Robert Maynicke

Robert Maynicke (1849-1913) was an American architect. At his death, the New York Times called him "a pioneer in the building of modern loft buildings."[1]

Robert Maynicke
Robert Maynicke, c.1899
Born1849
Germany
DiedSeptember 30, 1913
Bedford Hills, New York
NationalityUnited States
OccupationArchitect
PracticeRobert Maynicke; Maynicke & Franke
Sohmer Piano Building, New York, 1897.

Life and career

Robert Maynicke was born in Germany in 1849, coming to New York with his family as an infant.[2] He attended the city's public schools, and received his initial architectural training in the Free Night School of Science and Art of the Cooper Union. After his 1869 graduation,[3] he entered the office of George B. Post, architect of many early skyscrapers. In 1871 he was Post's representative in Troy, where he supervised construction of the Troy Savings Bank Building and Music Hall. He remained in Troy until construction was completed in 1875.[4] He eventually rose to the position of Post's chief assistant, supervising all work in the office.[5]

After working in Post's office for some twenty-five years, Maynicke initiated his own practice in 1895,[6] making a specialty of commercial loft buildings. In January, 1905 he formed a partnership with the Beaux-Arts trained architect Julius Franke (1868-1936),[7] whom he had first met in the office of Post.[8] Maynicke & Franke kept their offices at 25 Madison Square South.[1] After Maynicke's death in 1913, Franke continued to practice under the name of Maynicke & Franke until his retirement in 1926.[8]

He died at his home, Cedarknoll, in Bedford Hills, New York on September 30, 1913 at the age of 69.[1][2]

The noted Cincinnati architect Rudolph Tietig worked in his office at the turn of the century.[9] For some time William H. Gompert was also a member of the office.

Architectural works

The work of Maynicke and Maynicke & Franke was extensive. In 1925, towards the end of his career, Franke stated that he had calculated that the floor area of buildings completed by Maynicke and Maynicke & Franke would be equal to the area of Lower Manhattan from the Battery to Cortlandt Street.[10]

Some important works in New York include: the Guggenheimer Building (1895), the Sohmer Piano Building (1897), the Germania Bank Building (1898, designated NYC landmark 2005),[11] the Yorkville Bank Building (1905, designated NYC landmark 2012)[12] and the Fifth Avenue Building (1909). They were also responsible for extensions to the New York Times Building (1903, designated NYC landmark 1999) and the Goelet Building (1905).

After Maynicke's death, Franke maintained the firm's specialties. In addition to continuing commercial work, Maynicke & Franke was also responsible for the design of the Heckscher Museum of Art in Huntington, New York, opened in Heckscher Park in 1920.[13] In 1921, for the same client, Franke also designed the Children's Building of the Heckscher Foundation for Children on Fifth Avenue.[14] Among other civic uses, this building now contains El Museo del Barrio.

References
  1. "Robert Maynicke," New York Times, October 1 1913.
  2. "Obituaries," American Art Annual, ed. Florence N. Levy, vol. 11 (New York: American Federation of Arts, 1914): 395.
  3. The Thirty-second Annual Report of the Trustees of the Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art (New York: Edward V. Brokaw, 1891)
  4. Diana S. Waite, The Architecture of Downtown Troy: An Illustrated History (Albany, NY: State University of New York Press, 2019): 107.
  5. "The Organization of an Architect's Office: Office of George B. Post, New York," Engineering Record 24, no. 23 (November 7 1891): 362-363.
  6. "Personal," Engineering Record 31, no. 6 (January 5 1895): 52.
  7. Engineering Record 51, no. 1 (January 7 1905): 52.
  8. Henry F. Withey and Elsie Rathburn Withey, "Franke, Julius," Biographical Dictionary of American Architects (Deceased) (Los Angeles: New Age Publishing Company, 1956): 218-219.
  9. "Rudolph Tietig," Cincinnati: The Queen City 1788-1912 (Chicago: S. J. Clarke Publishing Company): 696-698.
  10. Supreme Court: Appellate Division - First Department, Morton H. Meinhard, Plaintiff-Appellant, against Walter J. Salmon and Midpoint Realty Co., Inc., Defandants-Appellants, Case on Appeal, vol. 2 (Walton, NY: Reporter Company, 1927): 905-915.
  11. New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission, Germania Bank Building Designation Report (2005)
  12. New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission, Yorkville Bank Building Designation Report (2012)
  13. "New Museum at Huntington, Long Island," Museum Work 3, no. 3 (December 1920): 72.
  14. Real Estate Record and Builders Guide 107, no. 4 (January 22 1921): 125.


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