John and Donald Parkinsonwere a father-and-son architectural firm operating in theLos Angelesarea in the early 20th century. They designed and built many of the city's iconic buildings, includingGrand Central Market,theMemorial Coliseum,andCity Hall.[1][2]
John Parkinson | |
|---|---|
 John B. Parkinson | |
| Born | December 12, 1861 Scorton,Lancashire,England |
| Died | December 9, 1935(aged 73) United States |
| Nationality | English |
| Occupation | Architect |
| Buildings | Paradox Iron Brewery Metropolitan Building Holmby Hall |
Donald B. Parkinson | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 10, 1895 United States |
| Died | November 17, 1945(aged 50) United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Architect |
| Parent | John Parkinson |
| Buildings | Metropolitan Building Holmby Hall |
John Parkinson
editEarly years
editJohn Parkinson (12 December 1861 - 9 December 1935) was born in the small village ofScorton,inLancashire,Englandin 1861. At the age of sixteen, he was apprenticed for six years toJonas J. Bradshaw,an architect and engineer in nearbyBolton,where he learned craftsmanship and practical construction. He attended night school at Bolton's Mechanics Institute to study architectural drafting and engineering. Upon completion of his apprenticeship at age 21, he immigrated to North America as an adventure; he built fences inWinnipegand learned stair building inMinneapolis.He returned to England only to discover that the English construction trades demanded more time and service for advancement. He decided that his then capabilities would be more appropriate to the less-structured opportunities in America. Parkinson went toCalifornia,settling inNapawhere he again worked as a stair-builder, and he took on architectural commissions in his spare time, designing some of his first commercial projects including an annex to the originalBank of Napabuilding (1888, Demolished).[3]
Seattle practice
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Considering Napa a "dead town", Parkinson ventured north toSeattlein February 1889, where he opened his first architectural practice after failing to secure a position as a draftsman.[4]In March he entered a partnership withCecil Evers,but this ended little more than a year later; Parkinson would leave Napa for good in September 1889 but would retain professional relationships with local mills to supply lumber and trim. Parkinson's early projects in Puget Sound included the Olympia Hotel,Olympia(1889; destroyed), the Calkins Hotel,Mercer Island(1889; destroyed), and several residences. After theGreat Seattle Fireof 6 June 1889, he secured several important business blocks, theButler Block(1889–90; altered), and the Seattle National Bank Building, later called theInterurban Building(1890–92), an exemplary work ofRomanesque Revival architecture.
In 1891, Parkinson won the design competition for theB.F. Day School(1891–92; altered), located in theFremontneighborhood of Seattle. Thereafter theSeattle School Boardappointed Parkinson as the Seattle Schools Architect and Superintendent. Parkinson was responsible for all Seattle Schools projects over the next several years, including the Pacific School (1892–93; destroyed) and the Cascade School (1893–94; destroyed). He also designed the Seattle Seminary (1891–93)--the first building atSeattle Pacific University(now known as Alexander Hall); and the Jesuit College and Church (1893–94; altered)--the first building atSeattle University(now known as the Garrand Building).
Parkinson frequently published renderings of his buildings in the professional architectural press. He was an early member of the Washington State Chapter of theAmerican Institute of Architects(predecessor to today's AIA Seattle chapter).
Parkinson invested in real estate and he was both architect and developer of the Seattle Athletic Club Building (1893–94; destroyed). His investments left him financially vulnerable when thePanic of 1893,the severe national depression, curtailed construction after June 1893. Parkinson's schools position was terminated by the Seattle School Board early in 1894. In 1893 and 1894, he entered several competitions, but failed to win any commissions.
Parkinson firm in Los Angeles
editFaced with no projects, nor prospects for work in Seattle, John Parkinson moved toLos Angelesin 1894 and opened his architecture office on Spring Street between Second and Third Streets. By 1896, Parkinson had designed the city's first Class "A" fireproof steel-frame structure: theHomer Laughlin Buildingat Third Street and Broadway. His 1901Susana Machado Bernard House and Barnhas been designated as a Historic Cultural Monument and listed in theNational Register of Historic Places.His design for the 1904Braly Blockat Fourth Street and Spring became the first "skyscraper"built in Los Angeles. It held the distinction of being the tallest structure in town until the completion ofCity Hallin 1928.
In 1905, Parkinson formed a partnership withG. Edwin Bergstromwhich lasted for ten years. Parkinson and Bergstrom became the dominant architectural firm for major structures in Los Angeles. Bergstrom left to establish his own successful practice in 1915.
