Purdy and Henderson was a
New York City
New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...
-based engineering firm founded by Corydon Tyler Purdy and Lightner Henderson. They were active in the United States and Cuba between 1890 and 1944.
Purdy and Henderson was founded in
Chicago
(''City in a Garden''); I Will
, image_map =
, map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago
, coordinates =
, coordinates_footnotes =
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name ...
, and transferred their headquarters to New York City in 1896. They eventually had branch offices in
Boston
Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- mo ...
,
Seattle
Seattle ( ) is a seaport city on the West Coast of the United States. It is the seat of King County, Washington. With a 2020 population of 737,015, it is the largest city in both the state of Washington and the Pacific Northwest regio ...
, Chicago, and
Havana
Havana (; Spanish: ''La Habana'' ) is the capital and largest city of Cuba. The heart of the La Habana Province, Havana is the country's main port and commercial center. . Purdy and Henderson were a patron of the Seattle Architectural Club in 1910. Lightner Henderson died prematurely in 1916, but the firm continued to operate under the name of Purdy and Henderson well after his death. Purdy and Henderson, Engineers, collaborated with architect
H. Craig Severance on
40 Wall Street
40 Wall Street, also known as the Trump Building, is a neo-Gothic skyscraper on Wall Street between Nassau and William streets in the Financial District of Manhattan in New York City. Erected in 1929–1930 as the headquarters of the Manhat ...
, which for one month in 1930, was the tallest building in the world. The firm most likely closed at about the time of Corydon Purdy's death in 1944.
They worked on the
John B. Agen Warehouse in
Downtown Seattle
Downtown is the central business district of Seattle, Washington. It is fairly compact compared with other city centers on the U.S. West Coast due to its geographical situation, being hemmed in on the north and east by hills, on the west by ...
in 1910 and the
Royal Insurance Company Headquarters Building #2 in
Financial District, San Francisco
The Financial District is a neighborhood in San Francisco, California, United States, that serves as its main central business district and had 372,829 jobs according to U.S. census tracts as of 2012-2016. It is home to the city's largest concen ...
, among others. Purdy and Henderson designed several buildings in New York City, including
One Times Square
One Times Square (also known as 1475 Broadway, the New York Times Building, the New York Times Tower, or simply as the Times Tower) is a 25-story, skyscraper on Times Square in the Midtown Manhattan neighborhood of New York City. Designed by ...
,
Macy's Herald Square
Macy's Herald Square (originally named the R. H. Macy and Company Store) is the Flagship#Retailing, flagship of Macy's department store, as well as the Macy's, Inc. corporate headquarters, on Herald Square in Manhattan, New York City. The buildi ...
, and the
Flatiron Building
The Flatiron Building, originally the Fuller Building, is a triangular 22-story, steel-framed landmarked building at 175 Fifth Avenue in the eponymous Flatiron District neighborhood of the Boroughs of New York City, borough of Manhattan in New ...
.
Corydon Tyler Purdy
Professional history
![Corydon Tyler Purdy](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4f/Corydon_Tyler_Purdy.png)
Purdy had been a draftsman and surveyor's assistant in Chicago, Milwaukee and Saint Paul and in Chicago, IL, in the early 1880s. Purdy specialized in bridge design and applied these skills to skyscrapers. He worked as a structural engineer on the thirteen story steel frame of the Tacoma Building, Chicago, IL, (
Holabird and Roche, Architects). Purdy and Henderson opened a New York City office in 1894 and moved its operations there by 1896. The New York City office designed the structure for the
Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York, NY. (
Schultze and Weaver, Architects, 1893-1897). In 1899, Purdy supervised the start-up of a New York office for his friend,
George A. Fuller
George A. Fuller (1851 – December 14, 1900) was an American architect often credited as being the "inventor" of modern skyscrapers and the modern contracting system.
Early life and career
Fuller was born in Templeton, Massachusetts, near W ...
(1851-1900). (Purdy maintained a professional relationship with the
Fuller Company
George A. Fuller (1851 – December 14, 1900) was an American architect often credited as being the "inventor" of modern skyscrapers and the modern contracting system.
Early life and career
Fuller was born in Templeton, Massachusetts, near Wo ...
