Biography of Louis J. Gill
compiled by Cornelius O'Leary, CHA Research Volunteer
Louis Gill was born in 1885 in Syracuse, New York. He was the nephew of acclaimed San Diego architect Irving Gill. He studied architecture at Syracuse University and moved to San Diego in 1911 to work as a draftsman at his uncle’s firm. In 1914 he entered into a partnership with his uncle and together the two men designed several high‐profile projects. Louis Gill also worked independently during this time, and in 1916 was selected as the architect responsible for designing the original San Diego Zoo. In 1919 he went on to establish his own practice after the partnership with his uncle dissolved.
In 1920 Louis Gill designed his first house of worship, the Sacred Heart Church in Coronado (pictured above). Considered the finest church building that he ever designed, the Sacred Heart Church maintained the ideals of the medieval designers of churches who subordinated every detail to some devotional purpose. The interior formed a Latin cross with the main altar at the head, two independent chapels with side altars for arms, and the long, high nave terminating the foot. Gill placed the few stained-glass windows high in the nave and concealed the main lighting behind the arch that spanned the sanctuary rail. The church serves as an excellent example of the Mission Revival style and religious institutional architecture from the 1920s. The church located at 655 C Avenue was designated a Historic Resource by the city in 2017.
Louis Gill went on to design the residences of several distinguished San Diegans, including philanthropist Ellen Browning Scripps. He also designed a number of churches, apartment houses, and commercial structures throughout San Diego many of which have been named local historical resources. Reflective of the architectural movements popular at the time, he designed almost exclusively in the Spanish Eclectic and Mission Revival styles.
He continued to practice architecture until his retirement in 1955, following a career that spanned nearly 44 years. Gill remained in his Mission Hills home through 1969, when he and his wife moved to Studio City to be closer to their children.
Louis Gill died in 1969 at the age of 84.
Architect biographies compiled through the use of:
Coronado Historic Resource Commission Agendas &Minutes
City of Coronado's Searchable Register of Designated Historic Resources
Coronado Designated Historic Resources Map
Biographies of Established Masters - City of San Diego 2011
California Digital Newspaper Collection
City of San Diego Historical Resources Board minutes
San Diego History Center website
Modern San Diego website
Legacy 106 website
Friends of San Diego Architecture website
California Historical Resources Inventory Database, City of San Diego
The AIA Historical Directory of American Architects
Save Our Heritage Organization
Internet Archive
