Aymar Embury II
Encyclopedia
Aymar Embury II was an American architect. He is best known for commissions from the City of New York
from the 1930s through to the 1950s. In this period, Embury frequently worked with Robert Moses
in the latter's various city and state capacities, especially, early on, in Moses capacity of Parks Commissioner. Many surviving examples of Embury's work comprise of zoos, swimming pools, playgrounds and other recreational structures in New York City parks.
during the marriage. The two worked out of the same office but had separate shingles for their businesses.
A widower in 1932, he married Josephine Bound in 1934, which ended in divorce. He was survived by his fourth wife, Jane Schabbehar. From the 1930s on, Embury maintained Manhattan and East Hampton
, Long Island residences, and was active in East Hampton society.
in 1900 with a degree in Civil Engineering and further received a Masters of Science degree in 1901. Following graduate studies, Embury taught architecture at Princeton while also working for various firms in New York City, including Cass Gilbert
, George B. Post
, Howells & Stokes
, and Palmer and Hornbostel. During this period he developed a keen interest in the architecture of small country houses, publishing several books and pamphlets on the subject. In 1905, Embury won both the first and second prize in a design contest sponsored by the Garden City Company for a modest country house in Garden City, Long Island. This gave him visibility as a "society architect"; he acquired a reputation as a builder of country houses for the upper middle class and received many further commissions for such houses in the years surrounding World War I
.
as a Captain in the Fortieth Engineers, U. S. Army Corps of Engineers where he helped establish a unit of eight professional artists to document the activities of the American Expeditionary Force
in France. During this time, Capt. Embury designed the Distinguished Service Cross
and the Distinguished Service Medal (Army)
.
Later, in 1932, he became a Lieutenant Colonel in the Officers Reserve Corps.
, the Princeton Club in New York City, and the University Club in Washington, D.C.
as sole commissioner of a newly unified Department of Parks for New York City, commencing a seven year period of construction and renovation of city parks. Embury, along with landscape architect Gilmore D. Clarke
, was a senior member of an 1,800 strong design and construction team that Moses had assembled at the Arsenal in Central Park
.
In the following years, Embury was chief or consulting architect in numerous projects in the New York City locale. Exact figures are not available, but it is possible that Embury supervised the design of over six hundred public projects. Surviving examples include the Central Park Zoo
, Prospect Park Zoo
, Prospect Park Bandshell, McCarren Park
and four of the other ten WPA
pools built throughout the city in the mid-1930s, the New York City Building at the 1939 New York World's Fair
(Currently the Queens Museum of Art
), Robert F. Kennedy Bridge, and Henry Hudson Bridge
Orchard Beach
, Bryant Park
, the Hofstra University Campus, and Jacob Riis Park
.
at Columbus Circle, was a consulting architect for the New York Aquarium
at Coney Island, designed the campus playhouse for Hofstra University
in Hempstead, Long Island, and the William Church Memorial Playground near Fifth Avenue, and the Donnell Library Center
, in Manhattan .
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...
from the 1930s through to the 1950s. In this period, Embury frequently worked with Robert Moses
Robert Moses
Robert Moses was the "master builder" of mid-20th century New York City, Long Island, Rockland County, and Westchester County, New York. As the shaper of a modern city, he is sometimes compared to Baron Haussmann of Second Empire Paris, and is one of the most polarizing figures in the history of...
in the latter's various city and state capacities, especially, early on, in Moses capacity of Parks Commissioner. Many surviving examples of Embury's work comprise of zoos, swimming pools, playgrounds and other recreational structures in New York City parks.
Personal biography
Embury was born in New York City to Aymar Embury and Fannie Miller Bates. Married four times, his first union was with Dorothy Coe in 1904. However, they later divorced and he married Ruth Dean. Dean was a famous landscape designer who designed Grey GardensGrey Gardens (estate)
Grey Gardens is a 14-room house at 3 West End Road and Lily Pond Lane in the Georgica Pond neighborhood of East Hampton, New York, that is chronicled in the Grey Gardens 1975 documentary, 2006 Broadway musical and 2009 television movie. The mansion has been the topic of numerous other books and...
during the marriage. The two worked out of the same office but had separate shingles for their businesses.
