User:JPRiley/Platt

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The Steuben Glass Works office building and showroom in New York City, designed by William & Geoffrey Platt and completed in 1937.
Longue Vue in New Orleans, designed by William & Geoffrey Platt and completed in 1942.
The Helen Hills Hills Chapel of Smith College, designed by William & Geoffrey Platt and completed in 1955.
The former National Academy School of Fine Arts in New York City, designed by William & Geoffrey Platt and completed in 1958.
Wright Hall of Smith College, designed by William & Geoffrey Platt and completed in 1961.
The tomb of Douglas MacArthur and Jean MacArthur in the rotunda of the MacArthur Memorial, designed by William & Geoffrey Platt and completed in 1964.
The Warburg Library of the Middlesex School, designed by William & Geoffrey Platt and completed in 1970.

William & Geoffrey Platt was an American architectural firm established in 1934 in New York City by brothers William Platt NA FAIA (February 6, 1897 – April 30, 1984) and Geoffrey Platt FAIA (August 6, 1905 – July 12, 1985). The brothers, sons of architect Charles A. Platt NA FAIA (October 16, 1861 – September 12, 1933), established their partnership to succeed the practice of their father, who had died in 1933.

History and biography[edit]

William Platt was born February 6, 1897 in New York City to architect Charles A. Platt and his wife, Eleanor (Hardy) Platt. He was educated at Harvard University, graduating in 1919, followed by an architectural education at Columbia University, graduating with a BArch in 1923. He then joined his father's office as a drafter.[1]

Geoffrey Platt was born August 6, 1905 in Cornish, New Hampshire, about eight years after his brother. Like his brother he was educated at Harvard and Columbia, graduating with the same degrees in 1927 and 1930, respectively. After his Columbia graduation he was awarded the Schermerhorn fellowship, which allowed him to study and travel in Europe for a year.[2]

In 1933 the brothers became junior partners in their father's firm, which was then renamed Charles A. Platt, William & Geoffrey Platt. Upon their father's death later that year, the brothers reorganized the firm as William & Geoffrey Platt.[1] The brothers continued their partnership until 1972, when William retired. Geoffrey continued with partners Ferdinand L. Wyckoff Jr. and Kenneth D. Coles under the name Platt, Wyckoff & Coles.[3] Geoffrey later retired from the partnership but was retained as a consultant. William Platt died April 30, 1984,[4] followed by Geoffrey on July 12, 1985.[5]

Wyckoff and Coles retired in 1992, and the firm was continued under the direction of Page Ayres Cowley. As of 2023, she continues to head the practice, known as Page Ayres Cowley Architecture.

Architecture and legacy[edit]

The brothers were well known in the American architectural and design communities. Both members of the American Institute of Architects, William and Geoffrey were elected Fellows of the AIA in 1951 and 1953, respectively. Cowley would earn the same distinction in 2001.[6] William and Geoffrey were elected to associate membership in the National Academy of Design in 1942 and 1975, with William being elevated to full membership in 1948.[7]

Both brothers were designers, but Geoffrey had a focus on preservation. When the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission was formally established in 1965, Geoffrey was its first chair, serving until 1968, when he stepped down to become vice chair. As a leader of the early preservation movement, Geoffrey later stated that he wamted to make preservation credible by "weaving a way between zealots who would save everything and those who wanted to destroy what they wished."[5] Under his leadership after William's retirement the firm developed its focus on preservation. His preservation projects included the restoration of the Bow Bridge in Central Park (1974).[8]

Like their father the Platt brothers were committed traditionalists, preferring the Colonial Revival and other revival styles. A rare exception was their 1937 showroom and office building in New York City for the Steuben Glass Works, a Moderne design showcasing new materials. Lewis Mumford labeled it "simple and excellent" but found fault in the inclusion of old fashioned figurative sculpture by Sidney Waugh, which led Talbot Hamlin to judge it "a definite disappointment."[9] In 1953, writing about their proposed Lamont House dormitory for Smith College, William noted that he found modern architecture "cold and impersonal."[10] It was not until circa 1960 that they began designing modernist buildings, at the urging of Smith president Thomas C. Mendenhall and professor Henry-Russell Hitchcock. Nonetheless much of their continued output was traditional.[11]

William Platt's son, Charles Adams Platt II (May 16, 1932 – August 10, 2020) was also an architect. Unlike his father he declined to join the family practice and cofounded the firm of Smotrich & Platt in New York City in 1965.[12] In contrast to the family practice, this firm quickly began winning awards for their distinctive modern buildings, such as Exodus House (1968) in New York City, which was recipient of an AIA National Honor Award in 1969,[13] though he shared with his father and uncle a strong interest in preservation. When Smotrich & Platt was dissolved in 1985 he continued as Charles A. Platt Partners, which was renamed Platt Byard Dovell Architects following the additions of Paul Byard in 1989 and Ray Dovell in 1990.[14] Later works of the younger Platt include the New 42nd Street building (2001) in New York City. In 2002 the firm merged with Buttrick White & Burtis to form Platt Byard Dovell White Architects, and is now known as PBDW Architects. Platt died in 2020 at the Platt family compound in Cornish, New Hampshire.[15]

