DANIEL BURNHAM. Cincinnati, Ohio

In 1885, a young Daniel Burnham and an even younger John Root attempted to build their architectural practice by entering Design Competitions.  It was not so long from then that Cincinnati really was the "Queen City of the West."   Winning a competition in Cincy would be good for prestige and business. 

Burnham and Root Competition Entry

Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce

Credit  Donald Hoffman's Architecture of John Wellborn Root

Unfortunately they lost.  Henry Hobson Richardson "took the cake."  (No pun  intended)

Henry Hobson Richardson Competition Winner

Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce.

Credit Cincinnati Astronomical Society and Google Open Library

Burnham, though, was by no means done in Cincinnati.  The Fourth National Bank, Fifth National Bank, Union Trust, and Shillito's were , major commissions.  My favorite later Burnham work in Cincinnati is Peirce Anderson's Schmidlapp Memorial Library, now the Cincinnati Art Museum.

Schmidlapp Memorial Libray

Eden Park, Mount Adams, Cincinnati, Ohio

Credit Cincinnatiview.net

The Schmidlapps and the Burnhams remained lifelong friends.

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Researching this article I came across some excellent source material written by my History of Architecture Professor at the University of Cincinnati, J. William Rudd  ((You may not remember me, Mr. Rudd.  I was the one in the back row (in the tie-dyed t-shirt) trying to finish my calculus homework while you fumbled with the overhead projector --- never mind the year.))  Thinking back on it, I'm amazed at how much of the course "stuck".  A belated thank-you is very much in order. Very much.

UNION STATION.Facade

A remarkable building is easy to photograph. These images almost "took themselves." My only regret about the building (other than deferred maintenance) is that it doesn't have the height it deserves. But maybe there is a future. (See the mar/apr issue of Chicago Architect, page.27).

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Above: The coffered ceiling of the East Colonnade

Below: The West Facade
Below: Sidewalk view at the West Facade

I was in the first class to graduate from the University of Cincinnati that did not have to render Ionic, Doric and Corinthian column capitals in watercolor wash - something I now consider my loss. We were taught, however, that every good piece of architecture considered Balance, Rhythm, Unity, Mass, Proportion and Scale. And regardless of style or vocabulary, I believe those considerations can contribute to good architecture. And that some components of Peirce Anderson's solution for Union Station's facade are very good architecture, indeed.

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