Hazen and Robinson
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Hazen and Robinson was an architecture firm that practiced in Lincoln, Nebraska, from 1947 to 1967.[1] N. Bruce Hazen and Marvin Robinson were the two principle architects and founders of the firm.[2] Together they created buildings that till this day shape the landscape of downtown Lincoln Nebraska, the Nebraska State Capitol, and the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, one of the largest universities in the American Midwest. Additionally, they did many historic home districts in Lincoln. The firms’ modernist approach to design was reflected in their design. This is most noticeable in their partnership with Philip Johnson on the Sheldon Art Gallery,[2][3] and other buildings including Kimball Recital Hall,[2][4] Westbrook Music Building[2][5][6] and Pershing Auditorium.[7]
N. Bruce Hazen was born in Peoria, Illinois on March 13, 1897, to his mother, Elisha Brewster Hazen-Agnes McGill.[8] He attended Peoria High School, and studied at Bradley Polytechnic Institute (Bradly University) from 1915-1917. He continued his education at the University of Pennsylvania until 1918, where he then joined the United States Navy to fight in World War I. He returned to Illinois in 1919 to earn a B.A. in Architecture from the University of Illinois, and graduated in 1922. While attending he was a part of the Delta Sigma Phi fraternity.[6]
Bruce Hazen began his career working as a draftsman for JW Roy Urbana III from 1919 to 1921. In 1922, Hazen began work at the Peoria-based firm Hewitt & Emerson. Hazen then moved to Lincoln, Nebraska where he worked as an architect and draftsman for Davis & Wilson.[8]
Hazen's most important work early in his career was his involvement in the Woodshire development in Lincoln, Nebraska.[9] Hazen was the most prolific architect of the Woodsshire development and has ten home designs to his credit during that time. Although his firm was later known for modernism, he designed in a variety of period revival styles, including the popular Colonial Revival.[9]
He married Sidna Nutting Smith on the 26th of June, 1937. Hazen was known to have hobbies of gardening, stamp collecting, and hunting. He retired from architecture in 1976. Bruce Hazen died on May 23, 1991.[8]
Marvin Robinson
Marvin Lee Robinson had a position on the board of directors of the Nebraska Art Association,[2] and was a former president of the Nebraska chapter of American Institute of Architects.[2] Robinson was a Lowell Palmer Fellow in Architecture at Princeton University.[2] Robinson retired from architecture in 1967,[1] and died in 1970.[10]