Holabird & Root

Tacoma Building (the tall building in the centre). Stereoscopic view by Benjamin W. Kilburn

The architectural firm now known as Holabird & Root was founded in Chicago in 1880. Over the years, the firm has changed its name several times and adapted to the architectural style then current — from Chicago School to Art Deco to Modern Architecture to Sustainable Architecture.

Operating on a legacy of innovation, Holabird & Root is a full-service architecture, engineering, interior design, and planning firm. Celebrating 135 years of design, the firm is the oldest architecture firm in Chicago. The firm remains a privately held partnership currently operating with three principals and five associate principals.

History

The original founders, William Holabird and Ossian Cole Simonds, worked in the office of William LeBaron Jenney. They set up their own independent practice, Holabird & Simonds, in 1880 when they took on the project for an extension to Graceland Cemetery, passed on to them by Jenney. In 1881, Martin Roche, who had also worked for Jenney, joined them as a third partner. After only working together on five projects, Simonds left the firm in 1883 to pursue a career as a landscape architect. Holabird, Simonds & Roche became Holabird & Roche. A few years later however, the firm once again collaborated with the ex-partner when, from 1889 to 1895, they designed and built Fort Sheridan, for which Simonds provided the landscaping.

Beginning with the Tacoma Building (completed 1889; demolished 1929), their first major commission, and the Marquette Building (1895), the firm became well known for its groundbreaking Chicago School skyscrapers. An enormously successful practice, they also designed large, ornate hotels across the country, including Chicago's Palmer House.

After the deaths of William Holabird (1923) and Martin Roche (1927), the then renamed Holabird & Root was run by Holabird's son John Augur Holabird and John Wellborn Root, Jr., who had both joined back in 1914. Under their leadership, the firm adopted an Art Deco style. The company name changed to Holabird, Root & Burgee for a while, and two further generations of Holabirds served as partners (up to 1987). Currently located in the Marquette Building, the firm is now again called Holabird & Root, although nobody of either name is involved anymore.

Awards

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004
AIA Illinois Distinguished Firm Award

2003

2002

2001

2000
AIA Chicago Firm of the Year Award

1999

1998

1997

1996

1995

1994

1993

1992

1991

1990
St. Clement’s Church Restoration • AIA Chicago Distinguished Restoration Award

1989

1988

1987

1986

1985

1984

1983
AIA Architecture Firm Award

1982
Saenger Theatre Restoration • AIA Florida Chapter Honor Award

1981

1980

1979

1978

1977

1976

1974
Illinois Bell Telephone 4-A Equipment Building and Tower• AIA National Honor Award

Other buildings

Marquette Building
Soldier Field
333 North Michigan Building
Daily News Building
Chicago Board of Trade Building

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Holabird & Root.

Category:Master Planning Category: Interior Design Category: Structural Engineering Chicago Category: Sustainable Architecture

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 10/9/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.