William Holabird
Encyclopedia
William Holabird was an American
architect
.
Holabird studied at the United States Military Academy
at West Point
but resigned and moved to Chicago
, where he later got married. He worked for William Le Baron Jenney
. He established the firm of Holabird & Simonds in 1880 with Ossian Simonds, another draftsman from Jenney's office. Martin Roche
joined him in 1881, and shortly afterward Graceland Cemetery
became one of their first commissions. Simonds left the practice in 1883 to concentrate on landscape design, and the firm was renamed Holabird & Roche
.
Together they contributed many innovations to the architecture of the time, especially in what is now referred to as Chicago School
. They designed several influential buildings, including the Marquette Building
and the Gage Building. The latter included a façade designed by Louis Sullivan
and was cited a Chicago architectural landmark in 1962.
William Holabird died in 1923, and Martin Roche died in 1927. Holabird's son John
took over the firm with John Wellborn Root, Jr.
, and it was renamed Holabird & Root.
William's sister Agnes Holabird Von Kurowsky is the mother of Agnes von Kurowsky
.
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...
.
Holabird studied at the United States Military Academy
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
at West Point
West Point, New York
West Point is a federal military reservation established by President of the United States Thomas Jefferson in 1802. It is a census-designated place located in Town of Highlands in Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 7,138 at the 2000 census...
but resigned and moved to Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, where he later got married. He worked for William Le Baron Jenney
William Le Baron Jenney
William Le Baron Jenney was an American architect and engineer who became known as the Father of the American skyscraper.- Life and career :...
. He established the firm of Holabird & Simonds in 1880 with Ossian Simonds, another draftsman from Jenney's office. Martin Roche
Martin Roche
Martin Roche was an American architect.In partnership with William Holabird, Martin Roche designed buildings following the Chicago School and that were landmarks in the development of early sky scrapers. He worked for William Le Baron Jenney until 1881 when he joined William Holabird at Holabird &...
joined him in 1881, and shortly afterward Graceland Cemetery
Graceland Cemetery
Graceland Cemetery is a large Victorian era cemetery located in the north side community area of Uptown, in the city of Chicago, Illinois, USA. Established in 1860, its main entrance is at the intersection of Clark Street and Irving Park Road...
became one of their first commissions. Simonds left the practice in 1883 to concentrate on landscape design, and the firm was renamed Holabird & Roche
Holabird & Roche
The architectural firm of Holabird & Root was founded in Chicago in 1880. Over the years, the firm's designs have changed many times — from the Chicago School to Art Deco to Modern Architecture to Sustainable Architecture.-History:...
.
Together they contributed many innovations to the architecture of the time, especially in what is now referred to as Chicago School
Chicago school (architecture)
Chicago's architecture is famous throughout the world and one style is referred to as the Chicago School. The style is also known as Commercial style. In the history of architecture, the Chicago School was a school of architects active in Chicago at the turn of the 20th century...
. They designed several influential buildings, including the Marquette Building
Marquette Building (Chicago)
The Marquette Building, completed in 1895, is a Chicago, Illinois landmark that was built by the George A. Fuller Company and designed by architects Holabird & Roche. The building is currently owned by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation...
and the Gage Building. The latter included a façade designed by Louis Sullivan
Louis Sullivan
Louis Henri Sullivan was an American architect, and has been called the "father of skyscrapers" and "father of modernism" He is considered by many as the creator of the modern skyscraper, was an influential architect and critic of the Chicago School, was a mentor to Frank Lloyd Wright, and an...
and was cited a Chicago architectural landmark in 1962.
William Holabird died in 1923, and Martin Roche died in 1927. Holabird's son John
John Augur Holabird
John Augur Holabird was a significant U.S. architect based in Chicago. Born on May 4, 1886, the day of Chicago's Haymarket Riot, John was the son of architect William Holabird. As a young man he studied architecture at Paris' Ecole des Beaux-Arts, where he became friends with John Wellborn Root,...
took over the firm with John Wellborn Root, Jr.
John Wellborn Root, Jr.
John Wellborn Root, Jr. was a significant U.S. architect based in Chicago. He was the son of architect John Wellborn Root. As a young man, he graduated from Cornell University and studied architecture at Paris' Ecole des Beaux-Arts, where he became friends with John Augur Holabird, the son of...
, and it was renamed Holabird & Root.
William's sister Agnes Holabird Von Kurowsky is the mother of Agnes von Kurowsky
Agnes von Kurowsky
Agnes von Kurowsky Stanfield , an American nurse, was reportedly the basis for the character of "Catherine Barkley" in Ernest Hemingway's A Farewell to Arms....
.