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Name:    Adler, Dankmar
Profession:  Architect
Born/Started:     Jul. 03, 1844
Died/Ended:     Apr. 16, 1900
Description:    Dankmar Adler was a partner with Louis Sullivan in the innovative architectural firm, Adler and Sullivan. One of Chicago´s outstanding structural engineers, he was a pioneer of steel-framed tall office buildings, and an expert in accoustics for auditoriums and theatres.

Born in Eisenach Germany on July 3, 1844, Adler emigrated with his father to Detroit in 1854, where he was apprenticed to the architectural firm of E. Willard Smith. He moved to Chicago in 1861. In 1866, after serving in the Civil War as an officer of the Topographical Engineers Corps in Tennessee, Adler began his architectural career in Chicago. By 1871 he had formed a partnership with Edward Burling. They were soon inundated with work after the great Chicago fire in October of that year. Adler married Dila Kohn in 1872. He opened his own firm in 1879; the Chicago Central Music Hall was his most important work prior to his partnership with Sullivan.

Together, Adler and Sullivan designed more than 100 buildings in their 15-year partnership. They also developed an innovative architectural vocabulary for steel-framed tall office buildings, one which rejected the applied ornamentation of previous building styles in favor of simple organic forms that expressed the building´s interior functions.

Adler retired in 1895 and spent the remaining years of his life writing for architectural journals. He died at age 56 on April 16, 1900.


Detailed Description:
Dankmar Adler was one of Chicago´s outstanding structural engineers, a pioneer of steel-framed tall office buildings, and an expert in accoustics for auditoriums and theatres. His work has been overshadowed by his brilliant and more flamboyant partner, Louis Sullivan.

Born in Eisenach Germany on July 3, 1844, Adler emigrated with his father to Detroit in 1854, where his father Liebman became a rabbi. He was apprenticed to the architectural firm of E. Willard Smith, but moved to Chicago in 1861. In 1866, after serving in the Civil War as an officer of the Topographical Engineers Corps in Tennessee, Adler began his architectural career in Chicago. He worked with several firms, and in 1871, formed a partnership with Edward Burling. They were soon inudated with work after the great Chicago fire in October of that year. Adler married Dila Kohn in 1872. He opened his own firm in 1879; the Central Music Hall there was his most important work prior to his partnership with Sullivan.

Together, Adler and Sullivan designed more than 100 buildings in their 15 year partnership. Adler retired from the firm in 1895, and spent the remaining years of his life writing for architectural journals. Adler died at 56 on April 16, 1900.



Structures & Places
Central West End Historic District
 Wainwright Building

Events
Wainwright Building Completed

Reference
Century of Enterprise: St. Louis, 1894-1994
 Missouris Black Heritage
 Outstanding Architects in St. Louis Between 1804 and 1904
More People
in the Same Profession(s)

 

 

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