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Head back to the classroom to ‘tour’ some of architect’s greatest schools

It’s September and even C. Emlen Urban had to go back to school!  However, as a young architect it was for a new objective—to design them!  Urban’s illustrious career included many building types: residences, civic buildings, churches, industrial, mercantile, offices and even schools.  In all, he designed 13 public schools, from his first in 1895 at the age of 32 to his last in East Lampeter Township on Old Philadelphia Pike toward the end of his career.  His more notable school designs included Stevens High School, 1906; Milton Hershey Consolidated School, 1914; Fulton Boy’s School, 1916; Reynold’s Middle School, 1927; and Lancaster Catholic High School, 1929.

Urban’s school designs were as varied as the architectural styles that he chose for each of them.  Each school represented a popular style of the time beginning with Italian Renaissance for the 1895 Strawberry Street Elementary School, to Gothic Revival for The Reynold’s Middle School, and Beaux Arts/French Renaissance for his most controversial design, the Stevens High School.  All 13 buildings are still in existence; some are being used for their original function while others have been repurposed for a new use.  Either way, their longevity reflects the integrity of the materials he specified, the quality of the design and the buildings’ ability to adapt to the changing times.

It’s September and even C. Emlen Urban had to go back to school! However, as a young architect it was for a new objective—to design them! Urban’s illustrious career included many building types: residences, civic buildings, churches, industrial, mercantile, offices and even schools. In all, he designed 13 public schools, from his first in 1895 at the age of 32 to his last in East Lampeter Township on Old Philadelphia Pike toward the end of his career. His more notable school designs included Stevens High School, 1906; Milton Hershey Consolidated School, 1914; Fulton Boy’s School, 1916; Reynold’s Middle School, 1927; and Lancaster Catholic High School, 1929. Urban’s school designs were as varied as the architectural styles that he chose for each of them. Each school represented a popular style of the time beginning with Italian Renaissance for the 1895 Strawberry Street Elementary School, to Gothic Revival for The Reynold’s Middle School, and Beaux Arts/French Renaissance for his most controversial design, the Stevens High School. All 13 buildings are still in existence; some are being used for their original function while others have been repurposed for a new use. Either way, their longevity reflects the integrity of the materials he specified, the quality of the design and the buildings’ ability to adapt to the changing times.

Urban makes house calls

Despite C Emlen Urban’s rising success in designing large scale and significant commercial, retail, and civic structures – he still made house calls.  Residential design is often where architects learn the trade and begin understanding how buildings are constructed.  Although smaller in scale, a private residence is just as complex, and often more demanding of skill, patience, time and knowledge than the larger public structures.  Urbans’ reputation for producing quality and innovative designs at all levels and styles resulted in residential commissions in Lancaster, Lititz, Millersville, Manheim, Marietta, Strasburg, Gap, Annville, and Hershey.

His residential design styles were as varied and unique as his clients and included:  Queen Anne, Chauteauesque, Tudor Revival, Colonial Revival, Italian Renaissance Revival, Shingle Style, Beaux Arts, and Georgian Revival.  Each architectural style has its own ‘vocabulary’ of details, proportions, materials and overall character that must be taken into account when developing the plans and elevations.  For example, the Paired Mansions at 623-625 W Chestnut Street are designed in the Italian Renaissance Style and incorporate terra cotta ornamentation, low projecting tile roof overhangs with exposed rafter tails and distinctive recessed third floor balconies.  His design solution for these companion homes was so well received that he was commissioned to replicate them in New York City!

Read the full LNP Article:  Take a virtual tour: Lancaster’s most famous architect left his mark on private homes, too

Watt & Shand Department Store

As the 19^th century was waning, C. Emlen Urban’s architectural career was waxing.  In 1898, at the age of 35, Urban was commissioned to design what many of his admirers consider to be his high-water mark—the Watt & Shand building. If not his crowning achievement, it is certainly the most recognizable and prestigious public building in downtown Lancaster.  Having successfully completed the personal residence for mercantilist Peter T. Watt in 1896, Watt and his business partner, James Shand, challenged the young Urban to further elevate their position in the retail community and bring the department store into the 20^th century.

Concurrently, a new architectural style was sweeping the country and replacing the ever popular Queen Anne style. The newest craze was grounded in European design with a flair for the flamboyant!  The Beaux Arts style, named after the French national university in Paris, Ecole des Beaux Arts, arrived in the United States during the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition.  Many cities of wealth and prosperity subsequently introduced this radical departure from the norm into their downtowns.  Civic buildings including courthouses, capitols, libraries, train stations, and post offices were the typical candidates for the Beaux Arts style.  The most distinguishing characteristics included Greek and Italian Renaissance decorative elements such as columns, pediments, balustrades, ornamental windows, stone carvings and elaborate sculpture.  The traditional building materials utilized were tan colored brick, marble, and cut stone.

Read the full LNP Article:  Architect designs the heart of Lancaster city’s Penn Square