John C. Harkness
Encyclopedia
John Cheesman Harkness (born November 30, 1916) is an American architect who was a founder and partner of The Architects Collaborative (TAC) in Cambridge, Massachusetts
with Walter Gropius
and six other architects. He was a part of TAC from its inception in 1945 until the firm's ultimate demise in 1995.
He was born in New York City
to architect Albert Harkness and was educated at the Harvard Graduate School of Design
graduating in 1941. He was also briefly in the American Field Service. In 1945, shortly after the founding of TAC, he and his wife Sarah P. Harkness
joined forces with another architectural couple Norman and Jean Fletcher, also founders of TAC, to submit entries for the Smith College
Dormitories competition hosted by Progressive Architecture magazine. The Harkness' came in second place. During his work at TAC, Harkness was involved in designing many public and private school buildings throughout New England
. Most notably, Wayland High School
, which received considerable attention for its "campus" style and new methods of instruction.
Harkness currently lives in Vinalhaven, Maine
.
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Greater Boston area. It was named in honor of the University of Cambridge in England, an important center of the Puritan theology embraced by the town's founders. Cambridge is home to two of the world's most prominent...
with Walter Gropius
Walter Gropius
Walter Adolph Georg Gropius was a German architect and founder of the Bauhaus School who, along with Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Le Corbusier, is widely regarded as one of the pioneering masters of modern architecture....
and six other architects. He was a part of TAC from its inception in 1945 until the firm's ultimate demise in 1995.
He was born 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...
to architect Albert Harkness and was educated at the Harvard Graduate School of Design
Harvard Graduate School of Design
The Harvard Graduate School of Design is a graduate school at Harvard University offering degrees in Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and Urban Planning and Design.-History:...
graduating in 1941. He was also briefly in the American Field Service. In 1945, shortly after the founding of TAC, he and his wife Sarah P. Harkness
Sarah P. Harkness
Sarah Pillsbury Harkness is an American architect. She was born in Swampscott, Massachusetts.She attended the Smith College Graduate School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture in 1940. She was a founder, in 1945, and now Principal Emeritus of the Architects' Collaborative...
joined forces with another architectural couple Norman and Jean Fletcher, also founders of TAC, to submit entries for the Smith College
Smith College
Smith College is a private, independent women's liberal arts college located in Northampton, Massachusetts. It is the largest member of the Seven Sisters...
Dormitories competition hosted by Progressive Architecture magazine. The Harkness' came in second place. During his work at TAC, Harkness was involved in designing many public and private school buildings throughout New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
. Most notably, Wayland High School
Wayland High School
Wayland High School is a secondary school located at 264 Old Connecticut Path in Wayland, Massachusetts. Its principal is Patrick Tutwiler. The style of the high school was inspired by college campuses: there are 8 separate buildings, each dedicated to one or more general areas of study. ...
, which received considerable attention for its "campus" style and new methods of instruction.
Harkness currently lives in Vinalhaven, Maine
Vinalhaven, Maine
Vinalhaven is a town located in the Fox Islands in Knox County, Maine, United States. The population was 1,235 at the 2000 census. It is home to a thriving lobster fishery and hosts a summer colony...
.