Burnham Hoyt (February 3, 1887 – April 3, 1960) was a prominent mid-20th-century architect born in Denver, Colorado.
Early years
Born in North Denver, Burnham Hoyt was the son of Lydia Tompkins Hoyt and Wallace Hoyt, a carriage designer who emigrated from New Brunswick, Canada. He is the younger brother of Denver Architect Merrill H. Hoyt. He grew up in the house located at 2849 West 23rd Avenue Denver and would return to that residence later in life. Burnham graduated from Denver’s North High School in 1904 and apprenticed with the Denver architectural firm of Kidder and Wieger. In 1908, he left Denver to study at the Beaux-Arts Institute in New York City, where he won 6 Beaux-Arts design competitions and continued his professional training at the well-respected New York firm of George Post and Bertram Goodhue. While there, he designed the interior woodwork for New York City’s St. Bartholomew Church. After serving two years in the U.S. Army during World War I, where he designed camouflage in France, he returned to Denver in 1919 to join his brother Merrill and form the Denver architectural firm of M.H. and B. Hoyt, Architects.
Later years The Hoyt brother's firm prospered during the post war years and they designed numerous commercial, residential academic and religious buildings in Denver. Their buildings incorporated various historical styles, including English Gothic, Spanish Baroque, Greek Revival and Romanesque. In later years, Burnham would embrace Art Deco and the modernist International Style.
In 1926, Burnham returned to New York when he was commissioned by John D. Rockefeller to design the interior of Riverside Church.
He worked several years as a Professor of Architectural Criticism at New York University, and in 1930 he became the Dean of the School of Architecture.
On February 11, 1933, the Hoyt brothers' partnership ended suddenly when his brother Merrill died of a heart attack at age 52.
In 1936 at age 49, Burnham married interior designer Mildred Fuller and returned to Denver.He owned his own firm in Denver from 1933 to 1955. In 1953, he was elected to the National Academy of Design as an associate academician. He received an honorary doctorate from Denver University, the Civic Princeps Award from Regis College, and a fellowship for design in the American Institute of Architects.
Burnham Hoyt was diagnosed with Parkinson disease in the early 1950s and died at the home he designed for himself at 3130 East Exposition Ave. in Denver.
A number of his works are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Credited buildings (partial list)
Source: Building NameLocationDateStatusFourth Church of Christ Scientist3101 W. 31st Ave. Denver, CO1920Merritt Gano Jr. House101 High St. Denver, COc. 1920Country Club National Register Historic DistrictDenver Public Library - Park Hill Branch4705 Montview Blvd., Denver, CO1920Denver Local LandmarkMerryweather House375 Humboldt St. Denver, CO1922Country Club National Register Historic DistrictCrammer House (addition)200 Cherry St. Denver, CONational Register of Historical PlacesAnne Evans Mountain House (remodel)1970 Evans Ranch Rd. Evergreen, CO1924National Register of Historical PlacesCherokee CastleCherokee Ranch Hwy.85 Sedalia, CO1924-26National Register of Historical PlacesUnnamed House840 Gaylord St. Denver, CO1925Morgan Subdivision Local Historic DistrictCactus Club Clubhouse444 14th St. Denver, CO1925DemolishedColorado National Bank (addition)900-918 17th St. Denver, CO1925Davis House385 Gilpin St. Denver, CO1925Country Club National Register Historic DistrictDenver Press Club1330 Glenarm Pl., Denver, CO1925Denver Local LandmarkMaitland Estate (with Merrill Hoyt)9 Sunset Dr. Cherry Hills Village1925National Register of Historical PlacesPhi Delta Theta1111 College Ave. Boulder, CO1925National Register of Historical PlacesStandart-Cleworth House2025 E. 7th Ave. Denver, CO1925Seventh Avenue Local Historic DistrictHarrington School3230 E. 38th Ave. Denver, CO1926Lake Junior High School (with Merrill Hoyt)1820 Lowell Blvd. Denver, CO1926Denver Local LandmarkCharles S. and Marie Thomas House380 Gilpin St. Denver, CO1926 Country Club National Register Historic DistrictDonald Bromfield House100 Gaylord St. Denver, CO1927Country Club National Register Historic DistrictMontview Blvd. Presbyterian Church, Education Wing1980 Dahlia St. Denver, CO1927National Register of Historical PlacesRiverside Church (associated with Collens, Allen and Pelton)490 Riverside Dr, New York, NY1927-30National Register of Historical PlacesSigma Nu Fraternity1722 Illinois St. Golden, CO1928St. Martin's Chapel at St. John's Cathedral (with Merrill Hoyt)1313 Clarkston Denver, CO1928National Register of Historical PlacesSteele Elementary School (addition)300 S. Marion Pkwy Denver, CO1929Denver Local LandmarkAlbany Hotel (addition)1720 Stout St. Denver, CO1938DemolishedBoettcher School for Crippled Children1900 Downing St. Denver, CO1938DemolishedMaer House (Sullivan House)545 Circle Dr. Denver, CO1940Red Rocks Amphitheatre16351 County Rd 93 Morrison, CO1941National Historic LandmarkNurses QuartersFitzsimmons Army Medical Center, Aurora CO1942-44DemolishedInfirmary Ward Buildings 203 &206Fitzsimmons Army Medical Center, Aurora CODemolishedBurnham F. Hoyt House3130 E. Exposition Denver, CO1947Central Library, Denver Public Library10 W. 14th Ave. Denver, CO1955National Register of Historical PlacesGarry HouseE 7th Ave Denver COWaring HouseHawthorn Pl. Denver, COBroadmoor Hotel (addition)Colorado Springs, COColorado Springs High School (addition)Colorado Springs, CO1941Central City Opera House (additions and alterations)124 Eureka St. Central City, CONational Register of Historical Places
References