Roger Margerum facts for kids
Roger Margerum was a very important African-American architect. He lived in the Lafayette Park area of Detroit, Michigan. He was born in 1931 and passed away on June 21, 2016.
About Roger Margerum
Roger Margerum first went to DePaul University on a scholarship for track. Later, he studied architecture at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He earned his architecture degree in 1955.
Roger grew up in Chicago with his mother. When he was 10 years old, he took drawing classes at the Art Institute of Chicago on Saturdays. His mother suggested he become an architect, and he followed her advice.
After college, Roger bravely approached a famous architecture firm called Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. They hired him! He joined the team that designed modern buildings for the Air Force Academy campus in Colorado Springs.
In 2000, Roger stopped working full-time. His wife, Fran, asked him to design a house for them. This house was finished in 2006. Roger said he wanted to design something truly special. He believed he did this by using a unique 45-degree shape as a main part of the design. He thought no one had used this shape in such a way before.
Roger Margerum passed away on June 21, 2016, at the age of 85. He died near Detroit due to problems from a stroke.
Special Honor for Architects
In 1984, Roger Margerum received a very high honor. He became a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects College of Fellows. This is the highest award given by the AIA. It recognized his amazing work and how much he helped architecture and society.
Buildings Designed by Roger Margerum
- Libby Elementary School - Chicago
- North Austin Library
- Kettering UAC Interior
- 45 Degree Angle House
- Roger Margerum House at E. 48th St., Detroit, MI
- The Dr. E. J. Ingram House at 6500 Eberhart, Chicago, IL