Parkinson & Parkinson
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John Parkinson was joined in 1920 by his son, Donald B. Parkinson (1895—1945).
Parkinson & Parkinson designed many of Los Angeles' finest buildings, which became some of the city's most enduring landmarks. Found on the roster are: the Campus Master Plan and several noted buildings of theUniversity of Southern California(1919–39)[1],theLos Angeles Memorial Coliseum(1923 and 1930–31),Los Angeles City Hall(1928, with Albert C. Martin Sr./structural and John C. Austin/working drawings),Bullocks Wilshire(1929) andUnion Station(1939). John Parkinson completed an important early renovation ofPershing Squarein downtown Los Angeles. Their work was also part of thearchitecture eventin theart competitionat the1932 Summer Olympics.[5][6]
Parkinson firm evolution
edit- 1888–1889 John Parkinson, Architect (Napa, CaliforniaandSeattle,Washington)
- 1889–1890 John Parkinson and Cecil Evers, Architects (Seattle,Washington)
- 1890–1894 John Parkinson, Architect (Seattle,Washington)
- 1894–1895 Burton and Parkinson, Architects (Los Angeles,California)
- 1895–1905 John Parkinson, Architect (Los Angeles, California)
- 1905–1915 John Parkinson and G. Edwin Bergstrom, Architects (Los Angeles, California)
- 1915–1920 John Parkinson, Architect (Los Angeles, California)
- 1920–1945 John Parkinson and Donald B. Parkinson, Architects (Los Angeles, California)
- 1945–1955 Parkinson, Powelson, Briney, Bernard & Woodford, Architects (Los Angeles, California)
- 1955–1984 Woodford & Bernard, Architects (Los Angeles, California)
- 1984–1990 Woodford, Parkinson, Wynn & Partners, Architects (Los Angeles andSan Diego,California)
- 1990–1992 DWL Parkinson Architects (Los Angeles and San Diego, California)
- 1992–2008 Parkinson Field Associates (Los Angeles, California andAustin, Texas)
Selected works
editJohn Parkinson
edit- Alameda Square,the former terminal of theSouthern Pacific Railroadin Downtown Los Angeles
- Blackstone's Department Store(later"The Famous",Broadway & 9th, Los Angeles (1917)
- Continental Building,408 South Spring Street, part of theSpring Street Financial District,Los Angeles
- Engine House No. 18,2616 S. Hobart Blvd., Los Angeles
- Geronimo Hotel,TucsonArizona
- Homer Laughlin Building(orig. asCoulter'sdepartment store, now Grand Central Market),[7]317 S. Broadway, Los Angeles (1896-8)
- Hotel Alexandria,part of theSpring Street Financial District,Los Angeles
- Hubert-Thom McAn Building(1900), 546 S. Broadway, Los Angeles[8]
- Jacoby Bros.department store, 331-3-5 S. Broadway, Los Angeles (1899-1900)[9]
- Joannes Brothers Company building, 800 Traction Avenue, part of theArts District,Los Angeles (1917)[10]
- Los Angeles City Hall,200 North Spring Street, Los Angeles, California (withAlbert C. Martin Sr.)
- Nelson Building,Broadway, Los Angeles, 1902 four story addition to a three-story 1897 building[11]
- O. T. Johnson Building(1902), 356 S. Broadway, Los Angeles[8]
Parkinson and Bergstrom
edit- A.G. Bartlett Building,215 W 7th Street, part of theSpring Street Financial District,Los Angeles
- Broadway Department Store(now the Junipero Serra State Office Building), 4th & Broadway, Los Angeles (1913)[8]
- Bullock'sDowntown flagship, 7th & Broadway, Los Angeles (1906-7)[12]
- Bullock's Wilshire Building,3050 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles
- Burdick Block,NE corner 2nd & Spring, Los Angeles (addition of top floors to original 1888 construction, 1900)
- Crocker Bank, 453 S. Spring Street, part of theSpring Street Financial District,Los Angeles
- H. Jevne & Co. Building,southwest corner of 6th and Broadway, Los Angeles (1906-7), also known as Norton Building
- Metropolitan Building,315 W. Fifth Street, Los Angeles[8]
- Rowan Building, 131 W. 5th Street, part of theSpring Street Financial District,Los Angeles
- Seattle National Bank Building (Interurban Building),102 Occidental Ave S,Pioneer Square, Seattle
- Security Building,part of theSpring Street Financial District,Los Angeles
- Susana Machado Bernard House and Barn,845 S. Lake St.,Los Angeles
