The Chrysler Building rises 1,046 feet above New York City as a testament to the competition for height that defined the late 1920s. William Van Alen, the architect responsible for this structure, spent his career navigating the transition from traditional influences to modernism, ultimately securing his place in architectural history despite a professional trajectory marked by litigation and financial disputes.
Early Education and Career Beginnings
Born in Brooklyn in 1883, William Van Alen pursued formal training at the Pratt Institute. During his studies, he gained practical experience working for Clarence True and attended the Atelier Masqueray, founded by Emmanuel Louis Masqueray. His technical education continued abroad after he secured the Paris Prize scholarship in 1908, allowing him to refine his skills at the École des Beaux-Arts under Victor Laloux.
Partnership with H. Craig Severance
Upon returning to New York in 1910, Van Alen developed an interest in modernist styles. In 1911, he entered a professional partnership with H. Craig Severance. Their firm became recognized for multistory commercial developments, including a 1914 project in Lower Manhattan that introduced flush storefront windows—a technique that would later become industry standard. Despite their professional success, personality differences led to the dissolution of the partnership in 1924.
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Following the end of his partnership, Van Alen completed notable commissions for Childs Restaurants. In 1925, he designed a six-story building at 604 Fifth Avenue in Midtown Manhattan, which featured curved glass corner windows without a supporting post. Another project in Washington, D.C., completed in 1926, utilized a triangular plot to showcase large arched windows. Both structures received critical notice for their departure from conventional design.
The Chrysler Building Commission
Van Alen is best known for designing the Chrysler Building, which surpassed the Manhattan Trust Building at 40 Wall Street in the competition to become the tallest building in the world at 1,046 feet. While the building remains a landmark, the project resulted in a legal battle over unpaid fees. Because no formal contract existed, Van Alen sued Walter Chrysler to recover his six percent commission and eventually won, though the litigation negatively impacted his professional reputation.
Final Years and Legacy
In the wake of the Great Depression and his ruined career, Van Alen shifted his focus toward teaching sculpture at the Beaux-Arts Institute of Design. He died in 1954 in New York City and was buried at Cold Spring Cemetery. Today, his name persists through the Van Alen Institute, a nonprofit organization focused on public design, and the Van Alen Building in Brighton, England.
Fast facts
- Born: 1883, Brooklyn
- Died: 1954, New York City
- Education: Pratt Institute
- Notable Work: Chrysler Building
- Burial Site: Cold Spring Cemetery
- Citizenship: United States
- Primary Field: Modernism
Questions readers ask
What innovation did Van Alen introduce in his early commercial buildings?
He pioneered the use of flush storefront windows and curved glass corner windows that lacked supporting corner posts.
Why did Van Alen sue Walter Chrysler?
Van Alen sued to recover his standard 6 percent architectural fee after the Chrysler Building was completed because the client refused to pay him.
What is the Van Alen Institute?
It is a New York City-based nonprofit organization that advocates for public realm design and holds programs in honor of Van Alen.
Achievements
- Notable work: Chrysler Building
- Trained at Pratt Institute
