Robert Steinberg is chairman of Steinberg Architects, an international firm started by his father in 1953. He has served on SPUR’s Board of Directors — initially as our San Jose chair — since we opened our San Jose office in 2012.
Steinberg started out as a summer intern at his father’s architecture firm, then went to NYU School of the Arts to study film. “I made documentary films internationally and in Hollywood,” he says. “But I discovered that I couldn’t make a living making the kinds of films I wanted to make, so I went back to school.” He earned his Master’s in architecture and joined his father’s firm in 1977.
Early in his career, Steinberg was motivated by the big moves being made by the Redevelopment Agency under Frank Taylor in downtown San Jose: “He insisted we move the firm from our former Gish Road location to downtown, on Pierce Avenue, in 1985.” The firm now has offices on Market Street in San Jose, as well as in San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York and Shanghai.
Since that time, Steinberg Architects has been involved in some of the most recognizable and iconic structures in San Jose, including the Convention Center, City Hall, the Tech Museum, the county’s historic courthouse and many others.
In addition to architectural work, Steinberg has always done development. His firm recently completely the Pierce apartments, on the site where the firm once had its offices. It is now a mid-rise residential tower developed in partnership with Sares Regis in the SoFA arts and cultural district. More housing is on the way: “We are excited to soon break ground on two 300-foot-tall residential towers across from City Hall that will include flex space on the upper floors.”
When did you first become interested in cities, and how did you first learn about SPUR?
Through my involvement with the design and development community, I often heard about SPUR’s focus on the built environment. I followed SPUR for many years and periodically attended SPUR events. When SPUR made the decision to open its office in San Jose, I was approached to engage. I was initially a little skeptical, but as I thought about it I became more and more excited and convinced that SPUR’s presence was ideal for San Jose’s development. With the increasing focus on downtown, I thought the city needed more than the local cast of voices and that San Jose would benefit from outside perspectives. I found SPUR’s involvement in the city to be such a good fit that I served as its founding board chair in San Jose. I believes SPUR is in sync with my philosophy for city-building, and I am hugely proud to continue to be actively involved.
What's your favorite city?
I love Shanghai. We now have a Steinberg office there.
Favorite view?
The view from my first family home in Los Altos Hills. It had floor-to-ceiling glass, and we could see horses, the hills, the Valley and the Bay. It is a sight etched in my memory and has influenced my perception as an architect. I am fascinated by the relationship between the inside and outside and how sculpting space shapes interactions between people.
Favorite book, film or work of art about cities?
Robert Venturi’s Ghost Structures, a steel-frame sculpture of Benjamin Franklin’s house in Philadelphia. It references the past (the shape and floorplan of the former building) but his design speaks to the future in a modern, elegant expression.