A widower in 1932, he married Josephine Bound in 1934, which ended in divorce. He was survived by his fourth wife, Jane Schabbehar. From the 1930s on, Embury maintained Manhattan and East Hampton
East Hampton (town), New York
The Town of East Hampton is located in southeastern Suffolk County, New York, at the eastern end of the South Shore of Long Island. It is the easternmost town in the state of New York...
, Long Island residences, and was active in East Hampton society.
Early professional career
Aymar Embury graduated from Princeton UniversityPrinceton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
in 1900 with a degree in Civil Engineering and further received a Masters of Science degree in 1901. Following graduate studies, Embury taught architecture at Princeton while also working for various firms in New York City, including Cass Gilbert
Cass Gilbert
- Historical impact :Gilbert is considered a skyscraper pioneer; when designing the Woolworth Building he moved into unproven ground — though he certainly was aware of the ground-breaking work done by Chicago architects on skyscrapers and once discussed merging firms with the legendary Daniel...
, George B. Post
George B. Post
George Browne Post was an American architect trained in the Beaux-Arts tradition.-Biography:Post was a student of Richard Morris Hunt , but unlike many architects of his generation, he had previously received a degree in civil engineering...
, Howells & Stokes
Howells & Stokes
Howells & Stokes was an American architectural firm. Founded in 1897 by John Mead Howells and Isaac Newton Phelps Stokes, it designed, among other structures, St...
, and Palmer and Hornbostel. During this period he developed a keen interest in the architecture of small country houses, publishing several books and pamphlets on the subject. In 1905, Embury won both the first and second prize in a design contest sponsored by the Garden City Company for a modest country house in Garden City, Long Island. This gave him visibility as a "society architect"; he acquired a reputation as a builder of country houses for the upper middle class and received many further commissions for such houses in the years surrounding 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...
.
Military career
Embury served for fourteen months during World War IWorld 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...
as a Captain in the Fortieth Engineers, U. S. Army Corps of Engineers where he helped establish a unit of eight professional artists to document the activities of the American Expeditionary Force
American Expeditionary Force
The American Expeditionary Forces or AEF were the United States Armed Forces sent to Europe in World War I. During the United States campaigns in World War I the AEF fought in France alongside British and French allied forces in the last year of the war, against Imperial German forces...
in France. During this time, Capt. Embury designed the Distinguished Service Cross
Distinguished Service Cross (United States)
The Distinguished Service Cross is the second highest military decoration that can be awarded to a member of the United States Army, for extreme gallantry and risk of life in actual combat with an armed enemy force. Actions that merit the Distinguished Service Cross must be of such a high degree...
and the Distinguished Service Medal (Army)
Distinguished Service Medal (Army)
The Distinguished Service Medal is a military award of the United States Army that is presented to any person who, while serving in any capacity with the United States military, has distinguished himself or herself by exceptionally meritorious service to the Government in a duty of great...
.
Later, in 1932, he became a Lieutenant Colonel in the Officers Reserve Corps.
Post war activities
By the late 1920s, Embury was well-known and had received a wide range of commissions all over the east coast of the United States, entailing college buildings and social clubs in addition to residences. He designed the Players and Nassau Clubs in Princeton, New JerseyPrinceton, New Jersey
Princeton is a community located in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States. It is best known as the location of Princeton University, which has been sited in the community since 1756...
, the Princeton Club in New York City, and the University Club in Washington, D.C.
Work with Robert Moses
In 1934, Mayor Fiorello La Guardia appointed Robert MosesRobert Moses
Robert Moses was the "master builder" of mid-20th century New York City, Long Island, Rockland County, and Westchester County, New York. As the shaper of a modern city, he is sometimes compared to Baron Haussmann of Second Empire Paris, and is one of the most polarizing figures in the history of...
as sole commissioner of a newly unified Department of Parks for New York City, commencing a seven year period of construction and renovation of city parks. Embury, along with landscape architect Gilmore D. Clarke
Gilmore David Clarke
Gilmore David Clarke was an American civil engineer and landscape architect who designed many parks and public spaces in New York City....
, was a senior member of an 1,800 strong design and construction team that Moses had assembled at the Arsenal in Central Park
Central Park
Central Park is a public park in the center of Manhattan in New York City, United States. The park initially opened in 1857, on of city-owned land. In 1858, Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux won a design competition to improve and expand the park with a plan they entitled the Greensward Plan...
.
