Otto Eugene Adams
Encyclopedia
Otto Eugene Adams (1889-1968) the Architect was born in Baltimore November 1, 1889 to a family with Baltimore and German ancestry. He died in Baltimore County on January 29, 1968.
, was an emigrant from Duisburg, (Prussia) Germany and a successful engineer who enjoyed considerable professional prominence due to his work with the District of Columbia government buildings, and his pioneering and organization of the ASHVE. At the time of Otto’s birth Mr. Henry Adams was achieving his prominence as building system designer by his work on the Corcoran
and Flagg buildings in Washington, D.C. . Despite his father's involvement in D.C. building, the Adams family remained in Baltimore throughout Otto's childhood.
His mother’s was Mary Elizabeth Klingelhofer, whose parents: John E and Mary Klingelhofer, were Baltimore bakers who had emigrated from Hessen, Germany.
Otto was the middle child of the Adams’ children that are known; his brother Ernest Henry Adams, was the oldest; Clarence Timothy Adams the younger brother. Both of his brothers followed their father directly into the family business as engineers and became officers when the company was incorporated, upon their fathers death.
Mr. Adams was married to Mrs. Marie Hagerty Adams with which he had two sons: Otto Eugene Adams, Jr. and Henry J. Adams (the geologist and financier).
where he studied Architecture, completing both a B.S. (1911) and M.S. (1912) degrees. During his time at Penn, one of his colleagues - James Richard Edmunds Jr., was also to become a notable Baltimore Architect. Mr. Adams talent was recognized early, when his participation in the New York Intercollegiate Architectural Federation competition gained him a mention while still an undergraduate. Otto Eugene Adams served during WWI as a captain in the US Army in France where he was injured in the arm.
Thereafter he expanded his expertise and theoretical understanding of his field through advanced certification at both the prestigious Ecole des Beaux Arts, Paris and at the American Academy
, Rome.
O. E. Adams was listed in the Maryland Manual editions 1916 through 1920 as a Notary Public and his address was given as 900 N. Gay St.
, embodied energy
in building assemblies, and overall efficiency much the way current designers are interested in green architecture. Otto Eugene Adams had a long career - considering his formal retirement in 1959 - over 40 years beyond its beginning. Throughout that time, he collaborated on much of his work with his father's engineering consulting firm. Mr. Adams was a partner in the firm of Adams & Rigg for much of that time. Though the arrangement may have only been formalized later, since as late as 1946, he is given recognition as if a sole-proprietor. Mr. Adams was a member of the American Institute of Architects
and was faculty for the Maryland Institute, College of Art architectural program.
Residential designs and alterations (incomplete list):
Guilford (neighborhood)
Roland Park (neighborhood) Civic League
Family
His father - - Henry Adams (mechanical engineer)Henry Adams (mechanical engineer)
Henry Adams was an American mechanical engineer. He emigrated at age 22 to Baltimore from Duisburg, Germany having been educated as a building engineer...
, was an emigrant from Duisburg, (Prussia) Germany and a successful engineer who enjoyed considerable professional prominence due to his work with the District of Columbia government buildings, and his pioneering and organization of the ASHVE. At the time of Otto’s birth Mr. Henry Adams was achieving his prominence as building system designer by his work on the Corcoran
Corcoran
Corcoran is an Irish surname. The original Gaelic version being Ó Corcráin meaning "descendant of Corcrán". The personal name Corcrán is a diminutive of the personal name Corcra...
and Flagg buildings in Washington, D.C. . Despite his father's involvement in D.C. building, the Adams family remained in Baltimore throughout Otto's childhood.
His mother’s was Mary Elizabeth Klingelhofer, whose parents: John E and Mary Klingelhofer, were Baltimore bakers who had emigrated from Hessen, Germany.
Otto was the middle child of the Adams’ children that are known; his brother Ernest Henry Adams, was the oldest; Clarence Timothy Adams the younger brother. Both of his brothers followed their father directly into the family business as engineers and became officers when the company was incorporated, upon their fathers death.
Mr. Adams was married to Mrs. Marie Hagerty Adams with which he had two sons: Otto Eugene Adams, Jr. and Henry J. Adams (the geologist and financier).
Education
At age 17, O.E. Adams left Baltimore to attend college at University of PennsylvaniaUniversity 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...
where he studied Architecture, completing both a B.S. (1911) and M.S. (1912) degrees. During his time at Penn, one of his colleagues - James Richard Edmunds Jr., was also to become a notable Baltimore Architect. Mr. Adams talent was recognized early, when his participation in the New York Intercollegiate Architectural Federation competition gained him a mention while still an undergraduate. Otto Eugene Adams served during WWI as a captain in the US Army in France where he was injured in the arm.
Thereafter he expanded his expertise and theoretical understanding of his field through advanced certification at both the prestigious Ecole des Beaux Arts, Paris and at the American Academy
American Academy
American Academy can refer to:*American Academy in Berlin*Dubai American Academy*American Academy of Larnaca*American Academy in Rome*Üsküdar American Academy...
, Rome.
O. E. Adams was listed in the Maryland Manual editions 1916 through 1920 as a Notary Public and his address was given as 900 N. Gay St.
