Pierre and Wright Architectural Records

Biographical Note:

Edward D. Pierre was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana, in 1890. He entered Valparaiso University in 1911 but transferred one year later to the Armour Institute, now the Illinois Institute of Technology, from which he received an architecture degree in 1915. After graduating, he received a travel scholarship from the Chicago Art Institute and worked for two years in the office of Albert Kahn in Detroit. Following service in the Army Engineering Corps from 1917 to 1919, Pierre moved to Indianapolis. He worked for a short time for the McGuire and Shook firm, then practiced on his own for six years before partnering with Wright. After the partnership ended, Pierre practiced independently under the name Edward D. Pierre and Associates until 1961. That practice involved mostly residences and small commercial structures.

Pierre uniquely linked good design with patriotism and good citizenship. In the 1930s, he organized the Civic Pride Committee of the Indiana Society of Architects, proposed “The All American Plan” for Indianapolis, and initiated “Christmas on Monument Circle.” In the 1940s and 1950s, he unveiled his “Cross Roads Plan” for Indianapolis, promoted “Civic Pride Begins in Your Back Yard,” and produced an exhibit prepared for L. Strauss and Co. called “Indianapolis… 25 years hence.” As chair of the Indiana Beautiful Committee of the Indianapolis Sesquicentennial Commission, he promoted celebrating the city’s sesquicentennial and the U.S. Bicentennial through forward-looking community and city planning. His many other public service activities include membership on the civic affairs committee and the traffic and parking committee of the Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce, advisor to the Governor’s Housing Committee, founder and president of the American Legion Peace Symbol Foundation, director of the Indianapolis Home Show, president of the Indianapolis Architects Association, president of the Indianapolis Construction League, director of the Indiana Society of Architects, and member of several national committees of the American Institute of Architects.

Upon his death in 1971, Pierre was eulogized by then-mayor Richard Lugar as "one of the most significant and imaginative thinkers in regard to the beauty of Indianapolis" and by the executive director of the Indiana Society of Architects as "the greatest architect the state of Indiana ever produced and probably the greatest visionary architectural professional Indiana has ever known." The Indiana Society of Architects created an award in Pierre’s name, bestowed annually to recognize members of the Society "who have attained significant stature in the profession and who have contributed to its advancement."

George Caleb Wright was born in Libertyville, Illinois, in 1889. He attended the University of Illinois, from which he received a bachelor's degree in architecture in 1912. Between 1918 and 1923, he was a construction supervisor for an architect, George C. Nimmons, in Chicago. He moved to Indianapolis in 1923 and was associated there with architect Herbert Foltz until 1925 when he began his collaboration with Pierre.

When Pierre and Wright split up, Wright joined Bernard Vonnegut in the firm then known as Vonnegut and Wright (succeeded by Vonnegut, Wright and Yeager; Vonnegut, Wright and Porteous; and Wright, Porteous and Lowe). At various times he served as president of the Indiana Economic Council, the Construction League of Indianapolis, and the Indiana Society of Architects. He chaired the Indianapolis Metropolitan Planning Commission and served on its Board of Zoning Appeals. He was president of Wright, Porteous & Lowe for six years prior to his retirement in 1961 and Indianapolis building commissioner between 1963 and 1969. He died in 1973.

Historical Note:

Architects Edward D. Pierre and George Caleb Wright teamed up in 1925 to form what quickly became one of the best known architectural firms in Indianapolis. Soon after its founding, the firm was commissioned to design five substantial homes, each in a different historical revival style, for the Indianapolis News Corporation’s “Ideal Homes” project at Williams Creek Estates. The success of the project established the firm’s early reputation for high-quality period houses. Pierre and Wright also won competitions for the design of several prominent civic and commercial buildings, including the Indiana State Library and Historical Building and the Milo Stuart Memorial building at Arsenal Technical High School. The firm also designed several Indianapolis-area fire stations and public schools. Talented architect Leslie F. Ayres worked for Pierre and Wright for several years. Ayres was responsible for much of the firm’s Art Deco-style work, including a drive-in grocery store for Kroger Company, reportedly the first such store in the country, and a series of elegant gas stations for National Refining Company (En-Ar-Co). In the late 1930s and early 40s, much of the firm’s energy went into the design of small homes for developers of suburban housing subdivisions.

In addition to their architectural work, Pierre and Wright were active in civic affairs, leaders of the architecture profession in Indianapolis, founders of the "civic improvement" movement which lies behind the recent transformation of Indianapolis, and officers in several civic and professional organizations. Both men were named Fellows of the American Institute of Architects in recognition of their accomplishments.

The Pierre and Wright partnership dissolved in 1944. The partners continued their careers separately thereafter.