Battery M of the 1st Illinois Light Artillery Regiment counted a private named Dankmar Adler among its ranks during the Chattanooga and Atlanta Campaigns of the American Civil War. This military service preceded a career in Chicago that would establish him as a central figure in the development of American skyscraper construction and the Chicago school of architecture.
Early Development and War Service
Born in 1844 in Stadtlengsfeld, Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach, Adler emigrated to the United States in 1854 with his father, Liebman Adler. After residing in Detroit and Ann Arbor, he eventually relocated to Chicago. His formal schooling ended early when he began training as a draftsman. Following his enlistment in the Union Army during the Civil War, he contributed engineering expertise to military campaigns before returning to civilian life to pursue architectural practice in Chicago.
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Adler initially worked with firms led by Augustus Bauer and Ozias S. Kinney. In 1871, he entered a productive partnership with Edward Burling, which resulted in the completion of over 100 buildings. This experience proved vital for the city, as he played an instrumental role in the reconstruction efforts necessitated by the Great Chicago Fire. In 1880, he hired Louis Sullivan as a designer, elevating him to a full partnership three years later.
The Adler and Sullivan Era
The fifteen-year collaboration between Adler and Sullivan produced several landmark structures that utilized steel skeleton frames. Notable projects include the 1891 Wainwright Building in St. Louis, the 1894 Chicago Stock Exchange, and the 1896 Guaranty Building in Buffalo. Their work on the 1889 Auditorium Building and the Kehilath Anshe Ma'ariv Synagogue highlighted Adler’s skill in acoustical engineering, a specialty he refined following his earlier design of the Central Music Hall.
Final Years and Legacy
The financial instability caused by the Panic of 1893, combined with Adler's intention to integrate his sons into his professional practice, led to the dissolution of his partnership with Sullivan. Though he transitioned briefly into the elevator industry as a salesman and engineer, he eventually returned to architecture to work with his sons. His final major project was Temple Isaiah. Adler died in 1900 in Chicago and was interred at Zion Gardens.
Fast facts
- Born: 1844, Stadtlengsfeld, Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach
- Died: 1900, Chicago
- Occupations: Architect, Civil Engineer
- Military Service: Private, 1st Illinois Light Artillery Regiment
- Notable Partner: Louis Sullivan
- Marriage: Dila Kohn, June 25, 1872
- Burial: Zion Gardens
- Key Works: Auditorium Building, Wainwright Building, Guaranty Building
Questions readers ask
What was Dankmar Adler's role in the Chicago school of architecture?
He was a pioneering leader who helped refine the use of steel skeleton frames in high-rise construction.
Did Adler mentor any famous architects?
Yes, Adler and Sullivan were early employers and mentors of Frank Lloyd Wright.
Achievements
- Worked as architect and engineer
