William J. Bain
Encyclopedia
William J. Bain was a notable Seattle architect
and a founder of the architecture firm, Naramore, Bain, Brady and Johanson, the predecessor to today's NBBJ
.
Bain was born in New Westminster, British Columbia
. His family moved to Seattle while he was still young. Bain expressed an interest in architecture, and his father, a contractor, helped him get a job with Seattle architect W. R. B. Willcox, from whom he learned the rudiments of drafting and developed beginning skills in architecture. Bain served in France
during World War I
, and after the war enrolled in the architecture program at the University of Pennsylvania
, from which he graduated in 1921.
After several years in various apprentice positions, Bain opened his own architecture firm in 1924. He quickly developed a reputation for high-quality residential design. In 1928, he took Penn classmate Lionel Pries
into partnership forming Bain & Pries. The firm prospered until 1931, then dissolved under the impact of the Depression. Bain's independent practice gradually recovered and by the late 1930s his firm was receiving a variety of commissions and the designs gradually became more modern. In 1940, Bain joined a joint-venture with J. Lister Holmes, William Aitken, George W. Stoddard, and John T. Jacobson to design Yesler Terrace, Seattle's first public housing project. Each of the joint-venture partners continued to maintain their own independent practices as well. In 1941, Bain and Pries re-established their partnership for a period of about nine months.
During World War II
Bain served as camouflage director for the state of Washington. He also joined other architects in joint-venture firms to design housing for war workers as well as other war-related projects. The joint venture formed in 1943, with Floyd Naramore
, Clifton Brady
, and Perry Johanson
was particularly successful, and became the basis for the post-war firm Naramore, Bain, Brady and Johanson (occasionally called "the combine"), predecessor to today's NBBJ
.
Bain remained interested in residential architecture and from 1947 to 1970 he was also a partner in Bain, Overturf and Turner (later Bain and Overturf), a firm that specialized in residential design.
Bain served as president of the Washington State Chapter American Institute of Architects
(predecessor to today's AIA Seattle) from 19421 to 1943. Bain was elected a Fellow
of the AIA in 1947.
His son, William J. Bain, Jr., is also a successful architect, NBBJ
partner and Fellow
in the AIA.
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 founder of the architecture firm, Naramore, Bain, Brady and Johanson, the predecessor to today's NBBJ
NBBJ
NBBJ is a global architecture, planning and design firm with offices in Beijing, Boston, Columbus, Dubai, London, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Seattle, and Shanghai....
.
Bain was born in New Westminster, British Columbia
New Westminster, British Columbia
New Westminster is an historically important city in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia, Canada, and is a member municipality of the Greater Vancouver Regional District. It was founded as the capital of the Colony of British Columbia ....
. His family moved to Seattle while he was still young. Bain expressed an interest in architecture, and his father, a contractor, helped him get a job with Seattle architect W. R. B. Willcox, from whom he learned the rudiments of drafting and developed beginning skills in architecture. Bain served in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, and after the war enrolled in the architecture program 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...
, from which he graduated in 1921.
After several years in various apprentice positions, Bain opened his own architecture firm in 1924. He quickly developed a reputation for high-quality residential design. In 1928, he took Penn classmate Lionel Pries
Lionel Pries
Lionel H. Pries , was a leading architect, artist, and educator in the Pacific Northwest.Pries was born in San Francisco and raised in Oakland. He graduated with a B.A. in Architecture from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1920, where he studied under John Galen Howard...
into partnership forming Bain & Pries. The firm prospered until 1931, then dissolved under the impact of the Depression. Bain's independent practice gradually recovered and by the late 1930s his firm was receiving a variety of commissions and the designs gradually became more modern. In 1940, Bain joined a joint-venture with J. Lister Holmes, William Aitken, George W. Stoddard, and John T. Jacobson to design Yesler Terrace, Seattle's first public housing project. Each of the joint-venture partners continued to maintain their own independent practices as well. In 1941, Bain and Pries re-established their partnership for a period of about nine months.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
Bain served as camouflage director for the state of Washington. He also joined other architects in joint-venture firms to design housing for war workers as well as other war-related projects. The joint venture formed in 1943, with Floyd Naramore
Floyd Naramore
Floyd A. Naramore was a Seattle architect. He was Seattle Schools Architect from 1919 to 1932, and he was a founding partner, in 1943, of the firm that today is known as NBBJ....
, Clifton Brady
Clifton Brady
Clifton Brady was a Seattle architect and one of the founders of the architectural firm NBBJ....
, and Perry Johanson
Perry Johanson
Perry Johanson was a Seattle architect and one of the founders of the architectural firm NBBJ....
was particularly successful, and became the basis for the post-war firm Naramore, Bain, Brady and Johanson (occasionally called "the combine"), predecessor to today's NBBJ
NBBJ
NBBJ is a global architecture, planning and design firm with offices in Beijing, Boston, Columbus, Dubai, London, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Seattle, and Shanghai....
.
Bain remained interested in residential architecture and from 1947 to 1970 he was also a partner in Bain, Overturf and Turner (later Bain and Overturf), a firm that specialized in residential design.
Bain served as president of the Washington State Chapter 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...
(predecessor to today's AIA Seattle) from 19421 to 1943. Bain 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 AIA in 1947.
His son, William J. Bain, Jr., is also a successful architect, NBBJ
NBBJ
NBBJ is a global architecture, planning and design firm with offices in Beijing, Boston, Columbus, Dubai, London, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Seattle, and Shanghai....
partner and 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...
in the AIA.