Biographical Note
From the 1950's to his death in 1973, Donald H. Drayer was one of the more productive architects in the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Area, notably in the area of large scale apartment and residential developments and commercial buildings. Drayer received his Bachelor of Architecture degree from the Washington University School of Architecture in 1931. In 1934, Drayer became an associate architect with the United States Public Buildings Administration. He worked for four years with the private builder and architect William Waverly Taylor, Jr. starting from 1937. He first attempted to form his own business in 1941, but left one year later to serve in the navy till 1947. Upon return, he worked at the Chevy Chase Land Company for two years, followed by the firm Associate Architects and Engineers as office manager till 1954 when he resumed his private practice. He continued to work as an architect until shortly before his death in 1973. Drayer's rendering style was distinctive, characterized by dramatic foliage and skies. A significant quantity of Drayer's functional contemporary designs were actually built.