- Walter Netsch
Walter Netsch (
February 23 ,1920 -June 15 ,2008 ) was an Americanarchitect based inChicago . He was most closely associated with thebrutalist style of architecture, as well as the firm ofSkidmore, Owings, and Merrill . His signature aesthetic is known as Field Theory and is based on rotating squares into complex shapes. He may be most well known as the lead designer for theUnited States Air Force Academy inColorado Springs, Colorado and its famous Cadet Chapel. The Cadet Area at the Academy was named aNational Historic Landmark in 2004.ummary of work
After graduating from
The Leelanau School , aboarding school inMichigan , Netsch studied at theMassachusetts Institute of Technology , and then enlisted in theUnited States Army Corps of Engineers . He began his career as an architect working for [http://www.artic.edu/aic/libraries/caohp/yost.html L. Morgan Yost] inKenilworth, Illinois . In 1947, he joined Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, which initially assigned him to work inOak Ridge, Tennessee . Later he became a partner for design in that firm.Following his work on the Air Force Academy, Netsch led the team which designed the original University of Illinois Circle Campus. The campus design grouped buildings into functional clusters and now constitutes most of the east campus buildings at the
University of Illinois at Chicago . [ [http://www.uic.edu/portfolio/campus/circle.html Circle Campus History] ] During his career, Netsch designed 15 libraries, as well as academic buildings for colleges and universities in the United States and Japan, includingGrinnell College ,Miami University ,Wells College ,Illinois Institute of Technology ,Sophia University ,Texas Christian University ,University of Chicago , andUniversity of Iowa . He did the initial design for theInland Steel Building in Chicago; built circa 1956-1957, this was the firstskyscraper built inChicago's Loop after theGreat Depression . [ [http://www.library.northwestern.edu/art/walternetsch/netschbiography.html Walter Netsch Biography] , Northwestern University Library website (accessed January 29, 2008)] He also designed the east wing of theArt Institute of Chicago . [ [http://www.artic.edu/aic/libraries/caohp/netsch.html Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago Architects Oral History Project - Walter Netsch] ] Netsch designed several buildings atNorthwestern University and was the focus of an exhibit at theNorthwestern University Library in February-March 2006 [ [http://www.library.northwestern.edu/exhibits/walternetsch/ Walter Netsch, Architect] , Northwestern University Library website (accessed January 29, 2008)] as well as a monograph, "Walter A. Netsch, FAIA: A Critical Appreciation and Sourcebook" [ [http://nupress.northwestern.edu/title.cfm?ISBN=0-8101-2541-2 Walter A. Netsch, FAIA: A Critical Appreciation and Sourcebook] ] , published in May 2008.Recognition
Netsch taught at several universities, received numerous awards and honorary degrees, and served as a trustee at the
Rhode Island School of Design and a member of the Board of Governors at Northwestern University Library. From 1986-1989, he served as Commissioner of the Chicago Park District, appointed by mayorHarold Washington . He was elected to the College of Fellows of theAmerican Institute of Architects in 1967. In 1995, he was interviewed for the Chicago Architects Oral History Project. [ [http://www.artic.edu/aic/libraries/caohp/netsch.html Walter Netsch] , Chicago Architects Oral History Project]Netsch was a collector and patron of the arts, along with his wife,
Illinois politicianDawn Clark Netsch , to whom he was married since 1963. The couple's art collection has been exhibited several times.Netsch maintained a private consulting practice and was viewed as a mentor by many architects.
References
General
* [http://www.artic.edu/aic/libraries/caohp/netsch.html Chicago Architects Oral History Project]
* [http://www.library.northwestern.edu/exhibits/walternetsch/ Northwestern University Library]
* [http://nupress.northwestern.edu/title.cfm?ISBN=0-8101-2541-2 Walter A. Netsch, FAIA: A Critical Appreciation and Sourcebook]Notes
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