Robert von Ezdorf

Robert von Ezdorf
Born 1889
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Died March 26, 1956
New York City, New York
Nationality American
Occupation Architect
Spouse(s) Florence Burke
Buildings Waldorf-Astoria
Hotel Hershey
Commodore Hotel
Projects The Secret City

Robert von Ezdorf (1889–March 26, 1956) was an American architect and composer. He specialized in high-rise office buildings and also designed the interiors of the Commodore Hotel, the Waldorf-Astoria and Hotel Hershey as well as the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.[1] He worked for the firm of Cross and Cross where he served as chief designer.[2] He also worked at McKim, Mead, and White.[1] Von Ezdorf also designed much of Oak Ridge's Secret City, including the reactor used in developing the atomic bomb.

Von Ezdorf initially intended to embark on a career in music and studied music until he was 16. He then changed his focus to building design and earned a degree in architecture from George Washington University in 1912.[3] He studied drawing under Nathan C. Wyeth. He served in World War I as a 31st Aero Squadron lieutenant and was the first officer of that rank from Queens to be sent abroad.[4] He later served as a bird colonel during World War II.

References

  1. 1 2 "Robert von Ezdorf, Architect Here, Dies; Designed Interior of the Waldorf-Astoria". New York Times. March 26, 1956.
  2. "Webster Native Gave Fresno Its City Hall". Worcester Telegram & Gazette. February 20, 1992.
  3. "Obituaries". Engineering News-Record. 156: 80. 1956.
  4. Ernest Knaufft (1921). "War Memorials". The American Review of Reviews, vol. 63. Review of Reviews. Retrieved 27 January 2010.


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.