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Whitney Warren (1864–1943) and Charles
Wetmore (1866–1941) first gained prominence as the designer of the New
York Yacht Club (1899–1900) and for their work on Grand Central Terminal
(1903–13, with Reed and Stem). In the early decades of the twentieth
century, Warren and Wetmore received a succession of commissions for city
and country houses from their wealthy friends and relatives. Beginning in
1910, the firm designed tall hotels in the area around Grand Central and
became increasingly involved in the design of skyscrapers. The office
designed some of the earliest skyscrapers erected in New York following
the passage of the comprehensive zoning law of 1916. These included the
Heckscher Building (1920–21) and the Aeolian Building (1925–27), both
on Fifth Avenue, and the New York Central Building (1927–29) straddling
Park Avenue north of Grand Central.
WARREN, WHITNEY. (1/29/1864—1/24/1943)
New York, N.Y.
An architect of prominence in New York from
1896, when he organized the firm of Warren & Wetmore, until his
retirement from practice in 1931. Born and educated in New York, at the
age of eighteen he went to Paris to study architecture, and while
attending Atliers of the Ecole des Beaux Arts, led the life of a
cosmopolite, and became so enamored with France that he continued to live
there for a decade. In 1896 he returned to New York and formed a
partnership with Charles Wetmore under the name Warren & Wetmore. The
firm’s bid for recognition in the city was made in submitting plans in a
competition for a new home for the New York Club, and having won the
competition, the partners embarked on a career which brought fame and
notoriety to Whitney Warren.
The firm’s first important commission,
Grand Central Terminal in New York was followed by Stations on other
Railroad Lines, such as the Michigan Central, Canadian Northern and Erie
Roads, and in New York a new Office Building for the New York Central, the
Chelsea Piers, Steinway Building, and Aeolian Hall.
Early in the 1900’s Warren & Wetmore
established a reputation in hotel work. Among the firm’s successfully
executed designs were the old Belmont, the Ambassador, Ritz Carlton, the
Commodore, Vanderbilt, and the Biltmore, all in New York, the Ritz Carlton
in Atlantic City, the Belmont, Providence, R.I., Royal Hamilton Hotel in
Honolulu, and the Broadmore in Colorado Springs. While all of these were
important commissions, Mr. Warren took the most pride in having designed
the reconstructed Louvain Library in Belgium, destroyed by the Germans in
World War I. The dedication of the building in 1928 led to an
international controversy because of Warren’s insistence on an
inscription placing on the Germans the guilt of having destroyed the
building— “Furore Teutonica Diruta; Dono Americano Restituta”
(destroyed by German fury; restored by American generosity).
Although Mr. Warren gave up professional
practice in 1931, he was frequently called upon the serve as Consultant on
public projects, and retained his studio in the Beaux Arts Building on
West 44th Street as Office headquarters. A co–founder of the Beaux Arts
Institute of Design and a Director for many years, he remained active in
its affairs, and originated the famous Annual Ball, parties over which he
presided until they were given up in 1937. One of his chief
characteristics was an intense individualism, both in his professional
career and social life.
—References: Obit., New York Herald–Tribune, 1/25/1943: Who
Was Who in America, 1943–1950.
WETMORE, CHARLES D.
(1867&151;5/9/1941) New York, N.Y.
Formerly a partner of the later Whitney
Warren, and under the firm name of Wetmore & Warren established a
reputation in designing modern hotel buildings in New York and other
cities.
Mr. Wetmore was a native of Elmira, N.Y.,
and after attending the city schools completed a formal education at
Harvard, where he was graduated in 1889. During five succeeding years he
studied architecture in New York., subsequently joined Whitney Warren in
partnership. Two of the firm’s major works were the New York Central
R.R. Terminal and the adjoining Biltmore Hotel, while other important
buildings erected from the firm’s plans include the Aeolian Hall, and
the following Hotels: the Ritz Carlton, the Commodore; Ambassador; the
Vanderbilt (1912), and additions to the Plaza Hotel, all in New York.
Warren & also designed the Ritz Carlton in Atlantic city, N.J., the
Belmont in Providence, R.I., the Westchester, Rye, N.Y., the Broadmoore,
Colorado Springs, Colo., and the Royal Hawaiian in Honolulu, completed in
1937.
— References: Obit., New York Times, 5/10/1941.
[The above citations are from: Henry F. and
Elsie Rathburn Withey, Biographical Dictionary of American Architects
(Deceased) (Los Angeles: Hennessey & Ingalls, Inc. 1970;
facsimile of 1956 edition), pp. 636–637 and p.647.]
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