Alfred Easton Poor
Encyclopedia
Alfred Easton Poor was an American architect
, involved with many buildings and projects in New York City
, works in Washington, D.C.
, for the US Federal Government, and perhaps most notably the Wright Brothers National Memorial
. While a student at the University of Pennsylvania
, he studied under Paul Philippe Cret
. Poor was the president of the National Academy of Design
in New York from 1966 to 1977, organizing its 150th anniversary in 1975. He has been called "one of America's most prominent twentieth century architects" and a "prominent member of the international school of modern architecture."
in 1928.
For the US Government, he worked on a project that restored and extended the East Front of the US Capitol building
in the early 1960s, and was also a leading architect in designing the US Library of Congress' James Madison Memorial Building
, the third-largest public building in Washington.
Poor was especially active in the New York City area. His projects include the Jacob K. Javits Federal Building
, the Queens County Courthouse and prison in Kew Gardens, the Home Insurance Company Building
, and the 40-acre Red Hook housing projects.
Poor was chosen by Walter Annenberg
to design the Annenberg School for Communication
at the University of Pennsylvania
.
According to his obituary in the New York Times, he also "designed dozens of branch offices in Manhattan and abroad for the Chemical, National City and Marine Midland
banks" and "designed a number of Long Island
country homes." Other works include the Cape Cinema, in Dennis, Massachusetts
.
, Nantucket
and Martha's Vineyard
(1932).
. He served in the US Navy
in World War I
and in the US Navy Reserve
in World War II
.
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
, involved with many buildings and projects in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, works in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, for the US Federal Government, and perhaps most notably the Wright Brothers National Memorial
Wright Brothers National Memorial
Wright Brothers National Memorial, located in Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina, commemorates the first successful, sustained, powered flights in a heavier-than-air machine. From 1900 to 1903, Wilbur and Orville Wright came here from Dayton, Ohio, based on information from the U.S. Weather Bureau...
. While a student at the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
, he studied under Paul Philippe Cret
Paul Philippe Cret
Paul Philippe Cret was a French-American architect and industrial designer. For more than thirty years, he headed the Department of Architecture at the University of Pennsylvania.- Biography :...
. Poor was the president of the National Academy of Design
National Academy of Design
The National Academy Museum and School of Fine Arts, founded in New York City as the National Academy of Design – known simply as the "National Academy" – is an honorary association of American artists founded in 1825 by Samuel F. B. Morse, Asher B. Durand, Thomas Cole, Martin E...
in New York from 1966 to 1977, organizing its 150th anniversary in 1975. He has been called "one of America's most prominent twentieth century architects" and a "prominent member of the international school of modern architecture."
Projects
Over his long career, Poor's projects include both public and private sector works. Along with fellow New York architect Robert P. Rogers, Poor won the open international design competition for the Wright Brothers National MemorialWright Brothers National Memorial
Wright Brothers National Memorial, located in Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina, commemorates the first successful, sustained, powered flights in a heavier-than-air machine. From 1900 to 1903, Wilbur and Orville Wright came here from Dayton, Ohio, based on information from the U.S. Weather Bureau...
in 1928.
For the US Government, he worked on a project that restored and extended the East Front of the US Capitol building
United States Capitol
The United States Capitol is the meeting place of the United States Congress, the legislature of the federal government of the United States. Located in Washington, D.C., it sits atop Capitol Hill at the eastern end of the National Mall...
in the early 1960s, and was also a leading architect in designing the US Library of Congress' James Madison Memorial Building
James Madison Memorial Building
The James Madison Memorial Building is one of three buildings that make up the Library of Congress and is part of the United States Capitol Complex. The building was constructed from 1971 to 1976, and serves as the official memorial to President James Madison...
, the third-largest public building in Washington.
Poor was especially active in the New York City area. His projects include the Jacob K. Javits Federal Building
Jacob K. Javits Federal Building
Jacob K. Javits Federal Office Building at 26 Federal Plaza in the Civic Center, Manhattan, New York City is a forty-plus story structure which houses many federal government agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Bureau of Investigation New York City field office...
, the Queens County Courthouse and prison in Kew Gardens, the Home Insurance Company Building
Home Insurance Plaza
Home Insurance Plaza is a 630ft tall skyscraper in New York City, New York. It was completed in 1966 and has 44 floors. Alfred Easton Poor designed the building, which is the 61st tallest in New York. The buildings plaza had a redelopment in 1987 by Kohn Pedersen Fox.-References:**-External links:*...
, and the 40-acre Red Hook housing projects.
Poor was chosen by Walter Annenberg
Walter Annenberg
Walter Hubert Annenberg was an American publisher, philanthropist, and diplomat.-Early life:Walter Annenberg was born to a Jewish family in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on March 13, 1908. He was the son of Sarah and Moses "Moe" Annenberg, who published The Daily Racing Form and purchased The Philadelphia...
to design the Annenberg School for Communication
Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania
The Annenberg School for Communication is the communications school at the University of Pennsylvania. The school was established in 1958 by Wharton School's alum Walter Annenberg as "The Annenberg School of Communications." The name was changed to its current title in the late 1980's.Walter...
at the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
.
According to his obituary in the New York Times, he also "designed dozens of branch offices in Manhattan and abroad for the Chemical, National City and Marine Midland
Marine Midland Bank
Marine Midland Bank was a bank formerly headquartered in Buffalo with several hundred branches throughout the state of New York. Marine Midland began in 1850 in Buffalo as the Marine Trust Company with the objective of financing the new shipping trade on the Great Lakes...
banks" and "designed a number of Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
country homes." Other works include the Cape Cinema, in Dennis, Massachusetts
Dennis, Massachusetts
Dennis is a town in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States; located near the center of Cape Cod. The population was 14,207 at the 2010 census.The town encompasses five distinct villages, each of which has its own post office...
.
Books
Poor was also an author of books about historical architecture, such as Formal Design in Minor French Buildings - The Tuileries Brochures (1931) and Colonial Architecture of Cape CodCape Cod
Cape Cod, often referred to locally as simply the Cape, is a cape in the easternmost portion of the state of Massachusetts, in the Northeastern United States...
, Nantucket
Nantucket, Massachusetts
Nantucket is an island south of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, in the United States. Together with the small islands of Tuckernuck and Muskeget, it constitutes the town of Nantucket, Massachusetts, and the coterminous Nantucket County, which are consolidated. Part of the town is designated the Nantucket...
and Martha's Vineyard
Martha's Vineyard
Martha's Vineyard is an island located south of Cape Cod in Massachusetts, known for being an affluent summer colony....
(1932).
Personal life
Alfred Easton Poor was a son of Charles Lane PoorCharles Lane Poor
Charles Lane Poor was an opponent of Einstein's theory of relativity.-Biography:He was born on January 18, 1866 in Hackensack, New Jersey to Edward Erie Poor. He graduated from the City College of New York and received a Ph.D. in 1892 from Johns Hopkins University...
. He served in the US Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and in the US Navy Reserve
United States Navy Reserve
The United States Navy Reserve, until 2005 known as the United States Naval Reserve, is the Reserve Component of the United States Navy...
in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.