Clinton Briggs Ripley
Encyclopedia
Clinton Briggs Ripley was an American
architect
active in Honolulu, Hawaii
, from the 1890s until the 1920s. He arrived from California
in 1891 at the age of 42, became Commissioner of Patents in 1894, then formed a partnership with a junior but well-connected local architect, C.W. Dickey, during the peak of the building boom in 1896–1900. During the downturn that followed, he briefly headed the Concrete Construction Company, then looked for work elsewhere before settling back in Honolulu in 1910 in partnership first with Arthur L. Reynolds, and then with Louis E. Davis
from 1913 until his death. (Reynolds went on to design the Aloha Tower
, and Davis went on to design President William McKinley High School
and many other notable buildings.)
His early work in Downtown Honolulu
was in the then popular Richardsonian Romanesque
style, as in the old Central Fire Station
(1896, remodeled in 1934), the Bishop Estate Building on Merchant Street (1896), the Irwin Block (Nippu Jiji building) on Nuuanu Street (1897), and Progress Block on Fort Street (1897), the last now occupied by Hawaii Pacific University
. Among his other notable buildings were the H.P. Baldwin Home (1899, with Dickey) and Hawaii Hall for the new University of Hawaii
(1911, with Reynolds).
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
active in Honolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Hawaii. Honolulu is the southernmost major U.S. city. Although the name "Honolulu" refers to the urban area on the southeastern shore of the island of Oahu, the city and county government are consolidated as the City and...
, from the 1890s until the 1920s. He arrived from California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
in 1891 at the age of 42, became Commissioner of Patents in 1894, then formed a partnership with a junior but well-connected local architect, C.W. Dickey, during the peak of the building boom in 1896–1900. During the downturn that followed, he briefly headed the Concrete Construction Company, then looked for work elsewhere before settling back in Honolulu in 1910 in partnership first with Arthur L. Reynolds, and then with Louis E. Davis
Louis Davis (architect)
Louis E. Davis was an American architect who designed homes and public buildings in Honolulu, Hawaii. During the 1920s, he was involved in laying out the new King Street campus of President William McKinley High School and designing its buildings in a Spanish Colonial Revival style...
from 1913 until his death. (Reynolds went on to design the Aloha Tower
Aloha Tower
The Aloha Tower is a lighthouse that is considered one of the landmarks of the state of Hawaii in the United States. Opened on September 11, 1926, the Aloha Tower is located at Pier 9 of Honolulu Harbor. It has and continues to be a guiding beacon welcoming vessels to the City and County of Honolulu...
, and Davis went on to design President William McKinley High School
President William McKinley High School
President William McKinley High School, more commonly referred to as McKinley High School, is a public, co-educational college preparatory high school of the Hawaii State Department of Education and serves grades nine through twelve...
and many other notable buildings.)
His early work in Downtown Honolulu
Downtown Honolulu
Downtown Honolulu is the current historic, economic, governmental, and central part of Honolulu—bounded by Nuuanu Stream to the west, Ward Avenue to the east, Vineyard Boulevard to the north, and Honolulu Harbor to the south—situated within the larger Honolulu District...
was in the then popular Richardsonian Romanesque
Richardsonian Romanesque
Richardsonian Romanesque is a style of Romanesque Revival architecture named after architect Henry Hobson Richardson, whose masterpiece is Trinity Church, Boston , designated a National Historic Landmark...
style, as in the old Central Fire Station
Fire Stations of Oahu
The Honolulu Fire Department operates their 44 Fire Stations on the Island of Oahu, and in and around Honolulu. Seven current or former stations are on the National Register of Historic Places, of which five are still in use today as fire stations....
(1896, remodeled in 1934), the Bishop Estate Building on Merchant Street (1896), the Irwin Block (Nippu Jiji building) on Nuuanu Street (1897), and Progress Block on Fort Street (1897), the last now occupied by Hawaii Pacific University
Hawaii Pacific University
Hawaii Pacific University, also known as HPU, is a private, Nonsectarian, coeducational university located in Honolulu, Hawaii and Kaneohe, Hawaii. HPU founded in 1965 as Hawaii Pacific College by Paul C.T. Loo, Eureka Forbes, Elizabeth W...
. Among his other notable buildings were the H.P. Baldwin Home (1899, with Dickey) and Hawaii Hall for the new University of Hawaii
University of Hawaii
The University of Hawaii System, formally the University of Hawaii and popularly known as UH, is a public, co-educational college and university system that confers associate, bachelor, master, and doctoral degrees through three university campuses, seven community college campuses, an employment...
(1911, with Reynolds).