Earl Flansburgh
Encyclopedia
Flansburgh graduated from the Cornell Architecture School
Cornell University College of Architecture, Art, and Planning
The College of Architecture, Art, and Planning at Cornell University was established in 1871 as the School of Architecture with the hiring of Charles Babcock as the first Professor creating the first four-year course of study in architecture in the United States...
in 1953, where he was also a member of the Quill and Dagger
Quill and Dagger
Quill and Dagger is a senior honor society at Cornell University. It is often recognized as one of the most prominent collegiate societies of its type, along with Skull and Bones of Yale University...
society. While at Cornell, Fransburgh was manager of the freshmen's men orientation camp.
In 1963, he formed his own architecture firm in Boston, Massachusetts, Earl R. Flansburgh & Associates (ERF+A). His more than 40 years of practice encompassed projects ranging from a high-tech teaching facility for software engineering to a U.S. Consulate in Turkey. While specializing in the planning and design of educational facilities, Flansburgh completed over 200 K-12 public, private, and charter schools, and colleges and university projects throughout New England, the United States, and the Middle East. In January 1969, "Progressive Architecture" selected Flansburgh's underground Cornell Campus Store for one of its sixteen Annual Design Awards. Under his direction, the firm won over 80 regional and national design awards.
Flansburgh wrote numerous articles on the design and construction of school and university buildings, with a particular focus on lecture hall
Lecture hall
A lecture hall is a large room used for instruction, typically at a college or university. Unlike a traditional classroom with a capacity from one to four dozen, the capacity of lecture halls is typically measured in the hundreds...
design and on strategies for constructing buildings faster, better and more economically. He lectured at or served on the faculties of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
, Wellesley College, and the Architectural Association School of Architecture
Architectural Association School of Architecture
The Architectural Association School of Architecture, more usually known as the AA, is an architectural school in London, United Kingdom...
(London).
From 1972 until his death, Flansburgh served on the Board of Trustees at Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
, where he served as the chairman of the Buildings and Properties Committee for 27 years. He was elected a fellow of the American Institute of Architects
American Institute of Architects
The American Institute of Architects is a professional organization for architects in the United States. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the AIA offers education, government advocacy, community redevelopment, and public outreach to support the architecture profession and improve its public image...
in 1972. In 1999, Flansburgh was selected for the American Institute of Architects/Boston Society of Architects Award of Honor.
Flansburgh was the father of musician John Flansburgh
John Flansburgh
John Conant Flansburgh is an American musician. He is half of the longstanding Brooklyn, New York-based alternative rock duo They Might Be Giants, for which he writes, sings and plays rhythm guitar...
of They Might Be Giants
They Might Be Giants
They Might Be Giants is an American alternative rock band formed in 1982 by John Flansburgh and John Linnell. During TMBG's early years Flansburgh and Linnell were frequently accompanied by a drum machine. In the early 1990s, TMBG became a full band. Currently, the members of TMBG are...
. His other son is activist Paxus Calta
Paxus Calta
Paxus Calta, born Earl Schuyler Flansburgh, is a Czech born, American political activist, communitarian and writer. He has been involved with the anti-nuclear movement and is a member of the Twin Oaks Community.-Biography:...
(formerly E. Schuyler Flansburgh). His wife, Polly Flansburgh, is the founder and current board chair of the educational architectural walking tour company Boston By Foot
Boston By Foot
Boston By Foot is a non-profit organization offering guided architectural and historical tours of Boston, Massachusetts. Founded in 1976, Boston By Foot offers daily scheduled tours from May through October. Tours are conducted by a trained corps of over 200 volunteers...
.