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[[image: black and white photograph of Edgardo Contini]]

Edgardo Contini was graduated summa cum laude in Civil Engineering from the University of Rome in 1937. He came to the United States in 1939, undertook graduate work in planning at the New School for Social Research in New York, and subsequently was associated as a structural engineer with the firm of Albert Kahn in Detroit. During World War II he served with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the European Theater.

In 1947 Edgardo Contini started his own practice as a consultant engineer in Los Angeles and, in 1951, he joined Victor Gruen Associates as Partner in Charge of Engineering. Subsequently, his activity was expanded to the planning field, and, as "Partner in charge," he has directed several of the firm's major planning projects. In the academic field, Edgardo Contini has lectured in planning, engineering and design in universities, has been guest speaker before civic and educational groups, and has written numerous articles and technical papers. Edgardo Contini is a Fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers, an associate member of the American Institute of Planners and of the Structural Engineers Association of Southern California. He holds a certificate of qualification from the National Council of State Boards of Engineering Examiners and is licensed to practice in thirteen states and Canada.

[[image: black and white photograph of Ben Southland]]

Ben Southland was graduated from the University of Southern California, receiving a degree of Bachelor of Architecture in 1941; subsequently, he taught design courses at the University of Southern California School of Architecture.

After serving four years with the United States Navy, he resumed architectural practice in 1945 in Connecticut. Later he returned to California where, as a member of a professional partnership, he planned and designed residential and institutional projects throughout the wester states.

Ben Southland joined Victor Gruen in 1948 and became Director of Planning in 1952. Partnership status was attained in 1956, and he has since been instrumental in broadening the work of the firm in the planning field to its present scope. All land planning, central business district and downtown revitalization studies, analyses and programming studies assigned to the Western office are now under his direction.

Ben Southland has been licensed to practice architecture in California since 1948, and has since obtained registration in seventeen other states as well a certification by the National Council of architectural Registration Boards.

[[image: black and white photograph of Herman Guttman]]

Herman Guttman was graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree of Bachelor of Architecture in 1941, and undertook graduate work in design at Harvard University.

First professional experience was in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Panama in connection with the Third Locks Project; subsequently, as a project engineer in the petroleum and chemical industries, he was entrusted with the design and construction of processing facilities.

He joined Victor Gruen in 1946, and opened the firm's San Francisco office in 1947.

In 1952 Herman Guttman established and directed the Minneapolis office
and was responsible for the coordination of the planning, architectural and engineering activities of the firm in connection with the Southdale Shopping Center, the first enclosed, air-conditioned mall complex. Returning to Los Angeles in 1957 as a Partner, he assumed the responsibility for all architectural production and construction coordination, as well as the direction of specific projects as "Partner in charge." Herman Guttman is a member of the American Institute of Architects, is licensed to practice architecture in ten states, and is certified by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards.

[[image: black and white photograph of Beda Zwicker]]

Beda Zwicker was educated at the Swiss federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, Switzerland, and received a Master of Architecture Degree in 1950. Prior to joining Victor Gruen Associates in 1953, he was engaged as a planner and designer in connection with several large-scale projects in South America.

In 1958, after five years of planning experience with the Gruen organization, Beda Zwicker was entrusted with the direction of the Planning Department. In addition to his departmental administrative responsibilities, as Associate in charge he directed the preparation of comprehensive city plans, urban core and urban renewal plans, and of master development plans in connection with office, apartment, institutional research and commercial building complexes. He was appointed Director of Planning in 1960, and in that same year moved to New York where he assumed charge of the New York office and the eastern operations of the firm. He was made a Partner of victor Gruen Associates in 1963.

Beda Zwicker maintains membership in the Swiss Institute of Engineers and Architects.