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Russell & Gibson
Russell, Gibson & vonDohlen
Russell Gibson vonDohlen Inc.
Practice information
PartnersJames F. Russell AIA; Murray O. Gibson AIA; Robert J. vonDohlen FAIA; Terry F. Hallock; Charles T. Bellingrath AIA; Richard W. Quinn AIA; John L. Riley AIA;
FoundersJames F. Russell AIA; Murray O. Gibson AIA
Founded1954
Dissolved1995
LocationWest Hartford, Connecticut
St. Mary's Church in Newington, Connecticut, designed by Russell, Gibson & vonDohlen and completed in 1967.
The Berkshire Athenaeum in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, designed by Russell Gibson vonDohlen Inc. and completed in 1975.
The atrium of the Connecticut Legislative Office Building in Hartford, Connecticut, designed by Russell Gibson vonDohlen Inc. and completed in 1988.
The Harry A. Gampel Pavilion of the University of Connecticut, designed by Russell Gibson vonDohlen Inc. and completed in 1990.

Russell Gibson vonDohlen was an American architectural firm active in West Hartford and Farmington, Connecticut from 1954 until 1995. Formed as the partnership of James F. Russell AIA (died 1979) and Murray O. Gibson AIA (1923–2011), it grew to be one of the largest architectural firms in Connecticut before its 1995 merger.

Robert J. vonDohlen FAIA (born 1928, living) is an American architect in practice in West Hartford and Farmington, Connecticut from 1957 to 1991.

History and principals

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Russell & Gibson was formed in 1954 in West Hartford as the partnership of two architects, James F. Russell and Murray O. Gibson.

James Francis Russell was born in 1923 in Glens Falls, New York.[1] He was educated at Cornell University, graduating in 1949 with a BArch.

Murray O'Brien Gibson was born March 27, 1923 in Newcastle, Ontario. His family immigrated to the United States a few years later and settled in Cortland, New York. He served in the Army during World War II and, like Russell, attended Cornell, graduating in the same year with the same degree.

In 1957 they were joined in partnership by Robert J. vonDohlen:

Robert John vonDohlen was born October 30, 1928 in Brooklyn to Henry vonDohlen and Anna Margaret (Meyer) vonDohlen. He was educated at Cornell University, graduating with a BArch in 1950 and a Master's degree in regional planning in 1954. He worked for architects Warren H. Ashley in West Hartford and Willard Wilkins in Hartford before joining Russell & Gibson in 1956.

In 1960 Russell, Gibson & vonDohlen opened a branch office in Pittsfield, Massachusetts under the direction of Terry F. Hallock.

Terry Farber Hallock was born August 26, 1928 in New York City. He was educated at Wesleyan College and Adelphi University, graduating from the latter in 1952. He worked for Pittsfield architect John H. Fisher before joining Russell, Gibson & vonDohlen.

In the 1950s and 1960s the firm built up a substantial practice based on the design of schools, churches and other institutional buildings. Beginning in the 1970s, they developed a strength in the design of corporate office buildings. It was on this basis that by 1981 they were the second-largest architectural firm in Connecticut, after Roche-Dinkeloo.[2] vonDohlen retired from practice in 1991, following Russell and Gibson.[3] In 1995 the firm was merged with Stecker LaBau Arneill McManus Architects of Glastonbury to form the SLAM Collaborative, which remains active regionally and nationally.[4]

In 1960 the firm opened a branch office in Pittsfield, Massachusetts under the direction of Terry F. Hallock.[5] In 1965 it was reorganized as a corporation subsidiary to the West Hartford firm with Hallock among the directors, and in 1973 he was elected its president.[6] Hallock left to establish the firm of Hallock Architects in 1976 and the Pittsfield corporation was dissolved in 1978.[7]

Russell retired from the firm in 1977 and returned to his hometown of Glens Falls, where he died July 28, 1979 at the age of 56.[1][8]

Murray retired in 1988 and died August 23, 2011 at home in New Hartford at the age of 88.[3]

Cornell '48, BArch '49, died July 28, 1979, Bolton Landing, New York

Associates by 1967: John L. Riley, Charles T. Bellingrath, Richard W. Quinn

Russell: vice president in 1974

vonDohlen: president 1972–82, chair 1982–91

Bellingrath: president in 1986, chair in 1991 and 1995

Riley: president in 1995, retires same summer

Architectural works

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Notes

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  1. ^ Designed as associate architects with Frank A. LaCava of Danbury.
  2. ^ Now the campus of the Masters School.
  3. ^ Designed as associate architects with Caudill Rowlett Scott of Houston.

