Tachau and Vought was an American architectural firm active in the mid-twentieth-century New York City that specialized in mental hygiene hospitals. It was established in 1919 as the successor to the architectural firm of Pilcher and Tachau by William G. Tachau (b. 1875) and Vought. By 1946, Vought had left. Eliot Butler Willauer (April 4, 1912 – February 6, 1972) was a principal from around 1945 until 1946.Nancy L. Todd. New York's Historic Armories: An Illustrated History (Albany, New York: State University of New York Press, 2006), p.268'American Architect Directory: 1956 First Edition.(R.R. Bowker LLC., 1955), p.606"Questionnaire for Architects’ Roster and/or Register of Architects Qualified for Federal Public Works"(May 20, 1946) The firm moved from 109 Lexington Avenue to 102 East 30th Street around 1923.Office for Metropolitan History, "Manhattan NB Database 1900-1986," (21 Feb 2010)
Like many New York architectural firms active during the Great Depression, Tachau & Vought worked in "almost continuous employment on Federal, State or City work," which included its inclusion on Mayor Fiorello La Guardia's list of architects since the compendium's inception on. "From 1918...[the firm] specialized in mental hygiene hospitals."
Works Louisville Free Public Library (1906, designed as the firm Pilcher and Tachau), Louisville, Kentucky for $300,000 Temple Israel, New York City for $287,700David Kaufman Shul with a pool Jewett House (1907, formerly North Residence from 1915, designed as the firm Pilcher and Tachau) of Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, New York built for $280,000.Karen Van Lengen and Lisa Reilly. Vassar College: An Architectural Tour. The Campus Guide Series. (New York: Princeton Architectural Press, 2004), p.80 Squadron C Armory (or Company C Armory), Brooklyn, New York built for $500,000 Central Islip Hospital in Central Islip, New York built for $900,000 8th Regiment Armory, New York City, built for $1,500,000 Utica State Hospital in Utica, New York built for $600,000 Psychiatric Pavilion, Brooklyn, New York, built for $1,650,000 The “medieval-inspired drill shed” of the 369th Regiment Armory, 2360 Fifth Avenue (18-42 West 143rd Street and 17-44 West 142nd Street), New York City, a two-story fireproof drill shed for troops (1920–1924) 369th Regiment Armory for $300,000.00 (filed in 1921)Andrew S. Dolkart and Matthew A. Postal. Guide to New York City Landmarks. Third Edition (Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons, 2004) p.209. Naumburg Bandshell, Central Park, Concert Ground of Mall, Indiana limestone and cast-stone (1923) for $125,000. The structure, an innovative and novel neo-classical half-dome design on a high section of drum, later came into frequent use due to its inherently good and responsive acoustical qualities. The U.S. Marine Hospital (Stapleton, Staten Island) (1933–36, with Kenneth Murchison and William H. Gompert),Landmarks Preservation Commission. Designation List 411. (March 24, 2009). p.5 built for $2,266,000 Freeport Post Office (designed with William Gropper in the Colonial Revival style), 132 Merrick Road, Freeport, New York (added 1989 to the National Register of Historic Places) National Register of Historic Places 4781-4789 Broadway (1948), a two-story brick library, built for $285,000.00
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