Vivian B. Smith (1886–1952) was an American

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 ...

from

Atlantic City, New Jersey Atlantic City, often known by its initials A.C., is a coastal resort city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States. The city is known for its casinos, boardwalk, and beaches. In 2020, the city had a population of 38,497.

Life and career

Smith was born July 8, 1886, in Ocean City, New Jersey, to Lewis S. Smith and Hannah (Holmes) Smith. After his schooling, he went to

Philadelphia Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Sinc ...

, where he worked for Charles L. Hoffman and other architects."Vivian B. Smith" in
South Jersey: A History, 1664-1924
' 3, ed. Alfred M. Heston (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1924): 220-221. In 1907, he returned to the coast to work for architect Harvey J. Shumway, an architect who had practiced in Atlantic City since 1895. After Shumway's death in December 1909, Smith opened his own office in Atlantic City in January. In 1913 he, in association with Ocean City architect Earle M. Henderer, submitted an entry in the

competition Competition is a rivalry where two or more parties strive for a common goal which cannot be shared: where one's gain is the other's loss (an example of which is a zero-sum game). Competition can arise between entities such as organisms, indivi ...

to design the new

Ocean City City Hall Ocean City City Hall is located in Ocean City, Cape May County, New Jersey, United States. The building was built in 1914 and added to the National Register of Historic Places on June 13, 1997. To celebrate its 100th anniversary, it was made the ...

, which they won. When construction began in 1914 they formed a formal partnership, Smith & Henderer, which lasted until at least 1916. The Beaux-Arts city hall would garner Smith early acclaim, and he would use images of the building in his later advertisements. Though best known for his hotels and public buildings, Smith's largest work was the designing and supervision of Belcoville in Weymouth Township in 1918. This was a planned community of five thousand people for workers of the Bethlehem Loading Company, a

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

-era munitions plant operated by

Bethlehem Steel The Bethlehem Steel Corporation was an American steelmaking company headquartered in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. For most of the 20th century, it was one of the world's largest steel producing and shipbuilding companies. At the height of its succe ...

. Smith practiced in Atlantic City for over twenty-five years, well into the Great Depression. Smith joined the

American Institute of Architects The American Institute of Architects (AIA) is a professional organization for architects in the United States. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the AIA offers education, government advocacy, community redevelopment, and public outreach to su ...

in 1921. He was the first Atlantic City architect to be a member of the organization.

Personal life

Smith was married twice, first to Ella Dawson, who died in 1919, and second to Josephine Cross. He had a son with his first wife, and two daughters with his second. Smith and his family lived in Ventnor City, New Jersey.

Death

Smith died December 5, 1952, in a hospital in

, at the age of 66."Vivian B. Smith" in ''New York Times'', December 6, 1952, 21.

Legacy

Smith's buildings were designed in the popular

revival styles An architectural style is a set of characteristics and features that make a building or other structure notable or historically identifiable. It is a sub-class of style in the visual arts generally, and most styles in architecture relate closely ...

of the day, including the Beaux-Arts, Colonial Revival, and

Gothic Revival Gothic Revival (also referred to as Victorian Gothic, neo-Gothic, or Gothick) is an architectural movement that began in the late 1740s in England. The movement gained momentum and expanded in the first half of the 19th century, as increasingly ...

styles. He also adopted more eclectic styles for some buildings, like the Spanish Colonial Revival for the Flanders Hotel and Music Pier in Ocean City or the

Venetian Gothic Venetian Gothic is the particular form of Italian Gothic architecture typical of Venice, originating in local building requirements, with some influence from Byzantine architecture, and some from Islamic architecture, reflecting Venice's trading ...

for the Freeman Building in Atlantic City. These were uncommon in the northeast, where they usually appeared at resorts. At least five buildings designed by Smith have been listed in the United States

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...

Architectural works

, 861 Asbury Ave, Ocean City, New Jersey (1914–15, NRHP 1997)Ocean City City Hall NRHP Registration Form
(1997) * Breakers Hotel, S New Jersey Ave, and Boardwalk,

(1915–16, demolished 1974) * Belcoville Fire Station, 1201 Loretta Ave, Belcoville, New Jersey (1918) * Belcoville Post Office, 1201 Madden Ave, Belcoville, New Jersey (1918, NRHP 2008)Belcoville Post Office NRHP Registration Form
(2008) * Segal Building, 1200 Atlantic Ave,

(1920, NRHP 1984)Segal Building NRHP Registration Form
(1984) * Flanders Hotel, 719 E 11th St, Ocean City, New Jersey (1922–23, NRHP 2009)Flanders Hotel NRHP Registration Form
(2009) * Freeman Building, 1516 Atlantic Ave,

(1922) * Ventnor Community Church, 5300 Ventnor Ave, Ventnor City, New Jersey (1922) * Elks Building, 124 S Virginia Ave,

(1924, demolished) * Ocean City High School, 550 Atlantic Ave, Ocean City, New Jersey (1924, demolished 2005) * Ventnor City Hall, 6201 Atlantic Ave, Ventnor City, New Jersey (1928, NRHP 1996)Ventnor City Hall NRHP Registration Form
(1996) * Ocean City Music Pier, 825 Boardwalk, Ocean City, New Jersey (1929) * The Senator, 166 S Carolina Ave,

(1930, demolished 1998) * Stanley Holmes Village, Adriatic Ave,

(1936–37)Stanley Holmes Village
Living New Deal.

Gallery of architectural works

Notes

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Smith, Vivian B. 1886 births 1952 deaths Architects from New Jersey 20th-century American architects People from Ocean City, New Jersey People from Atlantic City, New Jersey People from Ventnor City, New Jersey