.) By 1900, Purdy and Henderson had obtained consulting work in Havana, Cuba and produced important buildings there including
El Capitolio
El Capitolio, or the National Capitol Building (''Capitolio Nacional de La Habana''), is a public edifice in Havana, the capital of Cuba. The building was commissioned by Cuban president Gerardo Machado and built from 1926 to 1929 under the d ...
and the
Hotel Nacional
"Hotel Nacional" ("National Hotel") is a song by Cuban-American recording artist Gloria Estefan. It was released as the second single from her studio album '' Miss Little Havana'' (2011). Written by Estefan, the song portrays the need to dance, g ...
. By 1910, the office had in addition to its New York office, four branches including Havana, Cuba, Boston, MA, Chicago, IL, and Seattle, WA. During the Depression, Purdy and Henderson were involved in a race to build the world's tallest building, an American structure taller than the Eiffel Tower.
Purdy and Henderson closed after Purdy's death.
Purdy was a member, American Society of Civil Engineers; Member, Institute of Civil Engineers of Great Britain; Member, Western Society of Engineers; Member, Engineers' Club of New York; Member, University of Wisconsin Alumni Club of New York; Member, Arctic Club, Seattle, WA; He won the Telford Premium Medal, Institute of Civil Engineers, London, 1909.
Writings
Purdy was a writer and spoke at national events for professional groups like the Boston Society of Engineers. He gave keynote speeches and educational lectures at his alma mater (UW), Cornell University, and other schools of engineering study. Said Purdy:
Representative of Purdy's published writings are the following:
*"The Steel Skeleton Type of High Building" (''Engineering News'', 1891)
*"The Steel Construction of Buildings" (''Bulletin of the University of Wisconsin'', 1894)
*"The Use of Steel in Large Buildings" (''Engineering Record'', 1895)
*"Can Buildings Be Made Fireproof?" (''Transactions of the American Society of Civil Engineers'', 1898)
*"The Relation of the Engineer to the Architect" (''Proceedings of the American Institute of Architects'', 1904)
*"The New York Times Building" (''Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers'', 1909)
Lightner Henderson
Professional history
![Lightner Henderson](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3d/Lightner_Henderson.png)
Henderson worked in 1890 for an engineering firm in Cleveland, OH. Purdy and Henderson incorporated in 1901. After incorporation, Henderson became the President of the corporation from 1901-1915. Purdy and Henderson worked on several buildings on the Eastern US, and on projects in San Francisco, CA, and Seattle, WA. In about 1900, Purdy and Henderson had offices in New York City, Boston, MA, Chicago, IL, Havana, Cuba and Seattle, WA.
Henderson was a member of Western Society of Engineers, 1891-1916.
Education
Henderson attended the State Normal School in Millersville, PA. He obtained his B.S. in Civil Engineering from Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA, in 1889.
An obituary by Corydon Purdy stated of Henderson:
Selected commissions
![One Times Square under construction 1903](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c4/One_Times_Square_under_construction_1903.jpg)
* 1902:
Flatiron Building
The Flatiron Building, originally the Fuller Building, is a triangular 22-story, steel-framed landmarked building at 175 Fifth Avenue in the eponymous Flatiron District neighborhood of the Boroughs of New York City, borough of Manhattan in New ...
, New York, NY
* 1904:
The Bellevue-Stratford Hotel
The Bellevue-Stratford Hotel is a landmark building at 200 S. Broad Street at the corner of Walnut Street in Center City Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Constructed in 1904 and expanded to its present size in 1912, it has continued as a well-known ...
Philadelphia, PA
* 1907:
Macy's Herald Square
Macy's Herald Square (originally named the R. H. Macy and Company Store) is the Flagship#Retailing, flagship of Macy's department store, as well as the Macy's, Inc. corporate headquarters, on Herald Square in Manhattan, New York City. The buildi ...
New York, NY
* 1911:
Metropolitan Life Insurance Company Tower
The Metropolitan Life Insurance Company Tower (colloquially known as the Met Life Tower and also as the South Building) is a skyscraper occupying a full block in the Flatiron District of Manhattan in New York City. The building is composed of ...
, New York, NY
* 1919:
Royal Bank of Canada Building, Havana, Cuba
* 1926:
El Capitolio
El Capitolio, or the National Capitol Building (''Capitolio Nacional de La Habana''), is a public edifice in Havana, the capital of Cuba. The building was commissioned by Cuban president Gerardo Machado and built from 1926 to 1929 under the d ...
