Clinton and Russell
Encyclopedia
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, U.S.A. The firm was responsible for scores of notable New York City buildings, downtown and throughout the city.
Biography
Charles W. ClintonCharles W. Clinton
Charles William Clinton was an American architect. From 1894 until his death, Clinton was a partner of the prominent firm of Clinton and Russell, but from 1858 through 1894 he conducted his own significant career....
(1838–1910) was born and raised in New York and received his formal architectural training in the office of Richard Upjohn
Richard Upjohn
Richard Upjohn was an English-born architect who emigrated to the United States and became most famous for his Gothic Revival churches. He was partially responsible for launching the movement to such popularity in the United States. Upjohn also did extensive work in and helped to popularize the...
. He left Upjohn in 1858 to begin a private practice, and from then through 1894 he conducted his own significant career, the highpoint of which was probably the 1880 Seventh Regiment Armory
Seventh Regiment Armory
The Seventh Regiment Armory, located at 643 Park Avenue also known as in New York, New York, United States, is an historic brick building that fills an entire city block on New York's Upper East Side.- History :...
.
William Hamilton Russell (1856–1907) was born in New York City as well. He attended the Columbia School of Mines before he joined his great uncle, James Renwick
James Renwick, Jr.
James Renwick, Jr. , was a prominent American architect in the 19th-century. The Encyclopedia of American Architecture calls him "one of the most successful American architects of his time".-Life and work:Renwick was born into a wealthy and well-educated family...
, in his architecture firm in 1878. At Columbia, Russell had been a member of St. Anthony Hall
St. Anthony Hall
St. Anthony Hall, also known as Saint Anthony Hall and The Order of St. Anthony, is a national college literary society also known as the Fraternity of Delta Psi at colleges in the United States of America. St...
, the secret fraternal college society, and within a year of his joining his great uncle's firm, in 1879, Renwick completed the first St. A's Chapter House, at 25 East 28th Street, likely with Russell involved in the design work. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CEEDF1031F931A3575AC0A966958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=1
In New York City's ambitious building boom circa 1900, Clinton and Russell were responsible for designing the world's largest apartment building, the world's largest office building, and a cluster of early downtown skyscrapers along Broadway and Wall Street for banks and insurance companies. Many of the firm's important commissions related to real estate investments of the Astor family
Astor family
The Astor family is a Anglo-American business family of German descent notable for their prominence in business, society, and politics.-Founding family members:...
. The landmark Astor Hotel
Astor Hotel
The Hotel Astor was a hotel located in the Times Square area of Manhattan, in operation from 1904 through 1967. The former site of the hotel, the block bounded by Broadway, Astor Plaza, West 44th Street, and West 45th Street, is now occupied by the high-rise 54-story office tower One Astor Plaza.-...
that served as an anchor for the development of Times Square, the Astor Apartments, the Graham Court
Graham Court
Graham Court is a historic Harlem apartment building. It was commissioned by William Waldorf Astor, designed by the architects Clinton and Russell, and constructed in 1899-1901 as part of the great Harlem real-estate boom...
Apartments, and The Apthorp
The Apthorp
The Apthorp is a historic condominium apartment building in New York City, New York. The Renaissance Revival building designed by architects Clinton & Russell for absentee landowner William Waldorf Astor was built between 1906 and 1908; it occupies the full block between Broadway and West End...
were among their projects for William Waldorf Astor, 1st Viscount Astor
William Waldorf Astor, 1st Viscount Astor
William Waldorf Astor, 1st Viscount Astor was a very wealthy American who became a British nobleman. He was a member of the prominent Astor family.-Life in United States:...
. Stylistically, much of their work conformed to an conservative Italian Neo-Renaissance style
Neo-Renaissance
Renaissance Revival is an all-encompassing designation that covers many 19th century architectural revival styles which were neither Grecian nor Gothic but which instead drew inspiration from a wide range of classicizing Italian modes...
.
After the deaths of the principals the firm continued in business, and in 1926 it was renamed Clinton Russell Wells Holton & George (and variations of that name). For a time the English-born Colonel James Hollis Wells (1864-1926) headed the organization; the Lillian Sefton Dodge Estate
Lillian Sefton Dodge Estate
Lillian Sefton Dodge Estate, also known as Sefton Manor and Mill Neck Manor Lutheran School for the Deaf, is a historic estate located at Mill Neck in Nassau County, New York. It was designed in 1923 by the noted architectural firm Clinton and Russell for cosmetics executive Lillian Sefton Dodge. ...
on Long Island is his design. The firm remained in existence until 1940.
