architect
An architect is a person who plans, designs and oversees the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to provide services in connection with the design of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the buildings that h ...
and one of the first five women to study architecture at
Carnegie Tech
Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) is a private research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. One of its predecessors was established in 1900 by Andrew Carnegie as the Carnegie Technical Schools; it became the Carnegie Institute of Technology ...
. She was the first female fellow of
Frank Lloyd Wright
Frank Lloyd Wright (June 8, 1867 – April 9, 1959) was an American architect, designer, writer, and educator. He designed more than 1,000 structures over a creative period of 70 years. Wright played a key role in the architectural movements o ...
in
Taliesin
Taliesin ( , ; 6th century AD) was an early Brittonic poet of Sub-Roman Britain whose work has possibly survived in a Middle Welsh manuscript, the '' Book of Taliesin''. Taliesin was a renowned bard who is believed to have sung at the courts ...
, 1934.
Life
Cornelia Brierly was born April 12, 1913, in
Mifflin County, Pennsylvania
Mifflin County is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census, the population was 46,143. Its county seat is Lewistown. The county was created on September 19, 1789, from parts of Cumberland County and Northumberland ...
. She studied briefly at Cornell University and the University of Pittsburgh, before enrolling in
Carnegie Tech
Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) is a private research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. One of its predecessors was established in 1900 by Andrew Carnegie as the Carnegie Technical Schools; it became the Carnegie Institute of Technology ...
becoming one of the first five women to study architecture in the program. In 1934 she joined the Taliesin Fellowship under
Frank Lloyd Wright
Frank Lloyd Wright (June 8, 1867 – April 9, 1959) was an American architect, designer, writer, and educator. He designed more than 1,000 structures over a creative period of 70 years. Wright played a key role in the architectural movements o ...
. She worked on Wright’s
Broadacre City
Broadacre City was an urban or suburban development concept proposed by Frank Lloyd Wright throughout most of his lifetime. He presented the idea in his book ''The Disappearing City'' in 1932. A few years later he unveiled a very detailed twelve- ...
plan, building models in
Arizona
Arizona ( ; nv, Hoozdo Hahoodzo ; ood, Alĭ ṣonak ) is a state in the Southwestern United States. It is the 6th largest and the 14th most populous of the 50 states. Its capital and largest city is Phoenix. Arizona is part of the Fou ...
and traveling to
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh ( ) is a city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, and the county seat of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Allegheny County. It is the most populous city in both Allegheny County and Wester ...
, and
Washington, D.C.
)
, image_skyline =
, image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...
, to explain the ideas to a wider audience.
She studied with Wright for 10 years before starting a private practice with her husband Peter Berndtson. In 1956 she returned to the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation working as an architectural designer, interior decorator and landscape architect. She served as Honorary Chairman and Trustee of the Foundation.
Brierly died August 24, 2012, at age 99.
Major buildings and projects
*Models for
Broadacre City
Broadacre City was an urban or suburban development concept proposed by Frank Lloyd Wright throughout most of his lifetime. He presented the idea in his book ''The Disappearing City'' in 1932. A few years later he unveiled a very detailed twelve- ...
project
* Taliesin West (contributor), Scottsdale, Arizona
*Hulda and Louise Notz House, 1940, West Mifflin, Pennsylvania
*Arthur Jeffrey House (with Peter Berndtson), 1947,
Allison Park, Pennsylvania
Allison Park is a census-designated place in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is a suburb of Pittsburgh and is located within Hampton, McCandless, Shaler, Indiana and West Deer townships. It had a population of 21,552 at the ...
*Edward Weinberger House (with Peter Berndtson), 1948, Squirrel Hill, Pennsylvania
*Joseph Katz/McComb House (with Peter Berndtson), 1950, West Mifflin, Pennsylvania
*Abraam Steinberg House (with Peter Berndtson), 1951, Squirrel Hill, Pennsylvania
*F. Esther Fineman House (with Peter Berndtson), 1952,
Stanton Heights
Stanton Heights is a neighborhood in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania's East End. It has zip codes of both 15201 and 15206, and has representation on Pittsburgh City Council by the council member for District 7 (Northeast Central Neighborhoods). Stanto ...
, Pennsylvania
*George Brayman House (with Peter Berndtson), 1953, Ben Avon Heights, Pennsylvania
*Saul Lipkind House (with Peter Berndtson),1954,
Swisshelm Park
Swisshelm Park is a neighborhood located in the southeast corner of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It is represented oPittsburgh City Councilby Corey O'Connor. Swisshelm Park houses PBF 19 Engine, and is covered by PBP Zone 4 and the Bureau of EMS Me ...