Walter B. Chambers
Encyclopedia
Walter Boughton Chambers (September 15, 1866 – April 19, 1945) was a successful New York
architect
whose buildings continue to be landmarks in the city’s skyline and whose contributions to architectural education were far-reaching.
, New York, the son of attorney William P. and Caroline (Boughton) Chambers, both of whom were New York natives. His family’s standing permitted him to attend Yale University
, from which he graduated in 1887. While at Yale he was a member of the Scroll and Key
Society. Following his graduation Chambers went to Paris
and entered the Ecole des Beaux Arts, where he studied at the atelier of Paul Blondel, along with his future architectural partner Ernest Flagg
(1857-1947), a cousin of Cornelius Vanderbilt II
. He was also the brother of the American artist and writer, Robert W. Chambers
.
at 35 Wall Street, where they remained until 1919 when they moved to 111 East 40th Street. Usually, Ernest Flagg is credited with some of the work that emerged from their partnership, including, the Singer Building
(the world’s tallest building from 1908-1909), the Corcoran Gallery of Art
in Washington, D.C.
, the Washington State Capitol
and the Sheldon Library at St. Paul's School (Concord, New Hampshire)
. Flagg also designed homes and stores for the Scribner
book-publishing family (his sister Louisa married Charles Scribner) and was a favorite architect of the Clark family, of the Singer Sewing Machine Company.
architect Emmanuel Louis Masqueray
to establish the first atelier for architectural studies in the United States based on the French Ecole des Beaux Arts system. Located at 123 East 23rd Street in New York, the Atelier Masqueray-Chambers helped educate many outstanding architects, including Leonard B. Schultze
(architect of The Pierre, Sherry-Netherland
and Waldorf Astoria Hotel) and William Van Alen
(architect of the Chrysler Building
).
Chambers was a member of the New York Chapter of the American Institute of Architects
. He resided at 7 West 43rd Street, New York, and died in New York City, aged seventy-eight. His brother Robert W. Chambers
, born 1865, was a noted artist, illustrator and writer.
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
architect
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...
whose buildings continue to be landmarks in the city’s skyline and whose contributions to architectural education were far-reaching.
Childhood and education
Chambers was born in BrooklynBrooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, New York, the son of attorney William P. and Caroline (Boughton) Chambers, both of whom were New York natives. His family’s standing permitted him to attend Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
, from which he graduated in 1887. While at Yale he was a member of the Scroll and Key
Scroll and Key
The Scroll and Key Society is a secret society, founded in 1842 at Yale University, in New Haven, Connecticut. It is the wealthiest and second oldest Yale secret society...
Society. Following his graduation Chambers went to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
and entered the Ecole des Beaux Arts, where he studied at the atelier of Paul Blondel, along with his future architectural partner Ernest Flagg
Ernest Flagg
Ernest Flagg was a noted American architect in the Beaux-Arts style. He was also an advocate for urban reform and architecture's social responsibility.-Biography:...
(1857-1947), a cousin of Cornelius Vanderbilt II
Cornelius Vanderbilt II
Cornelius Vanderbilt II was an American socialite, heir, businessman, and a member of the prominent United States Vanderbilt family....
. He was also the brother of the American artist and writer, Robert W. Chambers
Robert W. Chambers
Robert William Chambers was an American artist and writer.-Biography:He was born in Brooklyn, New York, to William P. Chambers , a famous lawyer, and Caroline Chambers , a direct descendant of Roger Williams, the founder of Providence, Rhode Island...
.
Practice in New York
Returning to New York, Chambers formed a partnership with Ernest Flagg in 1894. In 1897 they moved into the Mills BuildingMills Building
Mills Building, or Mills Tower may refer to:*Mills Building , listed as Mills Building and Tower on the National Register of Historic Places in San Francisco County, California...
at 35 Wall Street, where they remained until 1919 when they moved to 111 East 40th Street. Usually, Ernest Flagg is credited with some of the work that emerged from their partnership, including, the Singer Building
Singer Building
The Singer Building or Singer Tower at Liberty Street and Broadway in Manhattan, was a 47-story office building completed in 1908 as the headquarters of the Singer Manufacturing Company. It was demolished in 1968 and is now the site of 1 Liberty Plaza....
(the world’s tallest building from 1908-1909), the Corcoran Gallery of Art
Corcoran Gallery of Art
The Corcoran Gallery of Art is the largest privately supported cultural institution in Washington, DC. The museum's main focus is American art. The permanent collection includes works by Rembrandt, Eugène Delacroix, Edgar Degas, Thomas Gainsborough, John Singer Sargent, Claude Monet, Pablo...
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....
, the Washington State Capitol
Washington State Capitol
The Washington State Capitol or Legislative Building in Olympia is the home of the government of the state of Washington. It contains chambers for the Washington State Legislature and offices for the governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state and treasurer and is part of a campus consisting...
and the Sheldon Library at St. Paul's School (Concord, New Hampshire)
St. Paul's School (Concord, New Hampshire)
St. Paul's School is a highly selective college-preparatory, coeducational boarding school in Concord, New Hampshire affiliated with the Episcopal Church. The school is one of only six remaining 100% residential boarding schools in the U.S. The New Hampshire campus currently serves 533 students,...
