The Gateway Arch in St. Louis stands as a definitive testament to the modernist structural ambitions of Eero Saarinen. Born in Kirkkonummi, Finland, in 1910, Saarinen navigated a career defined by the intersection of industrial design and monumental architecture, ultimately leaving a substantial mark on the mid-century American landscape before his death in Ann Arbor in 1961.
Formative Years and Education
Moving to the United States in 1923, Saarinen integrated into a family life deeply rooted in professional design. He pursued formal training in sculpture at the Académie de la Grande Chaumière in Paris before enrolling at the Yale School of Architecture. Upon completing his studies in 1934, he engaged in international travel and served in the Office of Strategic Services, eventually settling into the professional practice of his father, Eliel Saarinen, in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.
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Saarinen gained early attention for furniture collaborations, most notably with Charles Eames, which led to high-profile production deals with the Knoll company. His design repertoire spanned from the residential scale to large-scale corporate environments. As he established his own office, Eero Saarinen and Associates, his methodology shifted toward a more expressive, catenary-curve-driven approach. His portfolio included the CBS Building, the Ingalls Rink at Yale University, and various academic facilities at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Corporate and Civic Contributions
The firm secured major corporate commissions that mirrored the expansion of post-war American industry, including the IBM Thomas J. Watson Research Center and the General Motors Technical Center. His civic footprint was equally profound, seen in the design of the main terminal at Washington Dulles International Airport and the TWA Flight Center at John F. Kennedy International Airport. Saarinen also played a critical role as a juror, famously advocating for the selection of Jørn Utzon’s design for the Sydney Opera House.
Fast facts
- Born: 1910, Kirkkonummi
- Died: 1961, Ann Arbor
- Citizenship: United States, Finland
- Education: Yale School of Architecture, Académie de la Grande Chaumière
- Notable Works: Gateway Arch, CBS Building, Ingalls Rink
- Awards: AIA Gold Medal, Fellow of the American Institute of Architects
- Memberships: American Academy of Arts and Letters, Bavarian Academy of Fine Arts
- Burial: White Chapel Memorial Cemetery
Questions readers ask
What major airport terminals did Eero Saarinen design?
He is responsible for the design of the TWA Flight Center at John F. Kennedy International Airport and the Main Terminal at Washington Dulles International Airport.
Which professional awards did Eero Saarinen receive?
He was named a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects and was a recipient of the AIA Gold Medal.
Achievements
- Notable work: Ingalls Rink
- Notable work: CBS Building
- Notable work: Gateway Arch
- Affiliated with Office of Strategic Services
- Educated at Académie de la Grande Chaumière, Yale School of Architecture and Yale University
- Worked as architect and designer