User:JPRiley/Platt

William Platt was born February 6, 1897 in New York City to architect Charles A. Platt and his wife, Eleanor (Hardy) Platt. He was educated at Harvard University, graduating in 1919, followed by an architectural education at Columbia University, graduating with a BArch in 1923. He then joined his father's office as a drafter."Platt, William" in American Architects Directory (New York: R. R. Bowker Company, 1956): 437.

Geoffrey Platt was born August 6, 1905 in Cornish, New Hampshire, about eight years after his brother. Like his brother he was educated at Harvard and Columbia, graduating with the same degrees in 1927 and 1930, respectively. After his Columbia graduation he was awarded the Schermerhorn fellowship, which allowed him to study and travel in Europe for a year."Platt, Geoffrey" in American Architects Directory (New York: R. R. Bowker Company, 1956): 437.

In 1933 the brothers became junior partners in their father's firm, which was then renamed Charles A. Platt, William & Geoffrey Platt. Upon their father's death later that year, the brothers reorganized the firm as William & Geoffrey Platt. The brothers continued their partnership until 1972, when William retired. Geoffrey continued with partners Ferdinand L. Wyckoff Jr. and Kenneth D. Coles under the name Platt, Wyckoff & Coles."Platt, Geoffrey" in Who's Who in America, ed. 39 (Chicago: Marquis Who's Who, 2502) Geoffrey later retired from the partnership but was retained as a consultant. William Platt died April 30, 1984,"William Platt Is Dead, Manhattan Architect," New York Times, May 4, 1984, B6. followed by Geoffrey on July 12, 1985."Geoffrey Platt Is Deat At 79, Led City Preservation Move," New York Times, July 15, 1985, A16.

Wyckoff and Coles retired in 1992, and the firm was continued under the direction of Page Ayres Cowley. As of 2023, she continues to head the practice, known as Page Ayres Cowley Architecture.

The brothers were well known in the American architectural and design communities. Both members of the American Institute of Architects, William and Geoffrey were elected Fellows of the AIA in 1951 and 1953, respectively. Cowley would earn the same distinction in 2001.The American Institute of Architects College of Fellows History and Directory (Washington: American Institute of Architects, 2022) William and Geoffrey were elected to associate membership in the National Academy of Design in 1942 and 1975, with William being elevated to full membership in 1948.[https://nationalacademy.emuseum.com/people/images?filter=currentNA%3Atrue National Academicians], National Academy of Design, no date. Accessed August 16, 2023.

Both brothers were designers, but Geoffrey had a focus on preservation. When the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission was formally established in 1965, Geoffrey was its first chair, serving until 1968, when he stepped down to become vice chair. As a leader of the early preservation movement, Geoffrey later stated that he wamted to make preservation credible by "weaving a way between zealots who would save everything and those who wanted to destroy what they wished." Under his leadership after William's retirement the firm developed its focus on preservation. His preservation projects included the restoration of the Bow Bridge in Central Park (1974)."Restored Bow Bridge Reopens To Pedestrians," New York Times, September 24, 1974, 45.

Like their father the Platt brothers were committed traditionalists, preferring the Colonial Revival and other revival styles. A rare exception was their 1937 showroom and office building in New York City for the Steuben Glass Works, a Moderne design showcasing new materials. Lewis Mumford labeled it "simple and excellent" but found fault in the inclusion of old fashioned figurative sculpture by Sidney Waugh, which led Talbot Hamlin to judge it "a definite disappointment."Christopher Gray, "A Fifth Avenue Shift from Glass to Diamonds," New York Times, March 2, 1997, R5. In 1953, writing about their proposed Lamont House dormitory for Smith College, William noted that he found modern architecture "cold and impersonal." It was not until circa 1960 that they began designing modernist buildings, at the urging of Smith president Thomas C. Mendenhall and professor Henry-Russell Hitchcock. Nonetheless much of their continued output was traditional.