, Havana, Cuba
* 1930:
40 Wall Street
40 Wall Street, also known as the Trump Building, is a neo-Gothic skyscraper on Wall Street between Nassau and William streets in the Financial District of Manhattan in New York City. Erected in 1929–1930 as the headquarters of the Manhat ...
, New York, NY
* 1930:
Hotel Nacional de Cuba
The Hotel Nacional de Cuba is a historic Spanish eclectic style hotel in Havana, Cuba, opened in 1930. Located on the sea front of Vedado district, it stands on Taganana Hill, offering commanding views of the sea and the city.
History
Design ...
, Havana.
* 1931:
Starrett-Lehigh Building, New York, NY
* 1947:
Radiocentro CMQ Building
The Radiocentro CMQ Building complex is a former radio and television production facility and office building at the intersection of Calle L and La Rampa in El Vedado, Cuba. It was modeled after Raymond Hood's 1933 Rockefeller Center in New York ...
, Havana, Cuba
Gallery
File:Flatiron Building Construction, New York Times - Library of Congress, 1901-1902 crop.JPG, Flatiron Building
The Flatiron Building, originally the Fuller Building, is a triangular 22-story, steel-framed landmarked building at 175 Fifth Avenue in the eponymous Flatiron District neighborhood of the Boroughs of New York City, borough of Manhattan in New ...
construction, New York City, 1902
File:BellevueStratford.jpg, Bellevue-Stratford Hotel
The Bellevue-Stratford Hotel is a landmark building at 200 S. Broad Street at the corner of Walnut Street in Center City Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Constructed in 1904 and expanded to its present size in 1912, it has continued as a well-known ...
. Philadelphia, PA, 1902
File:Lonja del Comercio de La Habana 1920.jpg, Lonja del Comercio building, Havana, Cuba, 1909
File:Hotel Plaza- Havana.JPG, Plaza Hotel
The Plaza Hotel (also known as The Plaza) is a luxury hotel and condominium apartment building in Midtown Manhattan in New York City. It is located on the western side of Grand Army Plaza, after which it is named, just west of Fifth Avenue, a ...
, Havana, Cuba, 1909
File:Metropolitan Life Insurance Company Tower at Night with Fog.jpg, Metropolitan Life Insurance Company Tower
The Metropolitan Life Insurance Company Tower (colloquially known as the Met Life Tower and also as the South Building) is a skyscraper occupying a full block in the Flatiron District of Manhattan in New York City. The building is composed of ...
, New York, NY, 1911
File:The Great Theatre of Havana (Gran Teatro de La Habana).jpg, Centro Gallego, Havana, Cuba, 1915
File:Royal Bank of Canada Building, Havana.jpg, Royal Bank of Canada Building, Havana, Cuba, 1919
File:El Capitolio Havana Cuba.jpg, El Capitolio
El Capitolio, or the National Capitol Building (''Capitolio Nacional de La Habana''), is a public edifice in Havana, the capital of Cuba. The building was commissioned by Cuban president Gerardo Machado and built from 1926 to 1929 under the d ...
, Havana, Cuba, 1926
File:Centro Asturiano, Havana.jpg, El Centro Asturiano, Havana, Cuba, 1927
File:The Hotel Nacional, Havana, Cuba LCCN2010638840.tif, Hotel Natcional, Havana, Cuba, 1930
File:40 Wall Street.jpg, 40 Wall Street
40 Wall Street, also known as the Trump Building, is a neo-Gothic skyscraper on Wall Street between Nassau and William streets in the Financial District of Manhattan in New York City. Erected in 1929–1930 as the headquarters of the Manhat ...
, New York, NY, 1930
File:Starrett-Lehigh Building, 601 West 26th Street, Manhattan (NYPL b13668355-482660).jpg, Starrett-Lehigh Building, New York, NY, 1931
File:Cine_Yara.jpg, Radiocentro CMQ Building
The Radiocentro CMQ Building complex is a former radio and television production facility and office building at the intersection of Calle L and La Rampa in El Vedado, Cuba. It was modeled after Raymond Hood's 1933 Rockefeller Center in New York ...
, Havana, Cuba, 1947
References
{{Authority control
1890s establishments in Illinois
1940s disestablishments in New York (state)
Construction and civil engineering companies of the United States