Walter was born in Louisville, KY in 1886 to William and Matilda Steilberg. Around 1889 his family moved to the San Diego area. He graduated from UC Berkeley in 1911 with a Bachelor's degree in Architecture while minoring in Structural Engineering. He became an expert in Seismic Architecture developing his own style of fabrication of earthquake resistant concrete buildings. Sometime between 1910-13, Walter married Rowena. Between December 10, 1918 and January 10, 1919, Walter lost his mother Matilda, wife Rowena, and infant daughter Rowena to the Spanish Flu. He remarried in 1921 to Elizabeth Van Everen Ferguson of New York. For a period of time, Walter was a Professor of Structural Engineering at UCB. In 1928 he designed the Bancroft Hotel, which is now a national landmark adjacent to the UCB campus. He designed a portion of San Simeon (Hearst Castle). For many years he collaborated with Julia Morgan, a noted architect and engineer. During WW2, Walter served in the Construction Battalions (Seabees) in Kodiak, Alaska. He was still working at age 88 when he was struck by a car and died.
Walter was born in Louisville, KY in 1886 to William and Matilda Steilberg. Around 1889 his family moved to the San Diego area. He graduated from UC Berkeley in 1911 with a Bachelor's degree in Architecture while minoring in Structural Engineering. He became an expert in Seismic Architecture developing his own style of fabrication of earthquake resistant concrete buildings. Sometime between 1910-13, Walter married Rowena. Between December 10, 1918 and January 10, 1919, Walter lost his mother Matilda, wife Rowena, and infant daughter Rowena to the Spanish Flu. He remarried in 1921 to Elizabeth Van Everen Ferguson of New York. For a period of time, Walter was a Professor of Structural Engineering at UCB. In 1928 he designed the Bancroft Hotel, which is now a national landmark adjacent to the UCB campus. He designed a portion of San Simeon (Hearst Castle). For many years he collaborated with Julia Morgan, a noted architect and engineer. During WW2, Walter served in the Construction Battalions (Seabees) in Kodiak, Alaska. He was still working at age 88 when he was struck by a car and died.
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