time she served on the Trustee Committee for Education. Her design for a State Park Bathhouse in Mississippi for Eley Associates also won recognition from the AIA and was published in Architecture. Her children’s sculpture for the Farish Street Green in Jackson, Mississippi, was exhibited at the Urban Center Galleries in New York.

Linda has taught design studios at the Boston Architectural Center, the University of Oklahoma, and at Mississippi State University. As an Associate Planner for the City of Oklahoma City, Urban Design Division, Linda developed detailed neighborhood level design proposals.

For several years prior to joining John Matthews Architects Linda was involved in adaptive reuse projects as well as single family residential projects in Santa Cruz County. She holds an architect license in Mississippi as well as NCARB certification.

Linda holds a Master of Architecture degree from the Graduate School of Design at Harvard University and a Bachelor of Architecture with Honors from the College of Architecture at the University of Oklahoma.