William B. Tabler
Encyclopedia
William B. Tabler Sr. was an American architect
who designed more than 400 hotels. He was best known for giving Hilton hotels
the clean but sometimes stark face of corporate America, most notably in the 46-story slablike New York Hilton near Rockefeller Center.
, and received his bachelor's and master's degrees from Harvard. In 1939 he joined the Chicago firm Holabird & Root
, where he worked on his first big hotel project, the 1,000-room Statler Hotel
in Washington, D.C.
After serving in the United States Navy
during the World War II
, he became head of Statler's in-house architecture department in 1946. He formed his own practice, William B Tabler Architects, in 1955.
His son, William B. Tabler Jr., is also an architect and continues the architectural practice in Manhattan.
Mr. Tabler designed the 2,153-room Hilton New York
at Rockefeller Center
in 1963 with David P. Dann for a partnership called Rock-Hil-Uris for its principals: Laurance S. Rockefeller, Conrad Hilton
and Percy and Harold Uris
.
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...
who designed more than 400 hotels. He was best known for giving Hilton hotels
Hilton Hotels
Hilton Hotels & Resorts is an international chain of full-service hotels and resorts founded by Conrad Hilton and now owned by Hilton Worldwide. Hilton hotels are either owned by, managed by, or franchised to independent operators by Hilton Worldwide. Hilton Hotels became the first coast-to-coast...
the clean but sometimes stark face of corporate America, most notably in the 46-story slablike New York Hilton near Rockefeller Center.
Personal life
Mr. Tabler was born in Momence, IllinoisMomence, Illinois
Momence is a city in Kankakee County, Illinois, United States. The population was 3,171 at the 2000 census, and 3,063 in 2009. It is part of the Kankakee–Bradley Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Chicago–Naperville–Michigan City, IL-IN-WI Combined Statistical...
, and received his bachelor's and master's degrees from Harvard. In 1939 he joined the Chicago firm Holabird & Root
Holabird & Roche
The architectural firm of Holabird & Root was founded in Chicago in 1880. Over the years, the firm's designs have changed many times — from the Chicago School to Art Deco to Modern Architecture to Sustainable Architecture.-History:...
, where he worked on his first big hotel project, the 1,000-room Statler Hotel
Statler Hotel
The Statler Hotel company was one of the United States' early chains of hotels catering to traveling businessmen and tourists. It was founded by Ellsworth Milton Statler in Buffalo, New York.- Early ventures :...
in Washington, D.C.
After serving in the United States Navy
Navy
A navy is the branch of a nation's armed forces principally designated for naval and amphibious warfare; namely, lake- or ocean-borne combat operations and related functions...
during the 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...
, he became head of Statler's in-house architecture department in 1946. He formed his own practice, William B Tabler Architects, in 1955.
His son, William B. Tabler Jr., is also an architect and continues the architectural practice in Manhattan.
Career
Tabler's designs affected generations of travelers after World War II when downtown hotels began to look more and more like the office buildings around them.Mr. Tabler designed the 2,153-room Hilton New York
Hilton New York
The Hilton New York is the largest hotel in New York City and world's 101st tallest hotel.The 44-story building located on the northwest edge of Rockefeller Center at Sixth Avenue and 53rd Street has hosted every President since John F. Kennedy as well as the Beatles during their 1964 visit to the...
at Rockefeller Center
Rockefeller Center
Rockefeller Center is a complex of 19 commercial buildings covering between 48th and 51st streets in New York City, United States. Built by the Rockefeller family, it is located in the center of Midtown Manhattan, spanning the area between Fifth Avenue and Sixth Avenue. It was declared a National...
in 1963 with David P. Dann for a partnership called Rock-Hil-Uris for its principals: Laurance S. Rockefeller, Conrad Hilton
Conrad Hilton
Conrad Nicholson Hilton was an American businessman and investor. He is well known for being the founder of the Hilton Hotels chain.-Early life:Hilton was born in San Antonio, New Mexico...
and Percy and Harold Uris
Harold Uris
Harold D. Uris was an American builder, real estate investor and philanthropist. After earning a civil engineering degree from Cornell in 1925, Harold joined his brother, Percy, who had a 1920 business degree from Columbia University, and their father, Harris, founder of an ornamental ironwork...
.
Buildings
- Dallas Statler HiltonDallas Statler HiltonThe former Dallas Statler Hilton is an iconic building of mid-twentieth century design located at 1914 Commerce Street in downtown Dallas, Texas . It is located on the edge of the Farmers Market District and adjacent to Main Street Garden Park. The hotel was praised as the first modern American...
(1956) - Hilton New YorkHilton New YorkThe Hilton New York is the largest hotel in New York City and world's 101st tallest hotel.The 44-story building located on the northwest edge of Rockefeller Center at Sixth Avenue and 53rd Street has hosted every President since John F. Kennedy as well as the Beatles during their 1964 visit to the...
(1963) - Hilton PittsburghHilton PittsburghWyndham Grand Pittsburgh Downtown is a hotel in downtown Pittsburgh, with a prominent position in the Golden Triangle area adjacent to Point State Park, the Fort Pitt Museum and the Cultural District...
(1959) - Hilton WashingtonHilton WashingtonThe Hilton Washington is a hotel in Washington, D.C. It is located at 1919 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., roughly at the boundaries of the Kalorama, Dupont Circle, and Adams Morgan neighborhoods.Developed by Uris Brothers and built in 1965 in a double-arched design, the hotel long sported the largest...
(1965) - Hotel Ponce IntercontinentalHotel Ponce IntercontinentalThe Hotel Ponce Intercontinental is an abandoned hotel with a still existing structure. The structure, and what it once was, is considered a historic landmark and a National Icon in the city of Ponce and Puerto Rico...
(1960-1975) - Grand Hyatt CairoGrand Hyatt CairoLocated on Al-Roda Island, the Grand Nile Tower Hotel was built as Le Méridien Cairo. It was expanded with the addition of a 41 floor tower in 2003, when it was renamed the Grand Hyatt Cairo. The hotel has 714 rooms and includes a shopping mall and a rotating restaurant...
(2000)