Atlee Ayres
Encyclopedia
Atlee B. Ayres was a major regional architect
of the early to mid-20th century in central Texas
.
, on July 12, 1873, the son of Nathan Tandy and Mary Parsons Ayres. The family moved to Texas, lived in Houston, and then moved to San Antonio in 1888, where Ayres' father managed the Alamo Flats luxury apartment hotel for many years. In 1890, Ayres went to New York to study at the Metropolitan School of Architecture, a subsidiary of Columbia University
. There, he won first prize in the school's annual design competition. His teachers included William Ware
, a student of Richard Morris Hunt
. Ayres took drawing lessons at the Art Students League at night and studied painting under Frank Vincent Dumont. Upon his graduation in 1894, he returned to San Antonio and worked for various architects. He subsequently moved to Mexico, where he practiced until 1900. That year he moved back to San Antonio and began a partnership with Charles A. Coughlin that lasted until Coughlin's death in 1905. Early in his career in San Antonio, Ayres designed the Halff house (1908) and a villa for Col. George W. Brackenridge that was later was torn down.
In 1915, Ayres was made the state architect of Texas, and in 1924, he created a new partnership with his son, Robert M. Ayres. Many of the firm's works, including the Hogg house (1924), the Mannen house (1926), the Newton house (1927), and the Atkinson house (1928), which is now known as the Marion Koogler McNay
Art Museum, were designed in the tradition of Spanish Colonial Revival style architecture
, and are found throughout San Antonio and the surrounding area. The firm was also adept in using other revival modes, including the Colonial Revival of the H. Lutcher Brown residence (1936) and the English Tudor of the Jesse Oppenheimer residence (1924).
Other commissions include the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired
, the Texas State Office Building, the Carothers Dormitory, and the original Pharmacy Building at the University of Texas at Austin
. Ayres drew plans for courthouses in Kingsville
, Alice
, Refugio
, Del Rio
, and Brownsville
, and designed the thirty-story Smith-Young Tower
(1929), the Plaza Hotel (1927), and the Federal Reserve Bank Building (1928). His firm helped design the exterior of the San Antonio Municipal Auditorium (1923) and the Administration Building at Randolph Air Force Base
(1931), often referred to as the "Taj Mahal," and remodeled the historic Menger Hotel
(1949–53).
and was one of a group of architects instrumental in securing passage of state legislation in 1937 for the licensing of architects to practice. He married Olive Moss Cox in San Antonio in 1896, and the couple had two sons. After Mrs. Ayres's death in 1937, he married Katherine Cox in 1940. Ayres was still practicing architecture when he died at the age of ninety-six on November 6, 1969, in San Antonio. He was buried in Mission Burial Park in San Antonio.
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
of the early to mid-20th century in central Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
.
History
Atlee Bernard Ayres was born in Hillsboro, OhioHillsboro, Ohio
Hillsboro is a city in and the county seat of Highland County, Ohio, United States. The population was 6,605 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Hillsboro is located at ....
, on July 12, 1873, the son of Nathan Tandy and Mary Parsons Ayres. The family moved to Texas, lived in Houston, and then moved to San Antonio in 1888, where Ayres' father managed the Alamo Flats luxury apartment hotel for many years. In 1890, Ayres went to New York to study at the Metropolitan School of Architecture, a subsidiary of Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
. There, he won first prize in the school's annual design competition. His teachers included William Ware
William Ware
William Ware was an American romancer, born at Hingham, Mass. He graduated at Harvard , studied for the Unitarian ministry, and preached mainly in New York, and later in Massachusetts....
, a student of Richard Morris Hunt
Richard Morris Hunt
Richard Morris Hunt was an American architect of the nineteenth century and a preeminent figure in the history of American architecture...
. Ayres took drawing lessons at the Art Students League at night and studied painting under Frank Vincent Dumont. Upon his graduation in 1894, he returned to San Antonio and worked for various architects. He subsequently moved to Mexico, where he practiced until 1900. That year he moved back to San Antonio and began a partnership with Charles A. Coughlin that lasted until Coughlin's death in 1905. Early in his career in San Antonio, Ayres designed the Halff house (1908) and a villa for Col. George W. Brackenridge that was later was torn down.