. Flagg also designed homes and stores for the Scribner
Charles Scribner
Charles Scribner is the name of several members of a New York publishing family associated with Charles Scribner's Sons:*Charles Scribner I *Charles Scribner II *Charles Scribner III *Charles Scribner IV...
book-publishing family (his sister Louisa married Charles Scribner) and was a favorite architect of the Clark family, of the Singer Sewing Machine Company.
Work attributed to Walter B. Chambers
With or without Flagg, partial listing:- St. Nicholas Skating RinkSt. Nicholas RinkThe St. Nicholas Rink, also called the St. Nicholas Arena, was an indoor ice rink, and later a boxing arena in New York, New York, from 1896 until 1962. The rink was the second ice rink utilizing mechanically frozen ice for its surface in North America, , enabling a longer season for skating sports...
, 69 West 66th Street, New York – 1896 - Fire Engine Company No 67 - 514 West 170th Street, New York – 1897
- Fire Engine Company No. 33 at 44 Great Jones Street, New York – 1899
- Lawrence Library, Pepperell, MassachusettsPepperell, MassachusettsPepperell is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 11,497 at the 2010 census. It includes the village of East Pepperell.-History:...
- 1901 - Mills House – 1902
- Apartment House - 563 Park Avenue, New York – 1908
- James R. Sheffield Residence (Gloria Vanderbilt Cooper Residence) at 45 East 67th Street, New York - 1913
- St. Nicholas Skating RinkSt. Nicholas RinkThe St. Nicholas Rink, also called the St. Nicholas Arena, was an indoor ice rink, and later a boxing arena in New York, New York, from 1896 until 1962. The rink was the second ice rink utilizing mechanically frozen ice for its surface in North America, , enabling a longer season for skating sports...
, 69 West 66th Street, New York – 1896 - No. 1 Broadway, New York - International Merchant Marine Building - 1919-1921
- 1148 Fifth Avenue, New York (apartment house) - 1920
- 2 East 96th Street, New York (apartment house) - 1922-23
- McClellan Hall, Old CampusOld CampusThe Old Campus is a complex of buildings at Yale University on the block at the northwest end of the green in New Haven, Connecticut, consisting of dormitories, classrooms, chapels and offices...
, Yale UniversityYale UniversityYale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
, New Haven, ConnecticutNew Haven, ConnecticutNew Haven is the second-largest city in Connecticut and the sixth-largest in New England. According to the 2010 Census, New Haven's population increased by 5.0% between 2000 and 2010, a rate higher than that of the State of Connecticut, and higher than that of the state's five largest cities, and...
– 1925 - Bingham Hall, Old Campus, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut – 1928
Atelier Masqueray-Chambers
In 1893, Walter B. Chambers joined with Franco-AmericanFranco-American
Franco-American is a brand name of the Campbell Soup Company.The original Franco-American Food Company was founded by Alphonse Biardot, who immigrated to the United States from France in 1880. In 1886, he and his two sons opened a commercial kitchen in Jersey City, New Jersey, featuring the foods...
architect Emmanuel Louis Masqueray
Emmanuel Louis Masqueray
Emmanuel Louis Masqueray was a Franco-American preeminent figure in the history of American architecture, both as a gifted designer of landmark buildings and as an influential teacher of the profession of architecture.-Biography:...
to establish the first atelier for architectural studies in the United States based on the French Ecole des Beaux Arts system. Located at 123 East 23rd Street in New York, the Atelier Masqueray-Chambers helped educate many outstanding architects, including Leonard B. Schultze
Schultze and Weaver
The architectural firm of Schultze and Weaver was established in New York City in 1921. The partners were Leonard Schultze and S. Fullerton Weaver.Leonard B. Schultze was born in Chicago, Illinois, on December 5, 1877...
(architect of The Pierre, Sherry-Netherland
Sherry Netherland Hotel
The Sherry Netherland Hotel is a 38-story hotel located at 781 Fifth Avenue on the corner of East 59th Street in Manhattan, New York City. It was designed and built by Schultze & Weaver with Buchman & Kahn. Construction began in 1926, and the upper floors suffered a spectacular fire in 1927 before...
and Waldorf Astoria Hotel) and William Van Alen
William Van Alen
William Van Alen was an American architect, best known as the architect in charge of designing New York City's Chrysler Building .-Life:...
(architect of the Chrysler Building
Chrysler Building
The Chrysler Building is an Art Deco style skyscraper in New York City, located on the east side of Manhattan in the Turtle Bay area at the intersection of 42nd Street and Lexington Avenue. Standing at , it was the world's tallest building for 11 months before it was surpassed by the Empire State...
).
Chambers was a member of the New York Chapter of the American Institute of Architects
American Institute of Architects
The American Institute of Architects is a professional organization for architects in the United States. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the AIA offers education, government advocacy, community redevelopment, and public outreach to support the architecture profession and improve its public image...
. He resided at 7 West 43rd Street, New York, and died in New York City, aged seventy-eight. His brother Robert W. Chambers
Robert W. Chambers
Robert William Chambers was an American artist and writer.-Biography:He was born in Brooklyn, New York, to William P. Chambers , a famous lawyer, and Caroline Chambers , a direct descendant of Roger Williams, the founder of Providence, Rhode Island...
, born 1865, was a noted artist, illustrator and writer.