David Meckel Endowed Scholarship

The David Meckel Endowed Scholarship will be established by family and friends in honor of David’s enduring impact on students, alumni, faculty, and staff at California College of the Arts during his 37 year tenure. The scholarship is available to CCA students who demonstrate financial need from all disciplines and programs. Through the creation of this scholarship, CCA will provide opportunities in perpetuity to students who may not otherwise be able to attend CCA. 

David Meckel, FAIA, a licensed architect and an arts educator, began his career working with Charles and Ray Eames in their Venice, California studio. A few years later he directed all of the design work for the Los Angeles Olympic Games. Time Magazine declared the effort “Not just the year’s, but surely the decade’s most glittering and effective demonstration of the power of creative design.” 

David served with four presidents during his time at the college. From the mid-eighties to the early nineties he launched the Architecture program, served as the first Dean of the School of Architectural Studies, and led the conversion of the former Greyhound Bus facility into a Top Ten Green Building accommodating the growth in new undergraduate and graduate programs. 

Entering the 2000’s he was instrumental in beginning the strategic planning necessary to create a single unified campus with student housing, and for the last part of his tenure he led the efforts that built much of that housing and campus design work, as well as guiding the vision for the Oakland campus to become much needed housing for the Bay Area. 

David believes that artists and designers are optimists, identifying problems and navigating constraints to provide inspiring and unexpected solutions. He remains wholeheartedly committed to the success of CCA students and the college as a whole. David is known for his professionalism, optimism, and collaboration across all disciplines. This scholarship embodies the values shared by CCA and will expand on the countless contributions David made to enhance the school’s community and reach.