William Platt's son, Charles Adams Platt II (May 16, 1932 – August 10, 2020) was also an architect. Unlike his father he declined to join the family practice and cofounded the firm of Smotrich & Platt in New York City in 1965."Platt, Charles Adams" in Who's Who in America, 45th ed. (Wilmette: Marquis Who's Who, 1988): 2468. In contrast to the family practice, this firm quickly began winning awards for their distinctive modern buildings, such as Exodus House (1968) in New York City, which was recipient of an AIA National Honor Award in 1969,"Platt, Charles Adams" in American Architects Directory (New York: R. R. Bowker Company, 1970): 723. though he shared with his father and uncle a strong interest in preservation. When Smotrich & Platt was dissolved in 1985 he continued as Charles A. Platt Partners, which was renamed Platt Byard Dovell Architects following the additions of Paul Byard in 1989 and Ray Dovell in 1990. Later works of the younger Platt include the New 42nd Street building (2001) in New York City. In 2002 the firm merged with Buttrick White & Burtis to form Platt Byard Dovell White Architects, and is now known as PBDW Architects. Platt died in 2020 at the Platt family compound in Cornish, New Hampshire.Alex Hanson, "[https://www.vnews.com/Charles-Platt-s-artwork-is-made-from-everyday-materials-but-has-been-seldom-seen-36909589 Exhibit shows work of late Cornish artist]," Valley News, October 22, 2020. Accessed September 1, 2023.

• 1937 – Steuben Glass Works building, 718 Fifth Ave, New York City
• Altered beyond recognition after a 1959 sale to Harry Winston, Inc.
• 1942 – Longue Vue, 7 Bamboo Rd, New OrleansKaren Kingsley and Lake Douglas, Buildings of New Orleans (Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2018): 231-233.
• Ellen Biddle Shipman, landscape architect. NRHP-listed.
• 1948 – Dining Hall, Deerfield Academy, Deerfield, Massachusetts
• 1951 – Memorial Hall, Deerfield Academy, Deerfield, Massachusetts
• Known as the Hess Center for the Arts since a 2014 renovation.
• 1952 – Chapel additions, Suresnes American Cemetery and Memorial, Suresnes, Hauts-de-Seine, France
• 1955 – Helen Hills Hills Chapel, Smith College, Northampton, MassachusettsMargaret Burney Vickery, Smith College: An Architectural Tour (New York: Princeton Architectural Press, 2007): 104.
• 1955 – Lamont House, Smith College, Northampton, MassachusettsMargaret Burney Vickery, Smith College: An Architectural Tour (New York: Princeton Architectural Press, 2007): 132-133.
• 1958 – National Academy School of Fine Arts, 5 E 89th St, New York CityNorval White, Elliot Willensky and Fran Leadon, [https://archive.org/details/aiaguidetonewyor0000unse_m6u4/page/n3/mode/2up AIA Guide to New York City] (New York: Oxford University Press, 2010): 457.
• The former school of the National Academy of Design.
• 1959 – Lakewold, 12317 Gravelly Lake Dr SW, Lakewood, Washington[https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/14001055 Lakewold NRHP Registration Form] (2014)
• Thomas Church, landscape architect. NRHP-listed.
• 1960 – Faculty Club, Smith College, Northampton, MassachusettsMargaret Burney Vickery, Smith College: An Architectural Tour (New York: Princeton Architectural Press, 2007): 69.
• 1961 – Wright Hall, Smith College, Northampton, MassachusettsMargaret Burney Vickery, Smith College: An Architectural Tour (New York: Princeton Architectural Press, 2007): 43-44.
• 1962 – Mount Kisco Public Library, 100 E Main St, Mount Kisco, New YorkFrank E. Sanchis, American Architecture: Westchester County, New York; Colonial to Contemporary (North River Press, 1977): 387.
• Demolished in 2007.
• 1963 – Barton Dorm, Deerfield Academy, Deerfield, Massachusetts"Platt, William" in American Architects Directory (New York: R. R. Bowker Company, 1962): 723.
• 1963 – John N. Irwin II house, 848 Weed St, New Canaan, ConnecticutNeele-Banks Stichnoth, [https://newcanaanite.com/public-buildings-infosheet-irwin-house-67362 Public Buildings InfoSheet: Irwin House]
• This property, now Irwin Park, also includes the modernist Gores Pavilion (1959) by Landis Gores.
• 1964 – MacArthur Memorial, 198 Bank St, Norfolk, VirginiaRichard Guy Wilson, Buildings of Virginia: Tidewater and Piedmont (New York: Oxford University Press, 2002): 413-415.
• A memorial to General Douglas MacArthur within the gutted shell of the former Norfolk City Hall.
• 1964 – Rye City Hall, 1051 Boston Post Rd, Rye, New YorkFrank E. Sanchis, American Architecture: Westchester County, New York; Colonial to Contemporary (North River Press, 1977): 381.
• 1965 – Cleveland Botanical Garden, 11030 East Blvd, Cleveland
• 1966 – Mellon Center for the Arts, Bennett College, Millbrook, New York
• Demolished.
• 1967 – Chrysler Museum of Art Houston wing, 1 Memorial Pl, Norfolk, VirginiaRichard Guy Wilson, Buildings of Virginia: Tidewater and Piedmont (New York: Oxford University Press, 2002): 428-429.
• 1968 – Clay House, Middlesex School, Concord, MassachusettsKeith N. Morgan, Buildings of Massachusetts: Metropolitan Boston (Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2009): 455.
• 1969 – Boyden Library, Deerfield Academy, Deerfield, Massachusetts
• 1969 – Senior faculty apartments, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey
• 1970 – Warburg Library, Middlesex School, Concord, Massachusetts
• 1972 – LuEsther T. Mertz Library Watson addition, New York Botanical Garden, the Bronx

