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{{short description|American architect (1849–1913)}}
'''Robert Maynicke''' (d. September 30, 1913) was an American [[architect]]. The ''New York Times'' called him "a pioneer in the building of modern loft buildings."
{{Infobox architect
|name = Robert Maynicke
|image = File:Robert Maynicke, architect.jpg
|image_size =
|caption = Robert Maynicke, c.1899
|nationality = American
|birth_date = 1849
|birth_place = [[Germany]]
|death_date = September 30, 1913
|death_place = [[Bedford Hills, New York]]
|practice = Robert Maynicke; Maynicke & Franke
|significant_buildings=
|significant_projects =
|significant_design =
|awards = [[Fellow of the American Institute of Architects]] (1910)
}}
[[File:Sohmer Piano Building Front.JPG|right|thumb|The [[Sohmer Piano Building]] in [[New York City]], completed in 1897.]]
[[File:Flatiron District td 48 - Toy Center.jpg|thumb|The [[Fifth Avenue Building]] in [[New York City]], completed in 1909.]]
[[File:Heckscher Museum of Art 1.jpg|thumb|The [[Heckscher Museum of Art]] in [[Huntington, New York]], completed in 1920.]]


'''Robert Maynicke''' {{post-nominals|list=[[FAIA]]}} (1849–1913) was an American [[architect]]. At his death, the ''New York Times'' called him "a pioneer in the building of modern loft buildings."<ref name="NYTimes">"[https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1913/10/01/100408344.pdf Robert Maynicke]," ''New York Times'', October 1, 1913.</ref>
Maynicke was born in [[Germany]] and trained at [[Cooper Union]]. He was a partner in the firm Maynicke & Franke, whose offices were at 25 [[Madison Square Park|Madison Square South]] in [[New York City]]. He died at his home in [[Bedford Hills, New York]], called Cedarknoll, at the age of 69.


==Life and career==
Among the most notable New York City buildings designed by him or his firm are the Guggenheimer Building on [[Waverly Place]], the [[Fifth Avenue Hotel|International Toy Center]] and [[Sohmer Piano Building]] on [[Fifth Avenue]], and the [[Equitable Building (New York City 1870)|Equitable Building]], which burned down in 1912.
Robert Maynicke was born in [[Germany]] in 1849, coming to New York with his family as an infant.<ref name="AAA">"Obituaries," ''American Art Annual'', ed. Florence N. Levy, vol. 11 (New York: American Federation of Arts, 1914): 395.</ref> 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,<ref>''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)</ref> he entered the office of [[George B. Post]], architect of many early skyscrapers. In 1871 he was Post's representative in [[Troy, New York|Troy]], where he supervised construction of the [[Troy Savings Bank Music Hall|Troy Savings Bank Building and Music Hall]]. He remained in Troy until construction was completed in 1875.<ref>Diana S. Waite, ''The Architecture of Downtown Troy: An Illustrated History'' (Albany, NY: State University of New York Press, 2019): 107.</ref> He eventually rose to the position of Post's chief assistant, supervising all work in the office.<ref>"The Organization of an Architect's Office: Office of George B. Post, New York," ''Engineering Record'' 24, no. 23 (November 7, 1891): 362-363.</ref>


After working in Post's office for some twenty-five years, Maynicke initiated his own practice in 1895,<ref>"Personal," ''Engineering Record'' 31, no. 6 (January 5, 1895): 52.</ref> making a specialty of commercial loft buildings. In January, 1905 he formed a partnership with the Beaux-Arts trained architect Julius Franke (1868-1936),<ref>''Engineering Record'' 51, no. 1 (January 7, 1905): 52.</ref> whom he had first met in the office of Post.<ref name="Franke">Henry F. Withey and Elsie Rathburn Withey, "Franke, Julius," ''Biographical Dictionary of American Architects (Deceased)'' (Los Angeles: New Age Publishing Company, 1956): 218-219.</ref> Maynicke & Franke kept their offices at 25 [[Madison Square Park|Madison Square South]].<ref name="NYTimes"/> After Maynicke's death in 1913, Franke continued to practice under the name of Maynicke & Franke until his retirement in 1926.<ref name="Franke"/>
Maynicke & Franke worked on the [[41 Park Row|New York Times Building]] on Park Row with [[George B. Post|George Post]], and [[Broadway (New York City)|Broadway]]'s [[Goelet Building]] with [[McKim Mead & White]].

Both Maynicke and Franke joined the [[American Institute of Architects]] in 1908, and Maynicke was elected a [[Fellow of the American Institute of Architects|fellow]] in 1910.<ref>"[https://aiahistoricaldirectory.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/AHDAA/pages/35752929/ahd1028981 Robert D. Maynicke]," AIA Historical Directory of American Architects, no date. Accessed March 18, 2023.</ref>

He died at his home, Cedarknoll, in [[Bedford Hills, New York]] on September 30, 1913, at the age of 69.<ref name="NYTimes"/><ref name="AAA"/>

The noted Cincinnati architect [[Rudolph Tietig]] worked in his office at the turn of the century.<ref>"Rudolph Tietig," ''Cincinnati: The Queen City 1788-1912'' (Chicago: S. J. Clarke Publishing Company): 696-698.</ref> 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.<ref>Supreme Court: Appellate Division - First Department, ''Morton H. Meinhard, Plaintiff-Appellant, against Walter J. Salmon and Midpoint Realty Co., Inc., Defendants-Appellants, Case on Appeal'', vol. 2 (Walton, NY: Reporter Company, 1927): 905-915.</ref>

