Ronald Birtcher, an influential developer who is best known for building the Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood and downtown’s Los Angeles Wholesale Produce Market, has died.

A Southern California native, Birtcher passed away at his Napa home on April 21. He was 89 years old.

Birtcher and his brother, Art, founded a family partnership that constructed, developed and managed more than 40 million square feet of properties. In 1969, they became the in-house development company for Southern Pacific Railroad, helping to develop 2.3 million acres of landholdings.

In 1990, Ron and Art sold 50% of their company to Mitsui & Co. Ltd., and in 1996 Ron opened an office in China.

Birtcher is credited with being one of the first developers to use tilt-up concrete construction, which is used for big box retail centers, warehouses and office parks.

Birtcher won many awards, including the Medal of Honor from the Building Industry Association in 1988. He also was inducted into the California Homebuilding Foundation’s Builder’s Hall of Fame in 1995 and served as a board member for multiple groups.