John C. Austin

Infobox Architect


name=John C. Austin
mother=
father=
nationality= American
birth_date=birth date|1870|2|13
birth_place= Bodicote, Oxfordshire, England
death_date=death date|1963|9|3
death_place= Pasadena, California
significant_buildings=Griffith Observatory
Los Angeles City Hall
Shrine Auditorium
Hollywood Masonic Temple
significant_projects=
awards=|

John Corneby Wilson Austin (February 13, 1870 - September 3, 1963) was an architect and civic leader who participated in the design of several landmark buildings in Southern California, including the Griffith Observatory, Los Angeles City Hall, and the Shrine Auditorium.

Architect

Born in Bodicote, Oxfordshire, England, Austin was an apprentice to architect Williams S. Barwick in the late 1880s. He moved to the United States and worked as a draftsman for architect Benjamin Linfoot of Philadelphia from 1891-1892, before reloacting to San Francisco where he was a draftsman at Mooser and Devlin from 1892-1895.cite news|title=Architect DB - architect record on John C. Austin|publisher=University of Washington Libraries|url=https://digital.lib.washington.edu/php/architect/record.phtml?type=architect&architectid=107] He moved to Los Angeles in 1895, and became one of the city's leading architects. Austin's works as an architect include some of Southern California's landmark buildings, including the following:
*Hollywood Masonic Temple Built in 1921, the Classic Revival Hollywood Masonic Temple is a landmark structure on Hollywood Boulevard, directly across the street from Grauman's Chinese Theater. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.
*Shrine Auditorium - Built in 1925, the Shrine Auditorium is a landmark large-event venue in Los Angeles and the headquarters of the Al Malaikah Temple, a division of the Shriners. When the building opened in January 1926, the "Los Angeles Times" called it a "Triumph of Art" and credited the Moorish style architecture to Austin as the man "who drew plans and specifications for the group of magnificent structures." [cite news|title=Shrine Building Triumph of Art|publisher=Los Angeles Times|date=1926-01-20] The Academy Awards have been held at the Shrine on ten occasions. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1987.
*Los Angeles City Hall - Austin was one of three prominent local architects, along with John Parkinson and Albert C. Martin, Sr., hired to design what has become the most recognized building in Los Angeles. The selection of an architect for the city hall led to fierce competition among the city's leading architects. The City Council selected the firm of Curlett and Beelman, but the Board of Public Works opted instead to hire a trio of the city's top architects in Martin, Parkinson, and Austin. [cite news|title=Deadlock on Architects: Public Works Board Selects Own City Hall Firm; Parley With Council Fails of Compromise|publisher=Los Angeles Times|date=1925-03-03] Controversy continued when the architects turned in drawings for 28-story tower to house a muncipal government that could adequately fit into the first four floors.cite news|title=High City Hall Need Explained: Architect Says Plan Means Saving to Taxpayer; Realty Board Members Told of High-Tower Value|publisher=Los Angeles Times|date=1926-04-18] The city ultimately accepted the tower plan, and in March 1928 the Board of Public Works passed a resolution commending the architects "for the eminently satisfactory and beautiful design of the monumental building." [cite news|title=Hall Architects Praised: Works Board Commends Trio for Design and Speed in Erecting New City Offices|publisher=Los Angeles Times|date=1928-03-27]
*Memorial Branch Library - Built in 1930, this Gothic Revival library building includes a large heraldic work of stained glass created by the artists at Judson Studios. The building was dedicated to the memory of Los Angeles high school students who died in World War I. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1987.
*Griffith Observatory - Austin was also the architect for the Griffith Observatory, [cite news|title=Park's New Unit Ready: Decorating Bid Approved; Grounds Landscaped; Opening Later|publisher=Los Angeles Times|date=1934-10-03 ("The Griffith Observatory, erected in Griffith Park ..., has been completed by the contractor, ... the Park Commission was notified through John C. Austin, architect.")] built from 1933-1935, and considered one of the most recongizable buildings in Southern California. It is located on the south-facing slope of Mount Hollywood in L.A.'s Griffith Park.
* [http://www.stvincentmedicalcenter.com/about/Pages/History.aspx St. Vincent's Hospital]
* [http://books.google.com/books?id=ww6e8ucHmksC&pg=RA1-PA256&lpg=RA1-PA256&dq=potter+hotel+and+santa+barbara+and+austin&source=web&ots=qNRrMRTUDQ&sig=ya0ImUJ1qOXoscpc2EdyTCeXBKo&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=1&ct=result Potter Hotel] in Santa Barbara - The Potter Hotel was a five-story, 600-room resort hotel built from 1902-1903.
*Los Angeles Hall of Justice - While with Allied Architects, Austin also worked on the Hall of Justice building. It is the oldest building in the Los Angeles Civic Center and was the site of the trials of Charles Manson and Sirhan Sirhan. It has been vacant since 1994. [cite web|title=Hall of Justice|publisher=Emporis|url=http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=116561]
*The [http://www.anaheim.net/com_dev/aipp/19a.htm Carnegie Library] in Anaheim - Completed in 1909, the building served as a library until 1963. It is now the home of the Anaheim Museum. [title=Carnegie Library home of Anaheim Museum|publisher=City of Los Angeles|url=http://www.anaheim.net/com_dev/aipp/19a.htm]
*St. Paul's Catholic Church.
*The first State Building in the Los Angeles Civic Center.

