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American architect From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Albert F. D'Oench (December 25, 1852 – July 20, 1918) was an architect of office buildings and Superintendent of Buildings in New York City.[1] During his career, he had two partnerships, first D'Oench and Simon with Bernhard Simon. Later in his career, he partnered with Joseph W. Yost to form D'Oench & Yost, which designed large office buildings and insurance company buildings.
Albert F. D'Oench | |
---|---|
Born | December 25, 1852 |
Died | July 20, 1918 65) | (aged
Alma mater | Washington University |
Occupation | Architect |
Spouse |
Alice Grace Holloway
(m. 1901) |
Practice |
|
Buildings | Carnegie Library (Sandusky, Ohio), W New York Union Square |
Albert Frederick D'Oench was born on December 25, 1852, in St. Louis, Missouri.[2] He was one of six children of Marie (née Braasch) D'Oench and William D'Oench[3] (died 1908), a German-born pharmacist. He was the proprietor of D'Oench, Rives & Co.[4] In 1872, D'Oench received his Masters of Engineering degree from Washington University in St. Louis. He then studied in Stuttgart, Germany, graduating from the Institute of Technology.[3]
D'Oench began work as an architect in 1876. He designed office buildings, including several insurance company buildings.[1] According to author Cecil D. Elliott, "Albert F. D'Oench [was] among the architects most favored by New York's many prosperous German businessmen."[5] From 1885 to 1889, he was the Superintendent of Buildings in New York City. He was a member and chairman of the Board of Examiners from 1900 to 1902.[3]
D'Oench was a partner with Bernhard Simon in the firm of D'Oench and Simon.[6] In 1898, the firm designed a large Renaissance Revival-style limestone in the now Crown Heights North Historic District.[7] D'Oench partnered with Joseph W. Yost to form the firm of D'Oench & Yost.[8] The firm worked on designs for the Carnegie Library in Sandusky, Ohio (1901);[9] W New York Union Square (formerly Germania/Guardian Life Insurance Company Building, 1910);[10][11] the William R. Grace Company building addition;[12] and Richard Morris Hunt's New York Tribune Building.[13] The Carnegie Library and the W New York Union Square are on the National Register of Historic Places.[14][15]
In January 1901,[3] D'Oench married Alice Grace Holloway, whose father, William Russell Grace, was the founder of W. R. Grace and Company and a mayor of New York City. They had a son, Russell Gilchrist D'Oench.[1][16] His wife was previously married to William I. Holloway, with whom she had a son, William Grace Holloway.[17]
D'Oench had homes in Manhattan and Manhasset.[3] He died at his country house in Manhasset on July 20, 1918.[1][16][18]