Architectural works[edit]

William & Geoffrey Platt, 1934–1972[edit]

Platt, Wyckoff & Coles, 1972–1992[edit]

Smotrich & Platt, 1965–1985[edit]

Charles A. Platt Partners, 1985–1989[edit]

  • 1987 – Bridge Harbor Heights Condominiums, 65-71 Polar St, Brooklyn[31]

Platt & Byard, 1989–1995[edit]

Platt Byard Dovell Architects, 1995–2002[edit]

Platt Byard Dovell White Architects, from 2002[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e "Platt, William" in American Architects Directory (New York: R. R. Bowker Company, 1956): 437.
  2. ^ "Platt, Geoffrey" in American Architects Directory (New York: R. R. Bowker Company, 1956): 437.
  3. ^ "Platt, Geoffrey" in Who's Who in America, ed. 39 (Chicago: Marquis Who's Who, 2502)
  4. ^ "William Platt Is Dead, Manhattan Architect," New York Times, May 4, 1984, B6.
  5. ^ a b "Geoffrey Platt Is Deat At 79, Led City Preservation Move," New York Times, July 15, 1985, A16.
  6. ^ The American Institute of Architects College of Fellows History and Directory (Washington: American Institute of Architects, 2022)
  7. ^ National Academicians, National Academy of Design, no date. Accessed August 16, 2023.
  8. ^ "Restored Bow Bridge Reopens To Pedestrians," New York Times, September 24, 1974, 45.
  9. ^ a b Christopher Gray, "A Fifth Avenue Shift from Glass to Diamonds," New York Times, March 2, 1997, R5.
  10. ^ a b Margaret Burney Vickery, Smith College: An Architectural Tour (New York: Princeton Architectural Press, 2007): 132-133.
  11. ^ a b Frank E. Sanchis, American Architecture: Westchester County, New York; Colonial to Contemporary (North River Press, 1977): 387.
  12. ^ "Platt, Charles Adams" in Who's Who in America, 45th ed. (Wilmette: Marquis Who's Who, 1988): 2468.
  13. ^ "Platt, Charles Adams" in American Architects Directory (New York: R. R. Bowker Company, 1970): 723.
  14. ^ Cite error: The named reference PlattII was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  15. ^ Alex Hanson, "Exhibit shows work of late Cornish artist," Valley News, October 22, 2020. Accessed September 1, 2023.
  16. ^ Karen Kingsley and Lake Douglas, Buildings of New Orleans (Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2018): 231-233.
  17. ^ Margaret Burney Vickery, Smith College: An Architectural Tour (New York: Princeton Architectural Press, 2007): 104.
  18. ^ Norval White, Elliot Willensky and Fran Leadon, AIA Guide to New York City (New York: Oxford University Press, 2010): 457.
  19. ^ Lakewold NRHP Registration Form (2014)
  20. ^ Margaret Burney Vickery, Smith College: An Architectural Tour (New York: Princeton Architectural Press, 2007): 69.
  21. ^ Margaret Burney Vickery, Smith College: An Architectural Tour (New York: Princeton Architectural Press, 2007): 43-44.
  22. ^ a b c d e "Platt, William" in American Architects Directory (New York: R. R. Bowker Company, 1962): 723.
  23. ^ Neele-Banks Stichnoth, Public Buildings InfoSheet: Irwin House
  24. ^ Richard Guy Wilson, Buildings of Virginia: Tidewater and Piedmont (New York: Oxford University Press, 2002): 413-415.
  25. ^ Frank E. Sanchis, American Architecture: Westchester County, New York; Colonial to Contemporary (North River Press, 1977): 381.
  26. ^ Richard Guy Wilson, Buildings of Virginia: Tidewater and Piedmont (New York: Oxford University Press, 2002): 428-429.
  27. ^ a b c d Keith N. Morgan, Buildings of Massachusetts: Metropolitan Boston (Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2009): 455.
  28. ^ Paul Spencer Byard, Cynthia Davidson, Charles E. Pierce Jr. and Brian Regan, The Making of the Morgan from Charles McKim to Renzo Piano (New York: Morgan Library & Museum, 2008): 17.
  29. ^ 2010 AIA guide 488
  30. ^ 2010 AIA guide 878
  31. ^ 2010 AIA guide 609
  32. ^ 2010 AIA guide 336
  33. ^ 2010 AIA guide 294
  34. ^ 2010 AIA guide 459
  35. ^ 2010 AIA guide 240
  36. ^ 2010 AIA guide 719
  37. ^ 2010 AIA guide 464
  38. ^ 2010 AIA guide 501
  39. ^ 2010 AIA guide 719
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