Louis Skidmore
Encyclopedia
Louis Skidmore was an American architect
, co-founder of the architecture firm Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill and recipient of the AIA Gold Medal
.
. He served in the United States Army during World War I as a Sergeant. On June 14, 1930, he married Eloise Owings, the sister of Nathaniel A. Owings
his future business partner. Louis and Eloise were married for over 32 years until his death in 1962. They had two sons Louis, Jr. and Philip Murray.
Louis Skidmore studied at Massachusetts Institute of Technology
until 1924.
and Paris
.
It was during his time in Paris that he met Raymond Hood
. And it was Hood that convinced Skidmore to be involved in the Chicago's World's Fair. Hood was head of The Board of Design of the Chicago World's Fair. Also, while in Europe, skidmore met Eloise Owings. They returned to the United States together where Eloise introduced Skidmore to her brother Nathaniel "Nat" Owings.
co-founded the firm in 1936. And (John O. Merrill
became the third partner in 1939. During the war years the firm built a number of large housing projects, most notably the initially secret town of Oak Ridge, Tennessee
. In New York a major wartime project was the Abraham Lincoln Houses, a 14-building complex in Harlem
(completed in 1948). Another major government-appointed project was the United States Air Force Academy
. His firm developed its reputation for reliability in large developments, and became one of the largest and most talked-about skyscraper
builders in the 1950s. SOM's most famous building was the Lever House
, built in 1952.
"Skid was a very easy-going guy, very bright and tricky enough to get work, but a very pleasant guy and if he had a few drinks, he was very cordial. He was never mean. He couldn't have been nicer to me and the four partners who grew up with him. Skid was the man who had the insight in finding people. Skid picked the first four partners." - Gordon Bunshaft
in 1952. He received the highest individual honor for architecture from the American Institute of Architects
, the Gold Medal
in 1957.
Architecture of the United States
The architecture of the United States demonstrates a broad variety of architectural styles and built forms over the country's history of over four centuries....
, co-founder of the architecture firm Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill and recipient of the AIA Gold Medal
AIA Gold Medal
The AIA Gold Medal is awarded by the American Institute of Architects conferred "by the national AIA Board of Directors in recognition of a significant body of work of lasting influence on the theory and practice of architecture."...
.
Biography
Louis Skidmore was born in Lawrenceburg, IndianaLawrenceburg, Indiana
Lawrenceburg is a city in Dearborn County, Indiana, United States. The population was 5,042 at the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of Dearborn County...
. He served in the United States Army during World War I as a Sergeant. On June 14, 1930, he married Eloise Owings, the sister of Nathaniel A. Owings
Nathaniel A. Owings
Nathaniel Alexander Owings was an American architect, a founding partner of Skidmore Owings and Merrill , which became one of the largest architectural firms in the United States and the world. Owings viewed skyscrapers as his firm's specialty...
his future business partner. Louis and Eloise were married for over 32 years until his death in 1962. They had two sons Louis, Jr. and Philip Murray.
Bradley Polytechnic Institute
Louis Skidmore studied at Bradley Polytechnic Institute, finishing in (1917).Boston
Louis Skidmore trained with Cram and Ferguson, an established and large firm in Boston that designed Gothic style buildings. At night he would go to the Boston Architectural Club for additional design problems that were critiqued by Harvard and MIT professors. Winning a prize at the BAC opened the door for Skidmore to attend MIT.Louis Skidmore studied at 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...
until 1924.
Europe
After about eight years of practicing architecture, Skidmore won the Rotch Traveling Fellowship. This fellowship allowed him to travel to Europe where he spent his time primarily in RomeRome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
and Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
.
It was during his time in Paris that he met Raymond Hood
Raymond Hood
Raymond Mathewson Hood was an early-mid twentieth century architect who worked in the Art Deco style. He was born in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, educated at Brown University, MIT, and the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris. At the latter institution he met John Mead Howells, with whom Hood later partnered...
