Herbert Greenwald (August 16, 1915 – February 3, 1959) was a
Chicago real estate developer who utilized
Ludwig Mies van der Rohe as the design architect for several landmark modern residential buildings.
Personal life
Herbert "Squiff" Greenwald was born and raised in St. Louis. He pursued rabbinical studies at Yeshiva University in New York. After serving in the military during World War II, he studied philosophy at University of Chicago.[1] He used money inherited from the death of his mother in 1949 to go into the real estate business with Samuel Katzin.[2]
Lillian Greenwald earned a BA degree and a M.SW degree from the University of Chicago. She served on the Visiting Committee of the University's School of Social Services Administration and may have influenced the decision to use Mies van der Rohe to design the School of Social Services building.[5][6]
Real estate development
Greenwald developed three residential buildings in Evanston, Il by 1946.[7] Mr. Greenwald sought a famous architect to design his first important building. After failing to hire
Frank Lloyd Wright,
Le Corbusier,
Eliel Saarinen, and
Walter Gropius. He followed Gropius's recommendation to hire Mies van der Rohe.[8][9]
Greenwald utilized Mies on several projects including:
The Promontory, 5530 S. South Shore Drive, Chicago, IL (1949)
Algonquin Apartments, 1606 E Hyde Park Blvd, Chicago, IL (1949-1951)[10][11]
In addition to the proposed home for Herbert Greenwald in Lake Forest, Mies designed single family homes for:
Greenwald's brother, Morris Greenwald. The home was later renovated and expanded by
Peter Gluck, located at 11 Homeward Lake, Weston, Connecticut[15]
Greenwald's business partner, Robert Hall McCormick. The home is now part of the Elmhurst Art Museum in Illinois.[16]
Death
Greenwald died in the crash of
American Airlines Flight 320 from Midway International Airport to New York City's LaGuardia Airport on February 3, 1959.[17] The plane crashed in the East River and his body was not recovered. His estate was paid $287,000 by the insurance company.[18]
Successor Firm - Metropolitan Structures
After his death, his real estate firm, Herbert Realty Co., was renamed Metropolitan Structures. Under the leadership of Bernard Weissbourd, the firm developed Illinois Center in Chicago and other properties throughout the United States including[19][20]
Colonnade and Pavilion Apartment Buildings, Newark, NJ (1960)