Ward Preston

William "Ward" Preston started his career in architecture, opening his own firm in Tarzana, CA after graduating from USC. His good friend Norm Baron invited him to come work at Warner Bros. studios as a set designer in 1965 and his career in show business began. He is known for his work on The Poseidon Adventure (1972), Airplane! (1980), and Purple Rain (1984). He was nominated for an Oscar for Best Art Direction for his work on The Towering Inferno (1974).