- William Lescaze
William Edmond Lescaze (
Onex, Switzerland , 27 March 1896 –New York, New York , 9 February 1969) was a Swiss-born Americanarchitect , and is considered one of the pioneers of modernism in Americanarchitecture .He completed his formal education at the "École polytechnique fédérale de Zurich " inZurich , Switzerland, receiving his degree in 1919, and emigrated to the USA in 1920. He worked for some time at the architectural firm of Hubbell & Benes inCleveland, Ohio , before setting up his own practice inNew York City in 1923.In 1929,
Philadelphia architect George Howe invited Lescaze to form a partnership, which was named Howe & Lescaze. Within just a few weeks after joining forces, the duo began work on a large project for downtown Philadelphia. The resulting structure, completed in 1932, was thePhiladelphia Savings Fund Society (PSFS) building, which is today generally considered the first International Modernistskyscraper , and the first International Style building of wide significance in the United States. Lescaze is generally given credit for the design: contemporary letters from Howe to Lescaze quote the former insisting to the latter that "the design is definitely yours." The structure replaced the bank's former headquarters in Philadelphia, a classicist structure near Washington Square built in 1897.He later taught industrial design at the
Pratt Institute (1943-1945). Among his built works were theCBS West Coast studiosColumbia Square onSunset Boulevard .External links
* [http://www.philadelphiabuildings.org/pab/app/ar_display.cfm/19021 Lescaze, William (1896-1969)] -- "Philadelphia Architects and Buildings" biography
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