In the following years, Embury was chief or consulting architect in numerous projects in the New York City locale. Exact figures are not available, but it is possible that Embury supervised the design of over six hundred public projects. Surviving examples include the Central Park Zoo
Central Park Zoo
The Central Park Zoo is a small zoo located in Central Park in New York City. It is part of an integrated system of four zoos and the New York Aquarium managed by the Wildlife Conservation Society , and is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums .The zoo began in the 1860s as a...
, Prospect Park Zoo
Prospect Park Zoo
The Prospect Park Zoo is a zoo located off Flatbush Avenue on the eastern side of Prospect Park, Brooklyn, New York City. Its precursor, the Menagerie, opened in 1890. The present facility first opened as a city zoo on July 3, 1935 and was part of a larger revitalization program of city parks,...
, Prospect Park Bandshell, McCarren Park
McCarren Park
McCarren Park is a public park in New York City, USA. It is located in the Greenpoint neighborhood of Brooklyn, and is bordered by Nassau Avenue, Bayard Street, Lorimer Street and North 12th Street...
and four of the other ten WPA
Works Progress Administration
The Works Progress Administration was the largest and most ambitious New Deal agency, employing millions of unskilled workers to carry out public works projects, including the construction of public buildings and roads, and operated large arts, drama, media, and literacy projects...
pools built throughout the city in the mid-1930s, the New York City Building at the 1939 New York World's Fair
1939 New York World's Fair
The 1939–40 New York World's Fair, which covered the of Flushing Meadows-Corona Park , was the second largest American world's fair of all time, exceeded only by St. Louis's Louisiana Purchase Exposition of 1904. Many countries around the world participated in it, and over 44 million people...
(Currently the Queens Museum of Art
Queens Museum of Art
The Queens Museum of Art is an art museum and educational center located in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in the borough of Queens in New York City, United States.-Overview:...
), Robert F. Kennedy Bridge, and Henry Hudson Bridge
Henry Hudson Bridge
The Henry Hudson Bridge is a steel arch toll bridge in New York City across the Spuyten Duyvil Creek. It connects the Spuyten Duyvil section of The Bronx with the northern end of Manhattan to the south. On the Manhattan side, it touches Inwood Hill Park. The bridge was designed by David B. Steinman...
Orchard Beach
Orchard Beach, New York
Orchard Beach is a public beach in the borough of the Bronx in New York City. The beach is part of Pelham Bay Park and is situated on the western end of Long Island Sound...
, Bryant Park
Bryant Park
Bryant Park is a 9.603 acre privately managed public park located in the New York City borough of Manhattan. It is located between Fifth and Sixth Avenues and between 40th and 42nd Streets in Midtown Manhattan...
, the Hofstra University Campus, and Jacob Riis Park
Jacob Riis Park
Jacob Riis Park in the New York City borough of Queens, is part of the Jamaica Bay Unit of the Gateway National Recreation Area, and is managed by the National Park Service . It lies at the foot of the Marine Parkway-Gil Hodges Memorial Bridge, toward the southwestern end the Rockaway Peninsula,...
.
Later work
Embury remained active throughout the 1950s, turning over his firm to his son, Edward Coe Embury, in 1956. Remaining active as a consulting architect, Embury served on the architectural advisory committee for the old New York ColiseumNew York Coliseum
The New York Coliseum was a convention center that stood on Columbus Circle in New York City from 1956 to 2000. It was designed by architects Leon and Lionel Levy in a modified international style, and included both a low building with exhibition space and a 26-story office block.-History:The...
at Columbus Circle, was a consulting architect for the New York Aquarium
New York Aquarium
The New York Aquarium is the oldest continually operating aquarium in the United States, having opened in Castle Garden in Battery Park, Manhattan in 1896. Since 1957, it has been located on the boardwalk in Coney Island, Brooklyn. The aquarium is managed by the Wildlife Conservation Society as...
at Coney Island, designed the campus playhouse for Hofstra University
Hofstra University
Hofstra University is a private, nonsectarian institution of higher learning located in the Village of Hempstead, New York, United States, about east of New York City: less than an hour away by train or car...
in Hempstead, Long Island, and the William Church Memorial Playground near Fifth Avenue, and the Donnell Library Center
Donnell Library Center
The Donnell Library Center was a branch of the New York City Library at 20 West 53rd Street just north of Rockefeller Center. It closed as of August 30, 2008....
, in Manhattan .