John Ogden Merrill (10 August 1896 – 13 June 1975) was an American architect and structural engineer. He was chiefly responsible for the design "John Merrill Sr., Architect, Dead," New York Times. June 13, 1975. and construction of the United States Air Force Academy campusNauman, Robert Allen. (2004). and for the development of Oak Ridge, Tennessee where the atomic bomb was developed. He was a partner of the international architectural firm of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill.Museum of Modern Art (MOMA): SOM citing Richard Guy Wilson (2009). Grove Art Online, Oxford University Press.

Early life Merrill was born in St. Paul, Minnesota."Merrill, John Ogden," (1999). American National Biography, Vol. 15, pp. 360–361. He studied at the University of Wisconsin from 1915 through 1917. His education was interrupted by his war time service in the military.Lehman College Art Gallery, Skidmore, Owings and Merrill (SOM), Merrill bio notes 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.

Career 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.

Skidmore, Owings and Merrill

Merril joined Skidmore, Owings and Merrill (SOM) in 1939. He is credited with establishing the multi-disciplinary nature of the firm,MOMA, excerpt: "In addition to Merrill, who established 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.MOMA, excerpt: "The character of SOM’s work was much influenced by the engineers who became partners in the practice. In addition to Merrill ..., they included Myron Goldsmith and Fazlur Khan (1929–82), both of whom joined the firm in 1955." SOM defined a new architectural approach of teamwork and total or comprehensive design.MOMA, excerpt: "SOM defined a new architectural approach of team work and total or comprehensive design ...."

The firm undertook the coordination of every aspect of a specific project – design, engineering, landscaping, urban planning and interiors.MOMA, excerpt: "... since the firm undertook everything: design, engineering, landscaping, urban planning and interiors." Major military projects with which Merrill was associated include: Oak Ridge – Merrill was in charge of developing the secret research campus at Oak Ridge, Tennessee.Westcott, Ed. (2005). He directed the creation of the secret town which evolved along with the Manhattan Project. Okinawa military facilities – Merrill served in the US Army Corps of Engineers between 1942 and 1946. He directed the development of the permanent US military facilities on Okinawa, including Kadena Air Base. United States Air Force Academy – Merrill moved between Chicago and the Colorado Springs field office to oversee the construction of the new Air Force campusNauman, Merrill was the working administrative partner on the job.Bruegmann, Robert. (1994). He was also a project spokesman for the project. National Historic Landmark Nomination, United States Air Force Academy (Form OMB No. 1024-0018), p. 5 citing "Testimony of John Merrill before the Subcommittee of the Committee on Military Construction Appropriations," U.S. Congress, House, 84th Cong., 1st sess., 30 June 1955, 204-5. At one point, Merrill announced that planning proposals for the new campus had abandoned what was perceived as a "radical" chapel design;"Radical Design Dropped For Air Academy Chapel," New York Times. July 4, 1955; excerpt, "The Chicago architect said that to remain with the original cadet chapel would have 'distracted' public thinking on the entire design. He expressed the belief that the over-all academy design was 'good – considering, as it must be considered, the terrain of the site." however, the accordion-like structure is today acknowledged as an iconic symbol.

Merrill's death in Colorado Springs, Colorado was reported in the New York Times on June 13, 1975.

Community leadership Merrill was a fellow of the American Institute of Architects (AIA); In 1937, he was president of the Chicago Chapter of the AIA."Residential Work Rising in Chicago," New York Times. February 14, 1937. In 1950, Merrill was appointed as a member of the Board of Consultants to the New York State Building Code Commission; "Name Consultants for Building Code," New York Times. March 26, 1950. and he directed revision of the Chicago Building Code in 1947–1949.

Among Merrill's interests outside his profession was his support for Friends of the Earth. In 1969, he lent his name to a campaign to encourage men and women to pledge that they would not buy fur coats or any other articles made from skins of wild animals."The War on Fur Coats Grows," New York Times, November 20, 1969.

Honors Fellow of the American Institute of Architects (FAIA), 1950.American Institute of Architects Historical Directory, Merrill, ahd1030138

Select works Merrill's published writings are few. WorldCat Identities : Merrill, John O.; Merrill, John O. 1896-; Merrill, J. O.; Merrill, John Ogden 1896–1975;

1921: Design and Comparative Costs of Various Concrete Floor Systems (with R.A. Eckles). Thesis (B.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Architectural Engineering. OCLC 37815235WorldCat: Merrill, J. O. 1962: Archiektur von Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, 1950–1962 (with Louis Skidmore, Ernst Danz, Ernst van Haagen and Nathaniel Owings).Stuttgart: Hatje.OCLC 164879857WorldCat: Merrill, John O.

Notes

References Bruegmann, Robert. (1994). Modernism at Mid-Century: the Architecture of the United States Air Force Academy. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. ; ; OCLC 260219357 Nauman, Robert Allen. (2004). On the Wings of Modernism: the United States Air Force Academy. Urbana: University of Illinois Press. ; OCLC 52542599 Westcott, Ed. (2005). Oak Ridge. Charleston, South Carolina: Arcadia Publishing. ; OCLC 62511041 Wilkes, Joseph A. and Robert T. Packard. (1989). Encyclopedia of Architecture: Design, Engineering & Construction. New York: John Wiley. ; OCLC 300305038