Success is that old ABC – ability, breaks, and courage.
Charles Luckman Quotes
Showing all quotes
| Birth: | 16th May, 1909 |
| Death: | 29th January, 1999 |
| Nationality: | American |
| Profession: | Architect, Businessman |
About
Charles Luckman born May 16, 1909, Kansas City.
Luckman had always wanted to be an architect. As a nine-year-old paper boy outside the Muehlebach Hotel in Kansas City, he asked a customer about the pretty lights and was told they were called "chandeliers." Then he asked, "Who does... Who decides on things like that?" "An architect," came the reply. "He designs the hotel and says to put the chandeliers there." Luckman wrote in his memoir, "Right then and there I decided to become an architect."
He trained at the University of Illinois where he was a member of the Professional Engineering Fraternity Theta Tau, and the Social Fraternity Chi Psi but went into sales after graduating during the depths of the Great Depression. After almost twenty years of great success in business, he helped plan Lever Brothers' New York skyscraper, Lever House, one of the first sealed glass towers that began the curtain wall trend. The complex, designed by Gordon Bunshaft of Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill, was innovative in several other ways, as well, including a rare public plaza at ground level.
Reminded of his architectural roots, Luckman resigned the presidency of Lever Brothers, moved to Los Angeles and began practicing architecture with fellow University of Illinois graduate William Pereira c1950 as Pereira & Luckman. Their partnership led to works such as CBS Television City, but the two went separate ways in 1959. Luckman's firm went on to design the Prudential Tower in Boston, the new Madison Square Garden in New York City, Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Aon Center in Los Angeles, and the NASA Manned Spacecraft Center in Houston.
Charles Luckman died at January 26, 1999, Los Angeles.
Related Authors
Advertisement
Today's Anniversary - 24th May
Share with your friends