- Trustee Building,340 S. Broadway, Los Angeles[8]
- Washington Building, 3rd and Spring, Los Angeles
- Yorkshire Hotel,710-14 S. Broadway, Los Angeles (1909)[8]
Donald Parkinson
edit- Pomona–Downtown station100 West Commercial Street, Pomona, CA 91768 (1940)[13]
Parkinson and Parkinson
edit- Bullock'sWestwood (first store), 1000 Westwood Blvd., Los Angeles
- Caliente Railroad Depot,100 Depot Ave.,Caliente, NV
- Desmond'sclothing store, Westwood branch, 1930[14]
- Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco,409 W. Olympic Blvd. Los Angeles
- Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum,3911 S. Figueroa St., Los Angeles
- National Bank of Whittier Building,13002 E. Philadelphia St.,Whittier, CA
- Saks Fifth Avenue, Beverly Hills,9600 Wilshire Bd, Los Angeles (withPaul R. Williams).[15]
- Security Trust,7051-7055 Hollywood Blvd.Hollywood, CA
- Security Trust and Savings,6381-85 Hollywood Blvd.Hollywood, CA
- Southern California Gas Company Complex,800, 810, 820 and 830 S. Flower St., Los Angeles
- Sterling PlazainBeverly Hills, California
- Title Guarantee and Trust Company Building,401-411 W. 5th St.,Los Angeles
- Title Insurance Building, 433 S. Spring Street, part of theSpring Street Financial District,Los Angeles
- Union Station (Los Angeles),800 N. Alameda St., Los Angeles
- Union Station (Ogden, Utah),25th St. at Wall Ave.,Ogden, UT
- Zumberge Hall of Science,3651 Trousdale Parkway, University of Southern California campus, Los Angeles[16]
References
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- ^"The forgotten Brit who helped shape Los Angeles".BBC News.2018-07-05.Retrieved2018-07-05.
- ^"The Britons who made their mark on LA".Daily Telegraph.2011-09-11.ISSN0307-1235.Retrieved2018-07-19.
- ^"Another New Brick Block".Napa Register.UCR Center for Bibliographical Studies and Research. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 23 Mar 1888. p. 1.Retrieved23 June2022.
- ^"Napa's Future; A Homily On the Present and Future Prospects of Napa".Napa Weekly Reporter.UCR Center for Bibliographical Studies and Research. California Digital Newspaper Collection. 6 Sep 1889. p. 5.Retrieved23 June2022.
- ^"Donald Parkinson".Olympedia.Retrieved30 July2020.
- ^"John Parkinson".Olympedia.Retrieved30 July2020.
- ^"The Laughlin Building: California's Finest Office Structure as It is",Los Angeles Times,July 5, 1898
- ^abcdef"National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form - California SP Broadway Theater and Commercial District".United States Department of the Interior-National Park Service.May 9, 1979.
- ^"Will Go Up Rapidly: Work on the Jacoby Building Was Begun Today: Most of the Material for the Big Business Structure Is Already on the Ground".Los Angeles Evening Post-Record. September 1, 1899. p. 1.
Architect John Parkinson
- ^"Joannes Bros. Co".historicplacesla.org.Los Angeles Historic Resource Inventory, Office of Historic Resources.Retrieved2023-07-21.
- ^"To Be Enlarged".Los Angeles Times.May 4, 1902.
- ^"Bullock's Department Store #1", Pacific Coast Architecture Database
- ^"Pomona, CA — Great American Stations".www.greatamericanstations.com.Archived fromthe originalon 2015-01-20.Retrieved2016-05-11.
- ^"New Desmond Store Planned".The Los Angeles Times.24 November 1929. p. 70.Retrieved18 March2024.
- ^"Saks Fifth Avenue".Los Angeles Conservancy. Archived fromthe originalon 30 March 2020.Retrieved27 March2020.
- ^http://www.planning.lacity.org/eir/USC/DEIR/files/IV.C.%20Cultural%20Resources.pdf[bare URL PDF]
- Ochsner, Jeffrey Karl, "John Parkinson" inShaping Seattle Architecture: A Historical Guide to the Architects(ed. Jeffrey Karl Ochsner),University of Washington Press,Seattle and London 1994, pages 28–32, 303,ISBN0-295-97365-X
- Ochsner, Jeffrey Karl, and Andersen, Dennis Alan,Distant Corner: Seattle Architects and the Legacy of H. H. Richardson,University of Washington Press,Seattle and London 2003, pages 49–52, 175-79, 225-28, 249-54, 283-85, 310-14,ISBN0-295-98238-1.
External links
edit- An interview withIconic Visionauthor Stephen Gee about John Parkinson's workonNotebook on Cities and Culture