George Bergstrom
Encyclopedia
George Edwin Bergstrom was an American
architect
most noted for his design work on the Pentagon
in Arlington County, Virginia
.
of Norwegian
immigrant ancestry. He attended Phillips-Andover Academy
, and was in the Yale University
class of 1896. He took a Bachelor of Science degree from Massachusetts Institute of Technology
in 1899. Bergstrom settled in Los Angeles
, California, in 1901. In 1903, he married the former Nancy Kimberly, daughter of John A. Kimberly, a co-founder of Kimberly-Clark
. They had two children; Alice Cheney Bergstrom and George Edwin Bergstrom, Jr.
. The firm of Parkinson & Bergstrom designed numerous public and private buildings throughout Southern California, and designed many of the major office and commercial buildings erected in downtown Los Angeles during this period. Among these were the Los Angeles Athletic Club
, the Alexandria Hotel
, and the original building of Bullock's
Department Store. The firm also received commissions for major projects as distant as Salt Lake City, where their Hotel Utah, now the Joseph Smith Memorial Building
, was erected in 1909-1911.
After establishing his own practice in 1915, Bergstrom continued to design buildings throughout the region, including buildings for John C. Fremont High School
, and Redlands High School
, at Redlands, California
. He designed buildings for the Elks Club and the Commercial Club in downtown Los Angeles, and collaborated with architect William Lee Woollett (1874–1955) on Grauman's Metropolitan Theatre (later called the Paramount Theatre
) for impresario Sid Grauman
. One of his most notable buildings of the period was the Pasadena Civic Auditorium
in Pasadena, California, which he designed in association with architects Cyril Bennett and Fitch Haskell.
Between 1925-1931, Bergstrom associated on the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, with the Pasadena architectural firm of Haskell and Bennett, which was composed of John Cyril Bennett (1891–1957) and Fitch Harrison Haskell (1883–1962). The firm of Bergstrom and Witmer, Architects was in operation from 1941-1943. Bergstrom and David J. Witmer (1888–1973) acted as the Chief Architects for the Pentagon
Building. Bergstrom and Witmer did the basic design work in a remarkably short time during 1941, between July 17 and July 22.
Active in civic affairs, Bergstrom served as President of the Municipal Housing Commission for seven years and was a member of the Municipal Art Commission. He also served as Chairman of the Advisory Board of the University of Southern California
's School of Architecture.He was for two years President of the Southern California chapter of the American Institute of Architects
, and served three years as Director of the Institute. Active in numerous clubs and civic organizations, he served as a Director of the Los Angeles Athletic Club
, and was President of the Allied Architect's Association of Los Angeles.
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...
most noted for his design work on the Pentagon
The Pentagon
The Pentagon is the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense, located in Arlington County, Virginia. As a symbol of the U.S. military, "the Pentagon" is often used metonymically to refer to the Department of Defense rather than the building itself.Designed by the American architect...
in Arlington County, Virginia
Arlington County, Virginia
Arlington County is a county in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The land that became Arlington was originally donated by Virginia to the United States government to form part of the new federal capital district. On February 27, 1801, the United States Congress organized the area as a subdivision of...
.
Background
George Edwin Bergstrom was born in Neenah, WisconsinNeenah, Wisconsin
Neenah is a city on Lake Winnebago in Winnebago County, Wisconsin, United States. Its population was 24,507 at the 2000 census. The city is bordered by, but is politically independent of, the Town of Neenah. Neenah is the southwestern-most of the Fox Cities of Northeast Wisconsin...
of Norwegian
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
immigrant ancestry. He attended Phillips-Andover Academy
Phillips Academy
Phillips Academy is a selective, co-educational independent boarding high school for boarding and day students in grades 9–12, along with a post-graduate year...
, and was in the Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
class of 1896. He took a Bachelor of Science degree from 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...
in 1899. Bergstrom settled in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California, in 1901. In 1903, he married the former Nancy Kimberly, daughter of John A. Kimberly, a co-founder of Kimberly-Clark
Kimberly-Clark
Kimberly-Clark Corporation is an American corporation that produces mostly paper-based consumer products. Kimberly-Clark brand name products include "Kleenex" facial tissue, "Kotex" feminine hygiene products, "Cottonelle", Scott and Andrex toilet paper, Wypall utility wipes, "KimWipes"...
. They had two children; Alice Cheney Bergstrom and George Edwin Bergstrom, Jr.
Career
From 1905 to 1915 Bergstrom was in partnership with architect John ParkinsonThe Parkinsons
John B. and Donald D. Parkinson were a father-and-son architectural team operating in Los Angeles in the early 20th century.-Early years:...
. The firm of Parkinson & Bergstrom designed numerous public and private buildings throughout Southern California, and designed many of the major office and commercial buildings erected in downtown Los Angeles during this period. Among these were the Los Angeles Athletic Club
Los Angeles Athletic Club
Los Angeles Athletic Club is an athletic club and private social club in Los Angeles, California, USA. It awards the John R. Wooden Award to the outstanding men's and women's college basketball player of each year....
, the Alexandria Hotel
Palm Court (Alexandria Hotel)
The Palm Court, also known at other times as the Franco-Italian Dining Room, the Grand Ballroom and the Continental Room, is a ballroom at the Hotel Alexandria in Downtown Los Angeles, California. In its heyday from 1911 to 1922, it was the scene of speeches by U.S. Presidents William Howard Taft...
