Dankmar Adler facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dankmar Adler
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| Born | July 3, 1844 Stadtlengsfeld, Thuringia, Germany
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| Died | April 16, 1900 (aged 55) |
| Occupation | Architect |
Dankmar Adler (born July 3, 1844 – died April 16, 1900) was an important American architect and engineer. He was born in Germany but moved to the United States. He is famous for working with Louis Sullivan for 15 years. Together, they designed many tall buildings called skyscrapers. These buildings showed off their strong steel frames on the outside.
Some of their most famous buildings include the Wainwright Building in St. Louis, Missouri (1891), the Chicago Stock Exchange Building (1894), and the Guaranty Building in Buffalo, New York (1896).
Contents
Early Life and Education
Dankmar Adler was born in Stadtlengsfeld, Germany. His mother, Sara Eliel, passed away when he was born. In 1854, when he was ten years old, he moved to the United States with his father, Liebman. His father was a rabbi.
They first lived in Detroit, where Liebman became a rabbi at Congregation Beth-El. Later, they moved to Chicago. Dankmar went to school for a short time in Detroit and Ann Arbor. He then left school to become a draftsman, which is someone who draws detailed plans for buildings.
Adler's Career in Architecture
Dankmar Adler served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He was a private in Battery "M", 1st Illinois Light Artillery Regiment. He worked on engineering projects during the Chattanooga and Atlanta Campaigns.
After the war, Adler started working as an architect in Chicago. He first worked with Augustus Bauer, then with Ozias S. Kinney. In 1871, Adler partnered with Edward J. Burling. Together, they designed over 100 buildings.
Partnership with Louis Sullivan
Adler later started his own architecture firm. In 1880, he hired Louis Sullivan as a draftsman and designer. Three years later, Sullivan became Adler's partner.
Their partnership was very important for architecture. However, it ended because of a difficult economic time called the Panic of 1893. Also, Adler wanted his two sons to join the firm, which caused problems with Sullivan. Adler then left to work for an elevator company as an engineer and salesman. After a short time, he returned to architecture, working with his sons. But he never reached the same level of fame he had with Sullivan.
Key Architectural Achievements
Adler and Sullivan designed the Auditorium Building (1889). This building is famous for its amazing sound quality. Their Kehilath Anshe Ma'ariv Synagogue also had excellent acoustics. These buildings were inspired by the great sound in Adler's earlier Central Music Hall. Adler was known as an expert in acoustics, which is the science of sound.
Adler played a big part in rebuilding Chicago after the Great Chicago Fire. He is seen as a leader in the Chicago school of architecture. This group of architects pioneered the use of steel-framed buildings and skyscrapers. Dankmar Adler and Louis Sullivan also hired and taught Frank Lloyd Wright, who became a very famous architect himself. Wright often praised Adler, calling him his "Big Chief."
The last major building Adler designed was Temple Isaiah.
Personal Life
On June 25, 1872, Dankmar Adler married Dila Kohn. They had three children: Abraham K. Adler, Sidney Adler, and Sadie Adler.
Dankmar Adler passed away in Chicago. He is buried at Mount Mayriv Cemetery in Chicago.
Legacy and Collections
Photographs and other important documents about Dankmar Adler are kept at the Ryerson & Burnham Libraries at the Art Institute of Chicago. The Dankmar Adler Collection includes his letters, papers, and even an autobiography.
Architectural Work (Partial List)
The first group of buildings were created in partnership with Edward Burling:
- Old Chicago Tribune Building, Dearborn & Clark
- Delmonico's, Madison & Clark
- Kingsbury Hall, Clark Street
- Garrett Biblical Institute, Lake Street
- Methodist Church Block, Clark Street
- Samuel Cole Building, W. Lake Street – 1873
- William Rowney Building – 1873
- St James Episcopal Cathedral, E. Huron Street – 1875
- Row Houses, 2225–2245 N. Burling Street – 1875
- Sinai Temple, Indiana Avenue and 21st Street – 1875
- Central Music Hall – 1879
- Borden Block – 1879–80
- Rothschild Store – 1881
- Jewelers Building 1881–82
- Revell Building – 1881–83
- Third McVickers Theatre – 1883
- Thirty-Ninth Street Passenger Station, ICR – 1883
- Troescher Building – 1884
- Springer Block and Kranz Buildings – 1885–87
- Selz, Schwab & Company Factory – 1886–87
- Wirt Dexter Building – 1887
- Standard Club of Chicago – 1887–88
- James H. Walker Warehouse – 1888
- Auditorium Building – 1887–1889
- Hebrew Manual Training School – 1889–90
- Pueblo Opera House – 1890
- E. W. Blatchford Warehouse – 1889
- Kehilath Anshe Ma'ariv Synagogue (later Pilgrim Baptist Church) – 1890–91, interior destroyed by fire in 2006
- Wainwright Building, St. Louis, Missouri – 1891
- Schiller Building – 1891–92
- James Charnley House – 1891–92
- Albert Sullivan Residence – 1891–92
- Transportation Building, World's Columbian Exposition – 1891–93
- Guaranty Building, Buffalo, New York – 1894
See also
In Spanish: Dankmar Adler para niños
