John O. Merrill
| John O. Merrill | |
|---|---|
| Born |
August 10, 1896 Saint Paul, Minnesota |
| Died | June 13, 1975 (aged 78) Colorado Springs, Colorado |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Architect |
| Awards | 1950 Fellow of the American Institute of Architects (FAIA) |
| Practice | Skidmore, Owings and Merrill |
John Ogden Merrill Sr. (10 August 1896 – 13 June 1975) was an American architect and structural engineer. He was chiefly responsible for the design and construction of the United States Air Force Academy campus and for the development of Oak Ridge, Tennessee where the atomic bomb was developed. He was a founding partner of the international architectural firm of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill.
Merrill was born in St. Paul, Minnesota. He studied at the University of Wisconsin from 1915 through 1917. His education was interrupted by his war time service in the military. During World War I, he served as a Captain in the coastal artillery. When released from the military in 1919, he continued his education. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology awarded him a degree in architecture in 1921.
The Chicago architectural firm of Granger and Bollenbacher gave Merrill his first opportunity to practice architecture, and by 1939, Merrill had become the chief architect for the Midwest States for the Federal Housing Administration.
Merril joined Skidmore, Owings and Merrill (SOM) in 1939. He is credited with establishing the multi-disciplinary nature of the firm, and the innovative character of SOM’s organization and culture was influenced at an early stage by Merrill and other architectural engineers who later became partners in the practice. SOM defined a new architectural approach of teamwork and total or comprehensive design.
The firm undertook the coordination of every aspect of a specific project – design, engineering, landscaping, urban planning and interiors. Major military projects with which Merrill was associated include:
Merrill's death in Colorado Springs, Colorado was reported in the New York Times on June 13, 1975.
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