Notable works
- for Clinton's independent commissions prior to 1894, see Charles W. ClintonCharles W. ClintonCharles William Clinton was an American architect. From 1894 until his death, Clinton was a partner of the prominent firm of Clinton and Russell, but from 1858 through 1894 he conducted his own significant career....
- Fahys Building, 52-54 Maiden Lane, 1894-96 (razed)
- Sampson Building, 63-65 Wall Street, 1898 (razed)
- Hudson Building, 32-34 Broadway, 1896-98
- Exchange Court Building, 52-56 Broadway, 1896-98 (altered, now the Exchange Apartments)
- Woodbridge Building, William and Platt Streets, NYC, 1898 (razed in 1970)
- Curzon House, facade redesign of #4 East 62nd Street, NYC, 1898
- the Franklin Building, 9-15 Murray Street, 1898
- the Chesebrough Building, 13-19 State Street, Battery ParkBattery ParkBattery Park is a 25-acre public park located at the Battery, the southern tip of Manhattan Island in New York City, facing New York Harbor. The Battery is named for artillery batteries that were positioned there in the city's early years in order to protect the settlement behind them...
, NYC, 1899 (razed) - Graham CourtGraham CourtGraham Court is a historic Harlem apartment building. It was commissioned by William Waldorf Astor, designed by the architects Clinton and Russell, and constructed in 1899-1901 as part of the great Harlem real-estate boom...
Apartments, 1899-1901 - Medbery Hall, Dorm Building for Hobart CollegeHobart and William Smith CollegesHobart and William Smith Colleges, located in Geneva, New York, are together a liberal arts college offering Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science and Master of Arts in Teaching degrees. In athletics, however, the two schools compete with separate teams, known as the Hobart Statesmen and the...
, 1900 - Broad Exchange BuildingBroad Exchange BuildingThe Broad Exchange Building is located at 25 Broad Street, Manhattan, New York within the Financial District.- History :It was built in 1900 to provide office space for financial companies including Paine Webber. It was remortgaged in 1909 for USD$3.5m....
, #25 Broad Street, New York City, 1900 - Coxe Hall, Administrative and Classroom Building for Hobart CollegeHobart and William Smith CollegesHobart and William Smith Colleges, located in Geneva, New York, are together a liberal arts college offering Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science and Master of Arts in Teaching degrees. In athletics, however, the two schools compete with separate teams, known as the Hobart Statesmen and the...
, 1901 - American Exchange National Bank Building 128 Broadway, 1901 (razed)
- the 18-story Atlantic Building, aka the Mutual Insurance Building, Wall and William Streets, 1901
- Astor Apartments, 1901-1905
- Wall Street Exchange Building, 43-49 Exchange Place, 1903
- the Beaver Building1 Wall Street CourtThe building at 1 Wall Street Court in Manhattan, also known as The Beaver Building and The Cocoa Exchange is a triangular-shaped building reminiscent of the Flatiron Building...
., 1904 - Hotel Astor, New York City, 1904, expanded 1909-1910 (razed 1967)
- 71st Infantry Regiment Armory71st Infantry Regiment (New York)The 71st Infantry Regiment is an organization of the New York State Guard. Formerly, the 71st Infantry was a regiment of the New York State Militia and then the Army National Guard from 1850 to 1993.-Foundation:...
, Park Avenue and 34th Street, NYC, 1905 (razed 1976) - The LanghamThe LanghamThe Langham is an apartment building in Manhattan, New York City, United States, located along Central Park West. After the site stood idle for more than 15 years, the building was constructed between 1905 and 1907. Built at a cost of US $2 million, the structure included modern amenities, such as...
Apartments, one of the towering apartment buildings lining Central Park West between 73rd and 74th Streets, 1905-1907 - U.S. Express Company Building, 2 Rector Street, 1905-07
- The Apthorp ApartmentsThe ApthorpThe Apthorp is a historic condominium apartment building in New York City, New York. The Renaissance Revival building designed by architects Clinton & Russell for absentee landowner William Waldorf Astor was built between 1906 and 1908; it occupies the full block between Broadway and West End...
