John Mead Howells

John Mead Howells was a prominent American architect, known for his work on numerous notable buildings, including the Chicago Tribune Tower in Chicago, Illinois, in collaboration with Raymond Hood. Howells' architectural style was influenced by his travels to Europe, where he studied the works of Gustav Stickley and Frank Lloyd Wright. He was also a member of the American Institute of Architects and worked with other notable architects, such as Cass Gilbert and Daniel Burnham. Howells' designs often incorporated elements of Art Deco and Gothic Revival styles, as seen in his work on the Westinghouse Electric Corporation building in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

● Early Life and Education

John Mead Howells was born in 1868 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, to a family of architects, including his father, William Dean Howells, a renowned Pulitzer Prize-winning author. Howells' early education took place at Harvard University, where he studied under the guidance of Charles Eliot Norton and Ralph Adams Cram. He later traveled to Paris, France, to study at the École des Beaux-Arts, where he was influenced by the works of Eugène Viollet-le-Duc and Gottfried Semper. During his time in Europe, Howells also visited Rome, Italy, and London, England, where he was exposed to the works of Christopher Wren and Inigo Jones.

● Career

Howells began his architectural career in New York City, working with the firm McKim, Mead & White, under the guidance of Charles Follen McKim and Stanford White. He later formed his own practice, Howells & Stokes, with Isaac Newton Phelps Stokes, and worked on numerous projects, including the Princeton University campus in Princeton, New Jersey. Howells was also a member of the National Academy of Design and worked with other notable architects, such as Bertram Goodhue and Ralph Walker. His firm, Howells & Stokes, was responsible for designing several buildings, including the New York Public Library and the Brooklyn Museum in Brooklyn, New York.

● Architectural Style

Howells' architectural style was characterized by his use of Classical and Gothic elements, as seen in his design for the Chicago Tribune Tower. He was also influenced by the Arts and Crafts movement and incorporated elements of Art Nouveau into his designs. Howells' work was often compared to that of other notable architects, such as Louis Sullivan and Frank Furness. His use of ornamentation and decoration was also influenced by the works of Antoni Gaudí and Hector Guimard. Howells' designs often featured skyscrapers and high-rise buildings, as seen in his work on the Woolworth Building in Manhattan, New York City.

● Notable Works

Some of Howells' most notable works include the Chicago Tribune Tower, the Princeton University campus, and the Westinghouse Electric Corporation building. He also designed the Beaver Dam building in New York City and the Niagara Falls power plant in Niagara Falls, New York. Howells' work on the New York Public Library and the Brooklyn Museum showcased his ability to design large-scale public buildings. His designs often incorporated elements of sustainability and energy efficiency, as seen in his work on the General Electric building in Schenectady, New York. Howells also worked on several projects with Frederick Law Olmsted, including the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina.

● Personal Life

Howells was married to Catherine and had several children, including John Mead Howells Jr., who also became an architect. He was a member of the Century Association and the Grolier Club, and was known for his love of literature and art. Howells was also a close friend of Theodore Roosevelt and Franklin D. Roosevelt, and worked on several projects with Herbert Hoover. He died in 1959 at the age of 91, leaving behind a legacy of notable architectural works, including the Chicago Tribune Tower and the Princeton University campus. Howells' work continues to be celebrated by architects and historians, including Robert A.M. Stern and Vincent Scully. Category:American architects