John Harbeson
Encyclopedia
John Frederick Harbeson was a Philadelphia architect
and a long-time architecture professor at the University of Pennsylvania
. He was a principal in the Philadelphia design firm, Harbeson, Hough, Livingston & Larson, successors to the office of Paul Cret
.
Harbeson received a B.S. in Architecture from the University of Pennsylvania
in 1910, and received an M.S. in Architecture the following year. During the summers while he was in school, Harbeson worked for architect John T. Windrim
. After graduation he joined Kelsey and Cret to work on the design of the Pan-American Union Building in Washington, DC. In 1923 Harbeson became Cret's partner, along with William J. H. Hough and William Livingston. In 1925 the firm was joined by Roy Larson. After Cret's death in 1945, the younger partners followed Cret's wishes and removed Cret's name from their masthead, continuing as Harbeson, Hough, Livingston, Larson.
Harbeson is best known for his teaching at the University of Pennsylvania. He served as Chair of the University's Department of Architecture from 1927 to 1935 and as Acting Dean of the School of Fine Arts at the University from 1929 to 1930.
In the early to mid 1920s, Harbeson authored a series of articles in the architectural journal, Pencil Points, on the Beaux-Arts method of architectural education (as coordinated through the Beaux-Arts Institute of Design
). In 1926 these articles were published as a book, The Study of Architectural Design: With Special Reference to the Program of the Beaux-Arts Institute of Design.
Harbeson's design work was not limited to architecture. He was one of the primary designers working with the Budd Company
on the Burlington's
Pioneer Zephyr
in 1934. Drawing on his Pioneer Zephyr experience, in 1936 he led the firm through the design project of the Burlington's Denver Zephyr
.
Harbeson was elected a Fellow
of the American Institute of Architects
in 1934.
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...
and a long-time architecture professor at the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
. He was a principal in the Philadelphia design firm, Harbeson, Hough, Livingston & Larson, successors to the office of Paul Cret
Paul Philippe Cret
Paul Philippe Cret was a French-American architect and industrial designer. For more than thirty years, he headed the Department of Architecture at the University of Pennsylvania.- Biography :...
.
Harbeson received a B.S. in Architecture from the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
in 1910, and received an M.S. in Architecture the following year. During the summers while he was in school, Harbeson worked for architect John T. Windrim
John T. Windrim
John Torrey Windrim was an American architect.He trained in the office of his father, architect James H. Windrim. He was elected to the Philadelphia Chapter of the American Institute of Architects in 1901, and became a Fellow of the Institute in 1926...
. After graduation he joined Kelsey and Cret to work on the design of the Pan-American Union Building in Washington, DC. In 1923 Harbeson became Cret's partner, along with William J. H. Hough and William Livingston. In 1925 the firm was joined by Roy Larson. After Cret's death in 1945, the younger partners followed Cret's wishes and removed Cret's name from their masthead, continuing as Harbeson, Hough, Livingston, Larson.
Harbeson is best known for his teaching at the University of Pennsylvania. He served as Chair of the University's Department of Architecture from 1927 to 1935 and as Acting Dean of the School of Fine Arts at the University from 1929 to 1930.
In the early to mid 1920s, Harbeson authored a series of articles in the architectural journal, Pencil Points, on the Beaux-Arts method of architectural education (as coordinated through the Beaux-Arts Institute of Design
Beaux-Arts Institute of Design
The Beaux-Arts Institute of Design was an art and architectural school at 304 East 44th Street in Turtle Bay, Manhattan, in New York City...
). In 1926 these articles were published as a book, The Study of Architectural Design: With Special Reference to the Program of the Beaux-Arts Institute of Design.
Harbeson's design work was not limited to architecture. He was one of the primary designers working with the Budd Company
Budd Company
The Budd Company is a metal fabricator and major supplier of body components to the automobile industry, and was formerly a manufacturer of stainless steel passenger rail cars during the 20th century....
on the Burlington's
Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad
The Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad was a railroad that operated in the Midwestern United States. Commonly referred to as the Burlington or as the Q, the Burlington Route served a large area, including extensive trackage in the states of Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri,...
Pioneer Zephyr
Pioneer Zephyr
The Pioneer Zephyr is a diesel-powered railroad train formed of railroad cars permanently articulated together with Jacobs bogies, built by the Budd Company in 1934 for the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad , commonly known as the Burlington...
in 1934. Drawing on his Pioneer Zephyr experience, in 1936 he led the firm through the design project of the Burlington's Denver Zephyr
Denver Zephyr
The Denver Zephyr was a passenger train operated by the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad between Chicago, Illinois, and Denver, Colorado...
.
Harbeson was elected a Fellow
FAIA
Fellow of the American Institute of Architects is a postnomial, designating an individual who has been named a fellow of the American Institute of Architects...
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 1934.