, briefly the largest apartment building in the world, NYC, 1906-1908 - Consolidated Stock Exchange Building, 61-69 Broad Street, 1907 (razed)
- Lawyers' Title Insurance & Trust Company, 160 Broadway, NYC, 1908
- the 31-story Whitehall BuildingWhitehall BuildingThe Whitehall Building is a 20-story skyscraper located at 17 Battery Place, across the street from Battery Park in lower Manhattan in New York City.- History :...
Annex , 1908-1910 - the Hudson TerminalHudson TerminalHudson Terminal was an urban railway station on the Hudson and Manhattan Railroad in Lower Manhattan, New York City, and the office skyscraper built to serve the terminal.- Station :...
in lower Manhattan, the world's largest office building by floor area when built in 1908, razed in 1962 for the World Trade CenterWorld Trade CenterThe original World Trade Center was a complex with seven buildings featuring landmark twin towers in Lower Manhattan, New York City, United States. The complex opened on April 4, 1973, and was destroyed in 2001 during the September 11 attacks. The site is currently being rebuilt with five new... - Whyte's Restaurant, Fulton Street, designed as a "half-timbered English village inn", 1910
- redesign of Clarence TrueClarence TrueClarence Fagan True, AIA was an American architect in New York City, one of the most prolific and competent architects to work on the Upper West Side and in Harlem during the last decade of the 19th century and the early part of the 20th century....
's 103-104 Riverside DriveRiverside Drive (Manhattan)Riverside Drive is a scenic north-south thoroughfare in the Manhattan borough of New York City. The boulevard runs on the west side of Manhattan, generally parallel to the Hudson River from 72nd Street to near the George Washington Bridge at 181st Street...
, 1910-1911 - Otis Elevator Building, 260 Eleventh Avenue, 1911-1912
- East River Savings Bank Building, NW corner of Broadway and Reade Streets, 1911
- portions of the Elks National HomeElks National HomeThe Elks National Home is a retirement home built in 1916 by the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, who first started the home in 1903. Its property was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2008. The listing included 23 contributing buildings, 3 contributing sites, 1...
, Bedford, VirginiaBedford, VirginiaBedford is an independent city located within the confines of Bedford County in the U.S. state of Virginia. It serves as the county seat of Bedford County. As of 2010, the city had a total population of 6,222. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the city of Bedford with surrounding Bedford...
, 1916 - the Mecca Masonic Temple, which is better known as New York City CenterNew York City CenterNew York City Center is a 2,750-seat Moorish Revival theater located at 131 West 55th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues in Manhattan, New York City. It is one block south of Carnegie Hall...
, in collaboration with the architect Harry P. Knowles, 1923 - Lillian Sefton Dodge EstateLillian Sefton Dodge EstateLillian Sefton Dodge Estate, also known as Sefton Manor and Mill Neck Manor Lutheran School for the Deaf, is a historic estate located at Mill Neck in Nassau County, New York. It was designed in 1923 by the noted architectural firm Clinton and Russell for cosmetics executive Lillian Sefton Dodge. ...
, Mill NeckMill Neck, New YorkMill Neck is a village in Nassau County, New York in the United States. The population was 997 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Mill Neck is located at .The highest point of Mill Neck is Mill Hill....
, Nassau County, New YorkNassau County, New YorkNassau County is a suburban county on Long Island, east of New York City in the U.S. state of New York, within the New York Metropolitan Area. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,339,532...
, 1923 - The Level ClubThe Level ClubThe Level Club is a building in the Upper West Side neighborhood of New York City, located at 253 West 73rd Street. It was built as a men's club by a group of Freemasons in 1927; it served this original function for about three years. Afterwards, the building was used, in turn, as a hotel and a...
, New York City, , 1927 - Cities Service Building, now called the American International BuildingAmerican International BuildingThe American International Building is a 66-story, 952 foot tall building in Lower Manhattan in New York City. The official address is 70 Pine Street, New York, NY 10270 and is also bordered by Cedar Street and Pearl Street. It was completed in 1932 by the Cities Service Company for the oil and...
, , 1932 - 7 East 67th Street facade.