References

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  1. ^ a b "James Russell Dies at Age 56," Hartford Courant, July 30, 1979, 4.
  2. ^ a b c d e John S. Rosenberg, "A Changing Practice" in New York Times, May 10, 1981, CN1 and CN25.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g "Murray O. Gibson, architect who co-founded firm that designed major Hartford landmarks, dies," Hartford Courant online, August 31, 2011.
  4. ^ "Two Architectural Firms Planning to Join Forces," Hartford Courant, April 14, 1995.
  5. ^ "West Hartford Architects Open Branch in Pittsfield," Berkshire Eagle, June 11, 1960, 12.
  6. ^ "Architect on the rise," Berkshire Eagle, November 10, 1973, 13.
  7. ^ Massachusetts corporation records
  8. ^ "Alumni Deaths" in Cornell Alumni News 82, no. 3 (October, 1979): 62.
  9. ^ a b c d e f "vonDohlen, Robert John" in American Architects Directory (New York: R. R. Bowker Company, 1962): 729.
  10. ^ "Research Library Set for Great Barrington Institute," Berkshire Eagle, July 1, 1961, 7.
  11. ^ "Contract Award Slated For Catholic High School," Bridgeport Telegram, November 1, 1962, 32.
  12. ^ Carmel M. Owens, "Architect Applauds Renovations To Establish Community Center," Hartford Courant, May 21, 1998, 98.
  13. ^ a b c d "Von Dohlen, Robert John" in American Architects Directory (New York: R. R. Bowker Company, 1970): 951.
  14. ^ "Station WBEC Moves Into New Building," Berkshire Eagle, June 19, 1965, 8.
  15. ^ "St. Joseph's Cathedral Rectory" in Connecticut Architect 2, no. 6 (November–December, 1966)12–16.
  16. ^ "Architects Give Church in Connecticut an Award for Design" in New York Times, August 17, 1969, R4.
  17. ^ "Marianapolis Preparatory School" in Connecticut Architect 3, no. 4 (July–August, 1967): 11–14.
  18. ^ "Saint Mary's Church, South Coventry" in Connecticut Architect 3, no. 3 (May–June, 1967): 13–15.
  19. ^ "Current Religious Architecture in Connecticut" in Connecticut Architect 4, no. 6 (November–December, 1968): 7–19.
  20. ^ Edward J. Farrell, "Knesses Israel Synagogue To Be Dedicated," Berkshire Eagle, September 19, 1970, 6.
  21. ^ "Richmond Church Members Vote for New Construction," Berkshire Eagle, September 25, 1969, 19.
  22. ^ "Educational Center" in Connecticut Architect 5, no. 4 (July–August, 1969): 9–11.
  23. ^ "Speech Center" in Connecticut Architect 2, no. 2 (March–April, 1971): 7–8.
  24. ^ "J. Francese Gets Contract For Dorm," Berkshire Eagle, November 13, 1971, 6.
  25. ^ "The Hartford School Story" in Connecticut Architect 6, no. 5 (September–October, 1970): 7–9, 20–22.
  26. ^ "Church Activity Center" in Connecticut Architect 9, no. 2 (March–April, 1973): 7–9.
  27. ^ "Place of Faith" in Connecticut Architect 9, no. 5 (September–October, 1973): 10–11.
  28. ^ a b Richard K. Weil, "Hallock Architectural Firm Chosen for Community Schools," Berkshire Eagle, June 18, 1971, 17.
  29. ^ Grier Horner, "9–2 Council vote clears the way for building new city library," Berkshire Eagle, May 10, 1973, 1 and 21.
  30. ^ Engineering News–Record 186 (1971): 45.
  31. ^ Laurie A. O'Neill, "Bradley Air Museum Reopens" in New York Times, October 11, 1981, CN2.
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