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39-865: In 1993-94, at the Smithsonian Castle on the East Coast and at the Salk Institute on the West Coast, a network of regional and national design firms began sharing ideas, benchmarks, and proprietary financial analysis with each another. They brought successful practice strategies into dialogue with the world of client demands, budgets, innovation, technology, and communications. These architects, designers, and thought leaders were seeking to build better futures for their firms in their roles as partners, leaders, and futurists. James P. Cramer, Hon. AIA, Hon. IIDA, Chairman & CEO of Greenway Group,

78-666: A M.A. three years later. After graduating from Columbia College, Renwick took a position as a structural engineer with Erie Railroad and subsequently served as supervisor on Croton Reservoir, serving as an assistant engineer on the Croton Aqueduct in New York City . Renwick received his first major commission at the age of twenty-five in 1843, in which he won a competitive bidding process to design Grace Church , an Episcopal Church in New York City, which

117-444: A Washington, D.C.–based management consulting firm, facilitated the sharing of ideas and experiences within this network. A newsletter with information about profitability, tax considerations, business measures, and capital expenditure decisions was circulated as a result. In the beginning, the group had no name but talked about in industry circles, with references to “that design futures network.” During this time, Greenway Consulting

156-574: A dispute with the City Council, which then paid Renwick his $ 27,000 fee. The city then built the courthouse using his plans and reducing its dimensions to fit the local budget. Renwick went on to design St. Patrick's Cathedral , on the corner of Fifth Avenue and 51st Street , which is considered his most notable architectural achievement. He was chosen as architect for the Roman Catholic cathedral in 1853; construction began in 1858, and

195-582: A few years the original building was kept as a clubhouse for graduate members. At that time a newspaper account described it as a "perfect Bijou of tasteful decoration". Among his other designs were banks, the Charity and Smallpox Hospitals on Roosevelt Island , the main building of the Children's Hospital on Randall's Island , the Inebriate and Lunatic Asylums on Wards Island , and the former facade of

234-517: A high stoop arrangement with the figure of an owl on the peaked roof and a plaque with the Greek letters Delta Psi over the windowless chapter room. In 1879, The New York Tribune called it French Renaissance , but the stumpy pilasters and blocky detailing suggest the Neo-Grec style then near the end of its popularity." In 1899, the fraternity moved to a new chapter house on Riverside Drive and for

273-517: A suite of rooms on the second as an apartment for the Secretary of the Smithsonian. This space is currently used as administrative offices and archives. The West Range was one story and used as a reading room. The West Wing, known as the chapel, was used as a library. The West Wing and Range are now used as a quiet room for visitors to go. On the exterior, the principal tower on the south side

312-432: Is 91 feet (28 m) high and 37 feet (11 m) square. On the north side there are two towers, the taller on 145 feet (44 m) tall. A campanile at the northeast corner is 17 feet (5.2 m) square and 117 feet (36 m) tall. The plan allowed for expansion at either end, a major reason for the informal medieval-inspired design, which would not suffer if asymmetrically developed. The Smithsonian Castle houses

351-517: Is likely Russell contributed work to both his fraternity's first chapter house as well as the cathedral during his apprenticeship with Renwick. Russell departed in 1894 to co-found Clinton & Russell . After Renwick's death in 1895, the immediate successor organization was called Renwick, Aspinwall & Renwick, then Renwick, Aspinwall & Owen, with the addition of Walter Tallent Owen (1864-1902). In 1904, it became known as Renwick, Aspinwall & Tucker, then Renwick, Aspinwall & Guard by

390-583: The American Civil War . The ensuing renovation was undertaken by local Washington architect Adolf Cluss in 1865–67. Further fireproofing work ensued in 1883, also by Cluss, who by this time had designed the neighboring Arts and Industries Building . A third and fourth floor were added to the East Wing, and a third floor to the West Wing. Electric lighting was installed in 1895. Around 1900,

429-766: The American Society of Interior Designers , the Design-Build Institute, the Design Management Institute, and many colleges and universities. Fellowship in the Design Futures Council is granted to outstanding individuals who have provided noteworthy leadership toward the advancement of design, design solutions, or the design professions. Senior fellows of the DFC are recognized for significant contributions toward

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468-644: The Gothic Revival in the United States. In 1849, Renwick designed the Free Academy Building at present-day City College of New York at Lexington Avenue and 23rd Street in New York City. It was one of the first Gothic Revival college buildings on the U.S. East Coast . By 1852, he had come to Fredericksburg, VA -- a small city 50 miles south of Washington -- to design and build a courthouse building which still stands. He got into

507-770: The New York Stock Exchange . Renwick was the supervising architect for the Commission of Charities and Correction. A small group of Renwick's architectural drawings and papers are held by the Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library at Columbia University . Renwick was also the designer of the bell tower of the Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine in Florida , which was commissioned by Standard Oil partner Henry M. Flagler who

