Sánchez Gil, Mariano

Gil Sanchez is a rarity in the world of architecture. As a Mexican American, he grew up speaking only Spanish in a society which had yet to realize the value of a multicultural tradition. Sanchez became interested in art at an early age and dreamed of becoming a sculptor. He struggled through school due to the language barrier, yet he received his high school diploma and subsequently joined the army.

Following a tour abroad, Sanchez returned to San Jose and began a job as an architect's apprentice. He worked for fifteen different architects over a span of ten years, and attended night school to earn his license. He established his own architectural practice in June of 1973. Over the years, Gil Sanchez has worked on more than 25 adobe projects and numerous other projects.

Some of his most notable projects include, Santa Barbara Presidio, Mission San Juan Bautista, San Juan Capistrano, Mission Santa Clara, the Peralta Adobe, Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park Adobe, and Juana Briones Adobe.

The California Council of the American Institute of Architects (CCAIA) presented Sanchez with the Special Award for Excellence in Historic Preservation at their 1989 Vision Pacific conference and advanced him to Fellowship in the AIA that same year in recognition of his work on the San Jose Mission, the Santa Barbara Presidio, and Mission Santa Cruz. After twenty-three years in his field, Sanchez is best known for his restoration of adobe missions.

From the description of Gil Sanchez Collection, [1970-1990]. (University of California, Santa Barbara). WorldCat record id: 54069181