Some important works in New York include: the Guggenheimer Building (1895), the [[Sohmer Piano Building]] (1897), the [[Germania Bank Building (New York City)|Germania Bank Building]] (1898, designated NYC landmark 2005),<ref>New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission, Germania Bank Building Designation Report (2005)</ref> the [[Yorkville Bank Building]] (1905, designated NYC landmark 2012)<ref>New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission, Yorkville Bank Building Designation Report (2012)</ref> and the [[Toy Center|Fifth Avenue Building]] (1909). They were also responsible for extensions to the [[41 Park Row|New York Times Building]] (1903, designated NYC landmark 1999) and the [[900 Broadway|Goelet Building]] (1905). Outside of New York City, Maynicke was responsible for the building of the First National Bank of [[Key West, Florida]], completed in 1897.<ref>''American Architect and Building News'' 52, no. 1061 (April 25, 1896): viii.</ref>

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.<ref>"New Museum at Huntington, Long Island," ''Museum Work'' 3, no. 3 (December 1920): 72.</ref> In 1921, for the same client, Franke also designed the Children's Building of the [[The Heckscher Foundation for Children|Heckscher Foundation for Children]] on Fifth Avenue.<ref>''Real Estate Record and Builders Guide'' 107, no. 4 (January 22, 1921): 125.</ref> Among other civic uses, this building now contains [[El Museo del Barrio]].


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
*[http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9801E4D7163DE633A25752C0A9669D946296D6CF "Robert Maynicke"], ''[[New York Times]]'', October 13, 1913.
*[http://www.emporis.com/en/cd/cm/?id=115138 "Robert Maynicke"] on Emporis


==External links==
{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
{{Commons category|Robert Maynicke}}
| NAME = Maynicke, Robert
*[https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1913/10/01/100408344.pdf "Robert Maynicke"], ''[[New York Times]]'', October 13, 1913.
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20040620173151/http://www.emporis.com/en/cd/cm/?id=115138 "Robert Maynicke"] on Emporis
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = American architect
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20190516220820/https://www.emporis.com/companies/101764/maynicke-franke-new-york-city-ny-usa "Maynicke & Franke"] on Emporis
| DATE OF BIRTH =
| PLACE OF BIRTH =
| DATE OF DEATH = September 30, 1913
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Maynicke, Robert}}
[[Category:1913 deaths]]
[[Category:American architects]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing]]


{{authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Maynicke, Robert}}
{{US-architect-stub}}
[[Category:1849 births]]
[[Category:1913 deaths]]
[[Category:Architects from New York City]]
[[Category:People from Bedford Hills, New York]]
[[Category:Fellows of the American Institute of Architects]]

Latest revision as of 00:39, 4 August 2023

Robert Maynicke
Robert Maynicke, c.1899
Born1849
DiedSeptember 30, 1913
NationalityAmerican
OccupationArchitect
AwardsFellow of the American Institute of Architects (1910)
PracticeRobert Maynicke; Maynicke & Franke
The Sohmer Piano Building in New York City, completed in 1897.
The Fifth Avenue Building in New York City, completed in 1909.
The Heckscher Museum of Art in Huntington, New York, completed in 1920.

Robert Maynicke FAIA (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]

Life and career[edit]

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]

Both Maynicke and Franke joined the American Institute of Architects in 1908, and Maynicke was elected a fellow in 1910.[9]

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.[10] For some time William H. Gompert was also a member of the office.

Architectural works[edit]

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.[11]

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),[12] the Yorkville Bank Building (1905, designated NYC landmark 2012)[13] 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). Outside of New York City, Maynicke was responsible for the building of the First National Bank of Key West, Florida, completed in 1897.[14]

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.[15] In 1921, for the same client, Franke also designed the Children's Building of the Heckscher Foundation for Children on Fifth Avenue.[16] Among other civic uses, this building now contains El Museo del Barrio.

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c "Robert Maynicke," New York Times, October 1, 1913.
  2. ^ a b "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. ^ a b 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. ^ "Robert D. Maynicke," AIA Historical Directory of American Architects, no date. Accessed March 18, 2023.
  10. ^ "Rudolph Tietig," Cincinnati: The Queen City 1788-1912 (Chicago: S. J. Clarke Publishing Company): 696-698.
  11. ^ Supreme Court: Appellate Division - First Department, Morton H. Meinhard, Plaintiff-Appellant, against Walter J. Salmon and Midpoint Realty Co., Inc., Defendants-Appellants, Case on Appeal, vol. 2 (Walton, NY: Reporter Company, 1927): 905-915.
  12. ^ New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission, Germania Bank Building Designation Report (2005)
  13. ^ New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission, Yorkville Bank Building Designation Report (2012)
  14. ^ American Architect and Building News 52, no. 1061 (April 25, 1896): viii.
  15. ^ "New Museum at Huntington, Long Island," Museum Work 3, no. 3 (December 1920): 72.
  16. ^ Real Estate Record and Builders Guide 107, no. 4 (January 22, 1921): 125.

External links[edit]