Rann Haight, Architect

Rann is a licensed architect in the states of California (License #C-12693) and Idaho (License #AR-2533). His range of expertise includes multiple experiences in large technically complex facilities as well as many outstanding residential projects. He received his Associate of Science Degree in Architecture (1973) from Cosumnes River College, Sacramento, California, and his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Industrial Design (1975) from the California Institute of the Arts, Valencia, California; a college founded and managed by the Walt Disney Organization. Rann earned his California Architectural License in 1982 and his Idaho Architectural License in 1997.

After college, Rann married his wife, Samm, and for their first 20 years of marriage resided in the California Delta. They have three daughters, Heidi, Erin and Sara.

Rann was co-founder of Arktegraf, a Sacramento architectural firm specializing in custom residential, multi-family, office, commercial and restaurant designs. In 1980, he joined Dreyfuss and Blackford Architectural Group to head the programming and design of Lincoln Plaza. This multi-level, 2 block-long, 450,000 s.f. structure is the Corporate Headquarters for Cal PERS (Public Employees Retirement System) State of California. Rann’s team invented the Carlisle Roof System, which is now mandated by the cities of Portland, OR and Chicago, IL for green construction. Although the Cal PERS office building pre-dates the LEEDS program, it was evaluated on its twenty-fifth year and received a “Gold” rating. Rann did extensive research on accessibility and incorporated features into the building before the enactment of the Americans Disabilities Act (ADA). The building still exceeds the requirements of ADA.

Rann followed this project by designing the original ARCO Arena (temporary home of the Sacramento Kings) at Dreyfuss and Blackford. He left Dreyfuss and Blackford to complete the construction of the temporary arena and head the design and construction of the 160-acre sports complex, which included the ARCO Arena (Sleep Train Arena) and a 70,000-seat football/baseball stadium. He is the Architect of the 17,500 seat ARCO Arena.

Rann’s experience in professional sports facilities has given him a strong practical knowledge of fixed seating sight lines, broadcasting, communications, optics, acoustics, food service, and fire suppression systems.

Rann’s restaurant experience includes Shot of Class and Americo’s both restaurants in Sacramento and Aunt Bonnie’s Cookies. Rann was the chief designer for the 750 seat Turf Club restaurant and luxury suites at the Golden Bear Raceway on the California State Fair grounds and the remodel to the El Macero Country Club building in Davis, California.

In 1990, Rann opened his own firm specializing in custom home design and light commercial projects. In 1995 he and his family moved to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho where he continues his practice. His designs include custom homes as large as 20,000 square feet in Idaho, Montana, California, Alaska, Nevada, Washington, Wyoming, Hawaii, Mexico and British Columbia. Rann designs custom masonry heaters for Tulikivi of Finland, which can be found at www.warmstone.com.

Rann was co-architect (with the late Roy Marshall) for the Coeur d’Alene Area Chamber of Commerce/Visitor’s Center, the Kootenai Health Cancer Treatment Center in Post Falls and the first Hospice House in the state of Idaho, a 14-bed facility for Hospice of North Idaho.

Rann remodeled Tony’s on the Lake in 2005 for the D’Alessandro family, owners of the aforementioned Americo’s restaurant. Rann has an ongoing relationship with Hagadone Hospitality, which manages the Kootenai River Inn, owns the Coeur d’Alene Inn and the University Inn in Moscow. He has designed the complete renovation of all three of these Best Western Plus Hotels as well as adding a casino, spa and 32-room wing to the Kootenai River Inn facility. All three facilities have earned the highest design awards given by Best Western Hotels.

Rann is continuing the restoration of a San Francisco art deco residence designed on-air on KGO radio and built with sponsorship from NBC and General Electric in 1940. This project has earned Rann “Project of the Year” honors from the California Art Deco Society.

Rann’s personal hobbies include fly-fishing, traditional archery and wooden boat design and construction. He has personally built 3 classic boat designs up to 26’ in length. His latest creation is a 26’ draketail launch designed from scratch and built in Coeur d’Alene, ID. All three of these boats are used regularly on the waters of Lake Coeur d’Alene. Rann has been the Chairman of the Coeur d’Alene Wooden Boat Festival for two years and acted as the local point man for the first International Antique and Classic Boat Society (ACBS) boat show and annual meeting held in Coeur d’Alene in 2002 and again in 2008. Rann consults on a regular basis with the Wood Boat Building Division of Hagadone Marine.

Rann’s projects have been featured on several occasions in Sunset Magazine, Coeur d’Alene Magazine, CdA Design Magazine, Nspire Magazine, Wooden Boat Magazine’s Small Boat Journal and KXLY TV. He has been published nationally for expertise in the technical aspects of large fixed seat facilities. Rann publishes a daily comic, “Tomorrow is…” in the Coeur d’Alene Press.

Due to the fact that Rann maintains a loyal client base, over the past 40 years many have returned to engage his services on new projects. Rann is always grateful to add new clients to his ever-expanding practice.