, and the original building of Bullock's
Bullock's
Bullock's was a department store based in Los Angeles, California. The company operated full-line department stores all across California, with some stores in Arizona and Nevada. Bullock's also operated the more upscale Bullocks Wilshire in parts of Southern California.- History :Bullock's was...
Department Store. The firm also received commissions for major projects as distant as Salt Lake City, where their Hotel Utah, now the Joseph Smith Memorial Building
Joseph Smith Memorial Building
The Joseph Smith Memorial Building is named in honor of Joseph Smith, Jr., the founder of the Latter Day Saint movement. It is located on the corner of Main Street and South Temple in Salt Lake City. Previously the Hotel Utah, it is now an administrative building...
, was erected in 1909-1911.
After establishing his own practice in 1915, Bergstrom continued to design buildings throughout the region, including buildings for John C. Fremont High School
John C. Fremont High School
John C. Fremont Senior High School is a Title 1 co-educational public high school located in Los Angeles, California, United States.Fremont is in a region known as South Los Angeles...
, and Redlands High School
Redlands High School
Redlands High School is located in Redlands, California, United States. Founded in 1891, it is the oldest public high school in the State of California still functioning on its original site and the first "unified high school" formed from three elementary school districts...
, at Redlands, California
Redlands, California
Redlands is a city in San Bernardino County, California, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 68,747, up from 63,591 at the 2000 census. The city is located east of downtown San Bernardino.- History :...
. He designed buildings for the Elks Club and the Commercial Club in downtown Los Angeles, and collaborated with architect William Lee Woollett (1874–1955) on Grauman's Metropolitan Theatre (later called the Paramount Theatre
Paramount Theatre (Los Angeles)
The Paramount Theatre in Los Angeles was a movie palace opened in January 1923 as Grauman's Metropolitan Theatre. It was built by impresario Sid Grauman, who had already built the Million Dollar Theatre a few blocks away, but who is best remembered today for his two Hollywood movie palaces,...
) for impresario Sid Grauman
Sid Grauman
Sidney Patrick Grauman was an American showman who created one of Southern California's most recognizable and visited landmarks, Grauman's Chinese Theater. He was the son of David Grauman who died in 1921 in Los Angeles, California and Rosa Goldsmith...
. One of his most notable buildings of the period was the Pasadena Civic Auditorium
Pasadena Conference Center
The Pasadena Conference Center is a convention center in Pasadena, California, near Los Angeles, owned by the City of Pasadena. It consists of three buildings.-Pasadena Civic Auditorium:...
in Pasadena, California, which he designed in association with architects Cyril Bennett and Fitch Haskell.
Between 1925-1931, Bergstrom associated on the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, with the Pasadena architectural firm of Haskell and Bennett, which was composed of John Cyril Bennett (1891–1957) and Fitch Harrison Haskell (1883–1962). The firm of Bergstrom and Witmer, Architects was in operation from 1941-1943. Bergstrom and David J. Witmer (1888–1973) acted as the Chief Architects for the Pentagon
The Pentagon
The Pentagon is the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense, located in Arlington County, Virginia. As a symbol of the U.S. military, "the Pentagon" is often used metonymically to refer to the Department of Defense rather than the building itself.Designed by the American architect...
Building. Bergstrom and Witmer did the basic design work in a remarkably short time during 1941, between July 17 and July 22.
Active in civic affairs, Bergstrom served as President of the Municipal Housing Commission for seven years and was a member of the Municipal Art Commission. He also served as Chairman of the Advisory Board of the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
's School of Architecture.He was for two years President of the Southern California chapter 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...
, and served three years as Director of the Institute. Active in numerous clubs and civic organizations, he served as a Director of the Los Angeles Athletic Club
Los Angeles Athletic Club
Los Angeles Athletic Club is an athletic club and private social club in Los Angeles, California, USA. It awards the John R. Wooden Award to the outstanding men's and women's college basketball player of each year....
, and was President of the Allied Architect's Association of Los Angeles.
Architectural firms
- Parkinson and Bergstrom, Architects (1905–1915)
- Bergstrom, Haskell and Bennett, Associated Architects (1925–1932)
- Bergstrom and Witmer, Architects (1941–1943)
Selected works
- Anthony, Earle C. Incorporated Building #1, Los Angeles, CA (1911)
- Brownstone Hotel, Los Angeles, CA (1905)
- Citizens Bank Building, Pasadena, CA (1914)
- Ford Motor Company Factory, Los Angeles, CA (1912)
- Grauman's Metropolitan Theatre, Los Angeles, CA (1921–1923)
- Johnson, O.T., Commercial Building #3, Downtown, Los Angeles, CA (1906)
- Little Sisters of the Poor Home for the Aged, Los Angeles, CA (1906)
- Pasadena Municipal Auditorium, Pasadena, CA (1925–1932)
- Rowan Building, Downtown, Los Angeles, CA ( 1911–1912)
- Security First National Bank, Office Building, Downtown, Los Angeles, CA (1915–1916)
- Spreckels Brothers Warehouse, Los Angeles, CA (1909)
- Trustee Company of Los Angeles, Office Building, Downtown, Los Angeles, CA (1906)
- Union Oil Company, Office Building, Downtown, Los Angeles, CA (1911)
- Washington Building, Los Angeles, CA (1912)