William Henry Kessler

William Henry Kessler (December 15, 1924 – November 16, 2002) was an American Modernist Architect.

William Henry Kessler
Born(1924-12-15)December 15, 1924
Reading, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedNovember 16, 2002(2002-11-16) (aged 77)
Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan, U.S.
Alma materChicago Institute of Design; Harvard University
OccupationArchitect
Spouse(s)
Margot Walbrecker
​
​
(m. 1946; died 2002)​
Children2, Chevonne Kessler Patten and Tamara Kessler Checkley
Buildings

Biography

Early life and education

William Kessler was born in 1924 in Reading, Pennsylvania.[1][2][3] His father, Fred H. Kessler, established the Lumberman's Merchandising Corporation (LMC) as a cooperative lumber company consortium in the mid-1930s. William Kessler attended the Chicago Institute of Design, graduating with a BA in architecture in 1948. He continued his studies with Walter Gropius at Harvard University.

Career, family and later life

After graduation, he was recruited by Minoru Yamasaki.[3] and came to Michigan to work at Yamasaki's firm.[1][2][3] After working there for some time, Kessler and fellow architect Phil Meathe departed to form their own firm, Meathe, Kessler and Associates. In 1959, Kessler designed William and Margot Kessler House for himself, his wife Margot, and his family; he constructed it for a total cost of $30,000.[1]

Meathe, Kessler and Associates was dissolved in 1968, and Kessler established his own eponymous firm, while Meathe joined Smith, Hinchman and Grylls, eventually becoming president of the firm. Kessler's firm worked on a variety of single family houses, public housing, college and university buildings, and hospitals. William Kessler died in 2002.[1]

References
  1. "William and Margot Kessler House". Michigan State Historic Preservation Office. Retrieved March 21, 2020.
  2. "William Kessler". Michigan State Historic Preservation Office. Retrieved March 21, 2020.
  3. "Kessler, William and Margot (Walbrecker), House". National Park Service. Retrieved March 21, 2020.
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