In 1915, Ayres was made the state architect of Texas, and in 1924, he created a new partnership with his son, Robert M. Ayres. Many of the firm's works, including the Hogg house (1924), the Mannen house (1926), the Newton house (1927), and the Atkinson house (1928), which is now known as the Marion Koogler McNay
Marion Koogler McNay
Marion Koogler McNay , was an American painter and art teacher who inherited a substantial oil fortune upon the death of her father. She later willed her fortune to be used to establish San Antonio's first museum of modern art, which today bears her name.- Early life :Marion was born in Ohio to...
Art Museum, were designed in the tradition of Spanish Colonial Revival style architecture
Spanish Colonial Revival Style architecture
The Spanish Colonial Revival Style was a United States architectural stylistic movement that came about in the early 20th century, starting in California and Florida as a regional expression related to history, environment, and nostalgia...
, and are found throughout San Antonio and the surrounding area. The firm was also adept in using other revival modes, including the Colonial Revival of the H. Lutcher Brown residence (1936) and the English Tudor of the Jesse Oppenheimer residence (1924).
Other commissions include the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired
Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired
The Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired is a Texas special public school, in the continuum of statewide placements for students who have a visual impairment. It is considered a statewide resource to parents of these children and professionals who serve them...
, the Texas State Office Building, the Carothers Dormitory, and the original Pharmacy Building at the University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
. Ayres drew plans for courthouses in Kingsville
Kingsville, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 25,575 people, 8,943 households, and 6,134 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,848.8 people per square mile . There were 10,427 housing units at an average density of 753.8 per square mile...
, Alice
Alice, Texas
At the 2000 census, there were 19,010 people, 6,400 households and 4,915 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,597.4 per square mile . There were 6,998 housing units at an average density of 588.0 per square mile...
, Refugio
Refugio, Texas
Refugio is a town in Refugio County, Texas, United States. The population was 2,941 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Refugio County. Although the town's name is derived from Spanish, a vast majority of the town's residents pronounce it re-fury-oh. The Spanish pronunciation is...
, Del Rio
Del Rio, Texas
Del Rio is a border city in and the county seat of Val Verde County, Texas, United States.. Del Rio is connected with Ciudad Acuña via the Lake Amistad Dam International Crossing and Del Río-Ciudad Acuña International Bridge...
, and Brownsville
Brownsville, Texas
Brownsville is a city in the southernmost tip of the state of Texas, in the United States. It is located on the northern bank of the Rio Grande, directly north and across the border from Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico. Brownsville is the 16th largest city in the state of Texas with a population of...
, and designed the thirty-story Smith-Young Tower
Tower Life Building (San Antonio)
The Tower Life Building is a landmark and historic building in San Antonio, Texas.Construction of the tower began in 1927 and the building rises 403 feet and has 30 floors. The building, which opened in 1929 was originally named the Smith-Young Tower and is the central component of a partially...
(1929), the Plaza Hotel (1927), and the Federal Reserve Bank Building (1928). His firm helped design the exterior of the San Antonio Municipal Auditorium (1923) and the Administration Building at Randolph Air Force Base
Randolph Air Force Base
Randolph Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located east-northeast of San Antonio, Texas. The base is under the jurisdiction of the 902d Mission Support Group, Air Education and Training Command ....
(1931), often referred to as the "Taj Mahal," and remodeled the historic Menger Hotel
Menger Hotel
The Menger Hotel is a historic hotel located in downtown San Antonio, Texas.-History:The hotel was built beginning in 1858 by German immigrant William Menger, as an expansion of his boarding house business and adjunct to his brewery...
(1949–53).
Personal life
Ayres was the author of Mexican Architecture (1926), and often made trips to Mexico to gain further inspiration. He was a charter member of the Texas Society of ArchitectsTexas Society of Architects
The Texas Society of Architects is an organization based in Austin, Texas, that represents 74,000 architects in Texas that are members of the American Institute of Architects....
and was one of a group of architects instrumental in securing passage of state legislation in 1937 for the licensing of architects to practice. He married Olive Moss Cox in San Antonio in 1896, and the couple had two sons. After Mrs. Ayres's death in 1937, he married Katherine Cox in 1940. Ayres was still practicing architecture when he died at the age of ninety-six on November 6, 1969, in San Antonio. He was buried in Mission Burial Park in San Antonio.