546-511: The Seneca quarry in Seneca, Maryland in contrast to the granite, marble and yellow sandstone from the other major buildings in Washington, D.C. The building comprises a central section, two extensions or ranges, and two wings. Four towers contain occupiable space, while five smaller towers are primarily decorative, although some contain stairs. As constructed, the central section contained

585-565: The Smithson bequest ." Despite the upgraded fireproof construction, a fire in 1865 caused extensive damage to the upper floor of the building, destroying the correspondence of James Smithson , Henry's papers, two hundred oil paintings of American Indians by John Mix Stanley , the Regent's Room and the lecture hall, and the contents of the public libraries of Alexandria, Virginia and Beaufort, South Carolina , confiscated by Union forces during

624-507: The Holy Sepulchre in New York City in 1869, and the former New York City Public Charities Building (since razed) at 66 Third Avenue (1868–1871). One constant in the firm was J. Lawrence Aspinwall (1854–1936), who started to work for Renwick in 1875, practiced in the firm more than 60 years, was a firm partner from 1880 to 1925, and became an AIA Fellow in 1914. Aspinwall was the cousin of Renwick's wife Anna. From 1878 to 1894,

663-493: The Smithsonian's Renwick Gallery , also in Washington D.C. The building committee held a nationwide design competition in 1846 and selected Renwick's design by a unanimous vote. Renwick's second design, which was Gothic Revival in style, was used in the design of Trinity Episcopal Church . A cardboard model of Renwick's winning design survives and is on display in the Castle. Renwick was assisted by Robert Mills , particularly in

702-568: The administrative offices of the Smithsonian. The main Smithsonian visitor center is also located here, with interactive displays and maps. Computers electronically answer most common questions. A crypt just inside the north entrance houses the tomb of James Smithson . James Renwick Jr. James Renwick Jr. (born November 11, 1818, Bloomingdale in Upper Manhattan in New York City – June 23, 1895, in New York City)

741-683: The building with entirely American sculptural flora in the manner of Benjamin Henry Latrobe 's work at the United States Capitol , but the final work used conventional pattern-book designs. The building is completed in the Gothic Revival style with Romanesque motifs. This style was chosen to evoke the Collegiate Gothic in England and the ideas of knowledge and wisdom. The façade is built with red sandstone from

780-875: The campus of Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York (1861–1865), including the Main Hall (1860), Saint Bartholomew's Church (1871–1872) at Madison Avenue and 44th Street in New York City (since demolished), the All Saints' Roman Catholic Church (1882–1893) in Harlem in the Victorian Gothic style, and many mansions for the wealthy of the area, including the Peter Aims-Aimes house, known as "Martinstow", in West Haven, Connecticut . Renwick

819-587: The cathedral opened in May 1879. The cathedral is the most ambitious Gothic-style structure, and includes a mixture of German, French, and English Gothic influences. Another of the prominent buildings Renwick designed was Corcoran Gallery of Art , now home to the Renwick Gallery in Washington, D.C., which was designed in Second Empire style. Other works by Renwick include the first major buildings on

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858-422: The concept of expanding the group and making the proprietary information available to a broader audience. Greenway Consulting proposed to BPI/VNU Communications that this information-sharing bulletin be published for a subscription fee and be named DesignIntelligence . The first issue was published on May 15, 1995. Shortly thereafter, this leadership network officially became the Design Futures Council. They met in

897-601: The demolished D.C. Jail. In February 2023, the Castle closed for a planned five-year renovation. The project would include restoration of many aspects of the building, and removal of an upper floor of offices to restore the Grand Hall to its original appearance. Renwick designed the Castle as the focal point of a picturesque landscape on the National Mall using elements from Georg Moller 's Denkmäler der deutschen Baukunst . Renwick originally intended to detail

936-437: The elements. Scholarly evidence indicates it is likely that slaves were employed at Seneca in quarrying stone for the Castle, though no evidence has surfaced that slaves were involved in the actual Castle construction. The building committee selected Gilbert Cameron as the general contractor, and construction began in 1847. The East Wing was completed in 1849 and occupied by Secretary Joseph Henry and his family. The West Wing

975-399: The firm was known as Renwick, Aspinwall & Russell, with the partnership of William Hamilton Russell (1856–1907), Renwick's grand nephew. Upon his graduation, Russell became a protégé of his great uncle, who designed the chapter house of Russell's fraternity, St. Anthony Hall, at 25 East 28th Street, New York in 1878, the same year Renwick completed St. Patrick's Cathedral, New York . It

1014-626: The first Smithsonian museum building, it is constructed of Seneca red sandstone in the Norman Revival style (a recalling of a 12th-century combination of late Romanesque and early Gothic motifs; built in the Gothic and Romanesque revival styles). It was completed in 1855 and designated a National Historic Landmark in 1965. The Castle was the first Smithsonian building, designed by architect James Renwick Jr. , whose other works include St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City and