• 1975 – Wood Theatre and Arts Center, Middlesex School, Concord, Massachusetts
• Known as the Bass Arts Pavilion since a 2019 renovation.
• 1976 – Pierpont Morgan Library annex addition, 225 Madison Ave, New York CityPaul Spencer Byard, Cynthia Davidson, Charles E. Pierce Jr. and Brian Regan, [https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Making_of_the_Morgan/5BAsyC6tA78C?hl=en&gbpv=0 The Making of the Morgan from Charles McKim to Renzo Piano] (New York: Morgan Library & Museum, 2008): 17.
• Demolished to make way for the Renzo Piano designed expansion, completed in 2006.
• 1978 – Clay Science Center, Middlesex School, Concord, Massachusetts

• 1968 – Exodus House, 309 E 103rd St, New York City
• Demolished.
• 1984 – Gracie Mansion restoration, East End Ave, New York City2010 AIA guide 488
• 1985 – New York City Police Department 49th Precinct 2121 Eastchester Rd, the Bronx2010 AIA guide 878

• 1987 – Bridge Harbor Heights Condominiums, 65-71 Polar St, Brooklyn2010 AIA guide 609

• 1996 – Chanel Building, 15 E 57th St, New York City2010 AIA guide 336
• 2001 – New 42nd Street, 229 W 42nd St, New York City2010 AIA guide 294

• 2004 – 47 East 91st Street, 47 E 91st St, New York City2010 AIA guide 459
• 2005 – 50 Madison Park, 50 Madison Ave, New York City2010 AIA guide 240
• 2006 – Hillside Mausoleum, Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn2010 AIA guide 719
• 2006 – Reece School, 25 E 104th St, New York City2010 AIA guide 464
• 2007 – Broadway + 110, 545 W 110th St, New York City2010 AIA guide 501
• 2007 – Tranquility Garden, Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn2010 AIA guide 719

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