Biographical/Historical Note
Born and raised in Seattle, Washington, MacDonald Becket received his B.Arch in 1952 from
the University of Southern California (USC). While still a student, Becket began to work
part-time at Wurdeman and Becket, the Los Angeles architecture firm of his uncle, Welton
Becket. From the summer of 1948, which he spent operating a blueprint machine, MacDonald
Becket progressed through the ranks of the firm. Upon his graduation from USC, he became a
project manager for Welton Becket and Associates, the new firm his uncle formed after the
death of Walter Wurdeman. His first assignment involved a parking structure for one of the
firm's highest profile projects, Bullock's Pasadena. In the following years, MacDonald
Becket led a broad range of projects, helped develop the firm's New York office, and
progressively expanded his role within the firm; all of which culminated in his being named
as president of the firm shortly before Welton Becket's death in January 1969. In this
position and then as chief executive officer and chairman of the board, MacDonald Becket
oversaw the expansion of the firm into a global architectural giant. With growth, the
structure of the firm also changed. By the early 1980s, the Becket Group headed by MacDonald
Becket operated several subsidiaries, including Becket International, Welton Becket
Associates, Becket Construction Administrators and Becket Investments. In 1987, the Becket
Group merged with Ellerbe, a Minnesota-based firm, to form Ellerbe Becket.
In addition to his leading role at Welton Becket and Associates and the Becket Group,
MacDonald Becket has been active in architectural, academic, cultural and diplomatic
circles. A fellow of the American Institute of Architects, Becket has served on the Board of
Directors of the National Institute of Building Sciences and on the United States Capitol
Architect's Long-Range Planning Committee. Becket is also a benefactor of USC, from which he
earned a certificate in business economics in addition to his architecture degree.
|