Practice
Much of the work attributed to O.E. Adams, the designer was creation of public architecture or bent toward theoretical study of buildings: programming, rejuvenation and improving the efficiency of preexisting facilities were matters his practice concerned itself with. In his report to the mayor's office, regarding the state of the Baltimore City Courthouse, he said: “... it has been doing the work for which it was designed. Fortunately, due to having a fundamentally sound building to work on, it is possible to so modernize the Courthouse for another generation.” There are indications, from his approach to his work and from quotations that he gave about his work that show interest in sustainable designSustainable design
Sustainable design is the philosophy of designing physical objects, the built environment, and services to comply with the principles of economic, social, and ecological sustainability.-Intentions:The intention of sustainable design is to "eliminate negative environmental...
, embodied energy
Embodied energy
Embodied energy is defined as the sum of energy inputs that was used in the work to make any product, from the point of extraction and refining materials, bringing it to market, and disposal / re-purposing of it...
in building assemblies, and overall efficiency much the way current designers are interested in green architecture. Otto Eugene Adams had a long career - considering his formal retirement in 1959 - over 40 years beyond its beginning. Throughout that time, he collaborated on much of his work with his father's engineering consulting firm. Mr. Adams was a partner in the firm of Adams & Rigg for much of that time. Though the arrangement may have only been formalized later, since as late as 1946, he is given recognition as if a sole-proprietor. Mr. Adams was a member 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 was faculty for the Maryland Institute, College of Art architectural program.
Works
Public works and studies (incomplete list) attributed to Otto Eugene Adams, in Baltimore and other Maryland cities follow below:- Baltimore City Courthouse study
- Dormitory Building, Baltimore Orphanage (address not given)
- Emanuel Evangelical Church, Baltimore & Garrison Ave., Baltimore
- Methodist Home for the Aged which is currently Springwell Senior Living Community
- Home purchased for Baltimore Orphanage Asylum at Govans "Marble Hall" Woodbourne Ave. home of Charles S. Abell originally summer home of Enoch PrattEnoch PrattEnoch Pratt was an American businessman in Baltimore, Maryland, a Unitarian, and a philanthropist.-Biography:...
. Asylum to move from Stricker St., - Nursery and Childs Hospital - Woodbourne Rd. and East side York Rd.
- Competition for the Baltimore City College building
- Kelso Home for Orphans (became Kelso Home for GirlsKelso Home for GirlsKelso Home for Girls , formerly Towson Family YMCA, is currently the Y of Central Maryland Towson Family Center.Relocation of the Kelso Home for Girls to Towson took place September 27, 1925...
) - building and planning, 17 acres (68,796.6 m²) tract, TowsonTowson-Places:In the United States:*Towson, Maryland, an unincorporated community in Maryland**Towson Center, an arena in Towson, Maryland**Towson Town Center, a shopping mall in Towson, Maryland*Fort Towson, Oklahoma, a community in Oklahoma...
(charity now resides at Garrison Ave. and Forest Park Ave. ), (now Towson YMCA).
- Enoch Pratt Free LibraryEnoch Pratt Free LibraryThe Enoch Pratt Free Library, located in Baltimore, Maryland, is one of the oldest free public libraries in the United States. Established in 1882 after a grant from philanthropist Enoch Pratt, the library now includes twenty-two branches in Baltimore, plus the Central Library...
Branch no. 27 Westport, 1929 . - Fairfield Elementary School (Chesapeake Ave and Sun Street), 1942
- Govans School no. 213, York Rd. 1951
- Baker Memorial ChapelBaker Memorial ChapelBaker Memorial Chapel is a building on the campus of McDaniel College, in Westminster, Maryland, was dedicated April 20, 1958. The chapel, was built in memory of W.G. Baker, Joseph D. Baker, Daniel Baker, and Sarah Baker Thomas, although when the initial endowment was announced in 1955, both the...
abt.1958 and possibly other buildings at Western Maryland College (now McDaniel College). The campus plan and several buildings look as if they might have been fashioned by him. - Woodbourne Junior High (now Chinquapin School # 46 at Woodbourne and Beauregard avenues) completed 1969
- Baltimore (Broadway) Public Comfort Station 1922
- Baltimore Police (Belair Road) Sub-station 1922
Residential designs and alterations (incomplete list):
Guilford (neighborhood)
- 211 Chancery Rd. of Roland Pk. 1928
- 214 Chancery Rd. of Roland Pk. 1925
- 219 Southway 1920
Roland Park (neighborhood) Civic League
- 107 Club Rd. 1926, 1928
- 509 Edgevale Rd. 1925, 1948
- 3 Englewood Rd. 1929
- 5403 Falls Rd. 1936
- 903 Falls Rd. 1933
- 312 Overhill Rd. 1929
- 16 Overhill Rd. 1928
- 4906 Roland Ave. 1932
- 428 Roland Ave. 1926
External links
- Baltimore Architecture Foundation http://baltimorearchitecture.org/
- Baltimore Dead Architects Society http://baltimorearchitecture.org/programs/dead-architects-society/
- Biography of James Bosley Noel Wyatt http://baltimorearchitecture.org/resources/biographies/james-bosley-noel-wyatt/
- Council of Independent Colleges, Historic Campus Architecture Project - Baker Memorial Chapel http://puka.cs.waikato.ac.nz/cgi-bin/cic/library?a=d&d=p1066