1053-548: The internal arrangement of the building. Initially intended to be built in white marble, then in yellow sandstone, the architect and building committee finally settled on Seneca red sandstone from the Seneca Quarry in Montgomery County, Maryland . The redstone was substantially less expensive than granite or marble, and while initially easy to work, was found to harden to a satisfactory degree on exposure to

1092-528: The main entry and museum space (now the Great Hall), with a basement beneath and a large lecture room above. Two galleries on the second floor were used to display artifacts and art. This area is now the Visitor's Information and Associates' Reception area. The East Range contained laboratory space on the first floor and research space on the second. The East Wing contained storage space on the first floor and

1131-967: The offices of Greenway Consulting in Washington, D.C., and in meeting rooms at the Smithsonian Institution’s Castle. Invitations for programs and sharing of ideas came from the American Institute of Architects , the American Consulting Engineers Council, the Industrial Designers Society of America , the Aga Khan Trust for Culture , the World Future Society , the International Interior Design Association ,

1170-446: The project. Smith gratefully accepted, and the firm of Renwick, Aspinwall & Russell spent six months completing their contribution. In the late 1850s, already well-established, Renwick temporarily partnered with Richard T. Auchmoty. In the 1860s and 1870s, a few of Renwick's commissions are credited as Renwick & Sands. These indicate Renwick's short-lived partnership with architect Joseph Sands (? – 1879), and include Church of

1209-536: The understanding of changing trends, new research, or applied knowledge leading to innovative design models that improve the built environment and the human condition. They include: Smithsonian Castle The Smithsonian Institution Building , more commonly known as the Smithsonian Castle or simply The Castle , is a building on the National Mall housing the Smithsonian Institution 's administrative offices and information center. Built as

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1248-648: The wooden floor of the Great Hall was replaced with terrazzo and a Children's Museum was installed near the south entrance. A tunnel connected to the Arts and Industries Building. A general renovation took place in 1968–70 to install modern electrical systems, elevators and heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems. The Enid A. Haupt Garden was dedicated in 1987, along with the Renwick Gate facing Independence Avenue, built from Seneca redstone retrieved from

1287-441: Was an American architect in the 19th century, noted especially for designing churches and museums. The Encyclopedia of American Architecture calls him "one of the most successful American architects of his time". Renwick was born in Upper Manhattan on November 11, 1818, to a wealthy and well-educated family. His mother, Margaret Brevoort, was from a wealthy and socially prominent New York City family. His father, James Renwick ,

1326-701: Was an engineer, architect, and professor of natural philosophy at Columbia College, which is now Columbia University . His two brothers went on to become engineers. Renwick was not formally trained as an architect, but his ability and interest in building design were nurtured through his cultivated upbringing, which granted him early exposure to travel, and through a broad cultural education that included architectural history. He learned most of his skills from his father, and then studied engineering at Columbia College, now Columbia University , in Manhattan. He entered Columbia at age twelve and graduated in 1836. He received

1365-506: Was building luxury hotels in the historic city at the time. Renwick and his wife Anna Aspinwall lived and owned property in the lighthouse area on Anastasia Island in Florida. In Spring 1890, Renwick listened to Franklin W. Smith deliver a speech to garner support for his Design and Prospectus for a National Gallery of History of Art at Washington . Renwick endorsed the idea and offered to provide drawings, plans, and illustrations for

1404-759: Was built in English Gothic style. In 1846, Renwick won a competition to design of the Smithsonian Institution Building in Washington, D.C. Built between 1847 and 1855, the Smithsonian's many-turreted building, often referred to as "the Castle", was designed in Romanesque style, as requested by the Smithsonian's Board of Regents, and was built with red sandstone quarried at Seneca Quarry in Seneca, Maryland . The Smithsonian Institution Building proved influential in inspiring

1443-407: Was completed later the same year. A structural collapse in 1850 of partly completed work raised questions of workmanship and resulted in a change to fireproof construction. The Castle's exterior was completed in 1852; Renwick's work was completed and he withdrew from further participation. Cameron continued the interior work, which he completed in 1855. Construction funds came from "accrued interest on

1482-698: Was the architect of Ascension Memorial Church in Ipswich, Massachusetts , whose cornerstone was laid in October 1869. Renwick also designed the St. Anthony Hall , the first chapter house for Delta Psi , the secret fraternal college society founded at Columbia University in 1847. Even though the 1879 structure at 29 East 28th Street is marred now by a street level storefront, Christopher Gray wrote in The New York Times in 1990 that, "Old photographs show

1521-812: Was working with other clients allied to the design professions who became enthusiastic about supporting the network. Those clients included Cecil Steward of the University of Nebraska, Doug Parker of Steelcase , Jonas Salk of the Salk Institute, Jerry Hobbs and Paul Curran of BPI/VNU Communications, and Arol Wolford of CMD. In addition, principal leaders from Gensler ; Skidmore, Owings and Merrill ; Hammel, Green and Abrahamson ; Perkins and Will ; CommArts; and two dozen other firms provided leadership vision and energy. The network held meetings in La Jolla, Calif., Washington, D.C., and New York City, solidifying

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