. And it was Hood that convinced Skidmore to be involved in the Chicago's World's Fair. Hood was head of The Board of Design of the Chicago World's Fair. Also, while in Europe, skidmore met Eloise Owings. They returned to the United States together where Eloise introduced Skidmore to her brother Nathaniel "Nat" Owings.
Chicago World's Fair
Louis Skidmore began working with Hood and even got Hood to hire Nat Owings. Skidmore joined Raymond Hood on the board of design as the design draftsman or junior designer. And when General Rufus Dawes, head of the Fair, fired all the other architects on the board, Skidmore, being the only one left, reviewed all the designs that were presented by the various companies for the Chicago's World Fair. As a result, Skidmore became acquainted with a lot of commercial companies. And after the fair, the Museum of Science and Industry to be created. Skidmore was hired to study the one in Munich.Skidmore, Owings and Merrill (SOM)
Skidmore and Nathaniel A. OwingsNathaniel A. Owings
Nathaniel Alexander Owings was an American architect, a founding partner of Skidmore Owings and Merrill , which became one of the largest architectural firms in the United States and the world. Owings viewed skyscrapers as his firm's specialty...
co-founded the firm in 1936. And (John O. Merrill
John O. Merrill
John Ogden Merrill Sr. was an American architect and structural engineer. He was chiefly responsible for the design and construction of the United States Air Force Academy campus and for the development of Oak Ridge, Tennessee where the atomic bomb was developed...
became the third partner in 1939. During the war years the firm built a number of large housing projects, most notably the initially secret town of Oak Ridge, Tennessee
Oak Ridge, Tennessee
Oak Ridge is a city in Anderson and Roane counties in the eastern part of the U.S. state of Tennessee, about west of Knoxville. Oak Ridge's population was 27,387 at the 2000 census...
. In New York a major wartime project was the Abraham Lincoln Houses, a 14-building complex in Harlem
Harlem
Harlem is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan, which since the 1920s has been a major African-American residential, cultural and business center. Originally a Dutch village, formally organized in 1658, it is named after the city of Haarlem in the Netherlands...
(completed in 1948). Another major government-appointed project was the United States Air Force Academy
United States Air Force Academy
The United States Air Force Academy is an accredited college for the undergraduate education of officer candidates for the United States Air Force. Its campus is located immediately north of Colorado Springs in El Paso County, Colorado, United States...
. His firm developed its reputation for reliability in large developments, and became one of the largest and most talked-about skyscraper
Skyscraper
A skyscraper is a tall, continuously habitable building of many stories, often designed for office and commercial use. There is no official definition or height above which a building may be classified as a skyscraper...
builders in the 1950s. SOM's most famous building was the Lever House
Lever House
Lever House, designed by Gordon Bunshaft of Skidmore, Owings and Merrill and located at 390 Park Avenue in New York City, is the quintessential and seminal glass-box skyscraper built in the International style according to the design principles of Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. Completed in 1952, it was...
, built in 1952.
"Skid was a very easy-going guy, very bright and tricky enough to get work, but a very pleasant guy and if he had a few drinks, he was very cordial. He was never mean. He couldn't have been nicer to me and the four partners who grew up with him. Skid was the man who had the insight in finding people. Skid picked the first four partners." - Gordon Bunshaft
Civic Involvement
Louis Skidmore served as president of the New York Building Congress for 1949 and was vice-president of the Architectural League of New YorkArchitectural League of New York
The Architectural League of New York is a non-profit organization "for creative and intellectual work in architecture, urbanism, and related disciplines"....
in 1952. He received the highest individual honor for architecture from 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...
, the Gold Medal
AIA Gold Medal
The AIA Gold Medal is awarded by the American Institute of Architects conferred "by the national AIA Board of Directors in recognition of a significant body of work of lasting influence on the theory and practice of architecture."...
in 1957.