Elizabeth Coit facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Elizabeth Coit
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| Born | 1892 Winchester, Massachusetts
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| Died | 1987 |
| Alma mater | Radcliffe College Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| Occupation | Architect |
| Awards | Langley Award |
| Practice | Grosvenor Atterbury United States Housing Authority |
Elizabeth Coit (born 1892, died 1987) was an amazing American architect. She spent her whole career working on housing, especially for people who needed affordable homes. She wanted to make sure everyone had a good place to live.
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About Elizabeth Coit
Elizabeth Coit was born in Winchester, Massachusetts, in 1892. She loved learning! She went to Radcliffe College and then studied at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). In 1919, she earned her degree in architecture from MIT. This meant she was ready to design buildings.
After college, Elizabeth worked as a drafter and designer. She helped create plans for buildings. In 1926, she became a licensed architect in New York State. This was a big step! It meant she could officially design buildings on her own.
In 1930, Elizabeth opened her own architecture business in New York City. She designed homes, often for women, and also for businesses. She ran her own firm until 1942.
Helping Families with Housing
Elizabeth Coit cared a lot about making good homes for everyone. In 1941, she wrote an important study. It was called "Design and Construction of the Dwelling Unit for the Low-Income Family." This study looked at how to build affordable homes in the United States.
From 1942 to 1947, she worked for the United States Housing Authority. She helped set the rules for designing public housing. This was housing built by the government to help people.
Later, in 1948, she became a main planner for the New York City Housing Authority. She worked there until she retired in 1962. Even after retiring, she kept helping housing groups. She gave advice to both government and private organizations. She truly dedicated her life to improving housing for families.
Awards and Recognition
Elizabeth Coit was recognized for her important work. She wrote many articles and reviewed books about housing. She was also the first woman to receive the Langley Award from the American Institute of Architects (AIA). This is a very special award for architects.
In 1955, she became a Fellow of the AIA. This is a high honor given to architects who have made a big difference. In 1969, she also received a "Pioneer in Architecture" award. This showed how much she had helped shape the world of architecture.
Key Awards
- Better Homes in America Small House Architectural Competition (1932)
- Langley Award, American Institute of Architects (1938-1940)
- Pioneer in Architecture award, American Institute of Architects New York Chapter (1969)
- Honorary Degree, Wilson College (1969)
Elizabeth Coit's Designs and Writings
Elizabeth Coit designed several buildings. She also wrote many articles and reports. These writings shared her ideas on how to make housing better for everyone.
Buildings She Designed
- Anna B. Van Nort House, Croton Heights, N.Y. (1932)
- Cafeteria, Consumer's Cooperative Service, Inc., New York City (around 1939)
- Philip Maguire House, Shrub Oaks, N.Y. (around 1940)
- Winslow Sommaripa House, Boyce, VA. (date not known)
Her Important Writings
- "Housing from Tenant's Viewpoint." (1942): This article looked at housing from the perspective of the people living in the homes.
- "Notes on the Design and Construction of the Dwelling Units for the Lower Income Family." (1941): This was her big study on building affordable homes.
- "A Plea for More Space." (1951): In this article, she argued for more living space in homes.
- Report on Family Living in High Apartment Buildings. (1965): This report studied what it was like for families to live in tall apartment buildings.
