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Wallace Harrison
Wallace Kirkman Harrison.jpg
Born
Wallace Kirkman Harrison

September 28, 1895
Worcester, Massachusetts, U.S.
Died December 2, 1981(1981-12-02) (aged 86)
New York City, U.S.
Alma mater École des Beaux-Arts
Occupation Architect
Awards AIA Gold Medal (1967)
Practice Harrison & Abramowitz
Buildings United Nations headquarters
Exxon Building
Projects Rockefeller Center
Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts
Design Trylon and Perisphere

Wallace Kirkman Harrison (September 28, 1895 – December 2, 1981) was a famous American architect. He helped design many big projects in New York City. He worked closely with Nelson Rockefeller, a well-known leader. Harrison designed important places like Rockefeller Center and the United Nations headquarters.

MET Opera (48047450723)
The Metropolitan Opera House at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, a famous building designed by Harrison.

Wallace Harrison's Amazing Buildings

Wallace Harrison loved architecture from a young age. He studied engineering and architecture. He even went to a famous art school in Paris, France. Early in his career, he joined a firm called Corbett, Harrison & MacMurray. They worked on the huge Rockefeller Center in New York City.

Working with Nelson Rockefeller

Harrison had a very important connection with Nelson Rockefeller. Rockefeller's daughter was married to Harrison's brother-in-law. This connection helped Harrison become a trusted adviser to Rockefeller. He designed many buildings for Rockefeller, especially when Rockefeller was the governor of New York.

Harrison & Abramowitz

In 1941, Harrison teamed up with Max Abramowitz to create their own firm, Harrison & Abramowitz. Together, they designed many buildings for universities and companies. Some of their famous designs include the Time & Life Building and the Socony-Mobil Building. Both of these are now important landmarks in New York City.

Iconic Projects in New York

Harrison was the main architect for many well-known buildings. He designed the Metropolitan Opera House at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. He also worked on the Empire State Plaza in Albany, New York. Harrison was even the Director of Planning for the United Nations complex. This huge building was built on land given by the Rockefeller family.

Harrison also helped plan big projects on Long Island. He was the master planner for the World's Fairs of 1939 and 1964. He also worked on LaGuardia and JFK airports.

His Unique Home and Art

Harrison's designs were often very practical and clear. But his own home showed his more creative side. In 1931, he built a summer house in West Hills, New York. This house was an early example of the International Style, which used simple, clean lines. His home became a meeting place for famous architects, artists, and politicians.

One cool part of his house was a 32-foot circular living room. People say it was a test design for the Rainbow Room in Rockefeller Center! He also had two other circular rooms. Famous guests like Nelson Rockefeller, Marc Chagall, and Le Corbusier often visited.

Harrison loved art and collected works by artists like Alexander Calder and Fernand Léger. He even asked them to create new art for his buildings. Léger painted a mural at the bottom of Harrison's swimming pool! Calder's first art show is said to have happened at Harrison's home.

Clinton Hill Co-ops

Between 1941 and 1943, Harrison designed the Clinton Hill Co-ops. These were 12 buildings in Brooklyn, New York. They were built to house workers from the Brooklyn Navy Yards during World War II.

Awards and Recognition

Wallace Harrison was a very respected architect. He was part of the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts from 1955 to 1959. In 1967, he received the AIA Gold Medal. This is one of the highest honors for an architect in the United States.

Personal Life

Wallace Harrison married Ellen Hunt Milton in 1926. They had a daughter named Sarah. They lived in Manhattan and also had a home in Seal Harbor, Maine.

Major Projects

UNO New York
The Headquarters of the United Nations in New York City, a major project Harrison helped design.
  • 185 Montague Street (1929–1930)
  • Rockefeller Center, as part of the main architects, 1931–1971
  • The Rockefeller Apartments (with J. André Fouilhoux), 1936
  • Trylon and Perisphere for the 1939 New York World's Fair
  • 10 Rockefeller Plaza (formerly the Eastern Airlines Building), part of Rockefeller Center, 1939
  • The Clinton Hill Co-ops, Brooklyn, New York, 1941–43
  • The Corning Museum of Glass, Corning, New York, 1951
  • Sophronia Brooks Hall Auditorium, Oberlin, Ohio, 1953
  • The First Presbyterian Church ("The Fish Church"), Stamford, Connecticut, 1958
  • 1271 Avenue of the Americas (formerly the Time-Life Building) at Rockefeller Center, New York City, 1959
  • The Nelson A. Rockefeller Empire State Plaza, Albany, New York, his last big project, 1959–1976

See also

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