Civic leader

Austin was also active in civic affairs in Los Angeles. He was elected President of the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce in January 1930.cite news|title=Austin Chosen Chamber Head|publisher=Los Angeles Times|date=1930-01-09] As head of the Chamber of Commerce, Austin initiated a public-art campaign to beautify the city through the erection of statuary and monuments. [cite news|title=Public-Art Drive Planned: Chamber Will Encourage Citizens to Give Statues and Monuments for City's Beautification|publisher=Los Angeles Times|date=1930-03-10] One of the issues on which Austin became a leader was the need to develop a larger water system for Los Angeles. He spoke publicly and was an advocate in the business community in favor of a 1930 bond issue to raise $38.8 million to develop the city's water supply. [cite news|title=Water Aids City Growth: Voters to be Warned Los Angeles' Future Hangs on Bond Issue at Meeting Tomorrow|publisher=Los Angeles Times|date=1930-04-15]

As the Great Depression deepened in Los Angeles, Austin also advocated federal spending as a means to stimulate the economy. In April 1930, a letter from Austin to Pres. Herbert Hoover was published in the "Los Angeles Times". In it, Austin proposed the creation of an emergency fund, raised by taxation or appropriation, which could be used to develop public improvements and to provide needed employment.cite news|title=Business Aid Plan: Chamber Head Sends Letter to President Hoover Asking National Fund for Emergencies|publisher=Los Angeles Times|date=1930-04-21] Austin argued that such programs were needed so that otherwise good citizens not fall "prey to the propaganda of Communists and agitators against our institutions." In January 1931, after expressing concern that "we are just drifting along in this matter," Austin traveled to Washington, D.C. to press for federal construction projects in Los Angeles.cite news|title=Uncle Sam To Be Urged: John C. Austin Will Go to Washington to Speed Up Federal Building Projects Here|publisher=Los Angeles Times|date=1931-01-08] Austin announced that he was going east "with a crowbar to try and pry something loose," vowing to stay as long as he felt he could help get things started. Later that year, Pres. Hoover appointed Austin to coordinate the federal government's unemployment relief efforts in ten Southern California counties. [cite news|title=Relief Work To Be Unified: John C. Austin Undertakes Task for Southland; Efforts for Unemployed Will Be Co-ordinated; Well-Rounded Program to Be Worked Out at Once|publisher=Los Angeles Times|date=1931-10-20] [cite news|title=Organization Plans Made: John C. Austin Explains Relief Policies; Southland to Follow Ten County Division Idea|publisher=Los Angeles Times|date=1931-10-21] Shortly after his appointment to the relief effort, however, Austin's wife of 29 years, Hilda Violet Austin, the mother of nine children with Austin, died at their home in Pasadena.cite news|title=Mrs. Austin Rites To Be Tomorrow: Final Tributes Arranged for Church Worker Who Was Wife of Architect|publisher=Los Angeles Times|date=1931-11-27]

Austin also served as the President of the State Board of Archtiectural Examiners, a member of the National Labor Board responsible for labor disputes in Southern California, [cite news|title=Two Appointed to Labor Board: Austin and Stevens to Help End Industrial Rifts; Both Wire Their Acceptance to National Official|publisher=Los Angeles Times|date=1933-11-25] President of the Southern California Historical Society, President of the Jonathan Club, and a 32nd degree Mason. In 1949, the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce presented Austin with its first ever Achievement Award. [cite news|author=Charles C. Cohan|title=Building Honors Given to Architect: John Austin Gets Honor at Construction Industries Dinner for Outstanding Service|publisher=Los Angeles Times|date=1949-03-18] In 1963, Los Angeles Mayor Samuel Yorty presented Austin with a scroll commending him "for serving in an outstanding manner as a distinguished architect."

Austin died in 1963 at his home in Pasadena, California.cite news|title=John C. Austin, Dean of Architects, Dies: Distinguished Works Included Many of Southland's Famous Landmark Buildings|publisher=Los Angeles Times|date=1963-09-05]

References