William Pulgram

William Leopold Pulgram (January 1, 1921 – April 16, 2020) was an Austrian-born American architect.

Pulgram, a

By the time that William arrived in the United States, his brother, Ernst, had already made it to America and served in the United States Army until he was released on medical leave. Upon arrival, William got a job in Atlanta, GA at a department store named Davison-Paxon. By 1943, Pulgram decided to enlist in the Army to help fight against the Nazi regime. Initially, he was rejected because he was not a United States Citizen. He then had to write letters to military leadership declaring that he volunteered to be drafted into the military. That petition was accepted and he joined the Army, participating in special services entertainment by playing the piano. He served for three years ending in 1946. He served in Atlanta, GA and Los Angeles, CA.

Education

In 1946, Pulgram attended

In 1972, Pulgram was the chair of a taskforce for the AIA Documents Committee, which was responsible for developing interiors contract documents. This committee was full of members of the AIA (American Institute of Architects) and ASID (American Society of Interior Designers). In 1975, he became the Chairman for the AIA's pioneering Interiors Committee. The committee developed contract documents and started publishing information on subjects including starting a practice, identifying differences between interior design and architecture practices, developing client relationships, and how to obtain new work. The Interiors Committee has grown from only 50 members at its conception to nearly 1,500 members today.^[1]

Book

In 1984, Pulgram and Richard Stonis wrote the book, Designing the Automated Office, which focuses on the need to plan for new technologies in offices. Their book discusses how the design community must educate itself on office technology and how it will affect the way offices work. They believed there were six factors: flexibility, human factors, project team, spacing planning, building systems, and furnishings that affect the design of the automated office. Programming for machines becomes necessary as well as the design and layout of workstations to focus on the productivity and comfort of the worker. The book contains workstation suggestions and different desk set ups for different task jobs. The book addresses different office layouts and the effect on communication between employees. They also discuss electricity, how lighting affects people and costs, acoustics and its effects on people/privacy, as well as wall assemblies and new furniture technology. Their book won the Designer's book club of the month award and was later translated into Japanese.^[4]

Projects

• Alma Desk showroom in
  Atlanta, Georgia. Associated Space Design created a space where each showroom had a different perception of the community. The spaces created doubled as offices for the showroom staff.^[10]
• McDonald's Oak Brook headquarters An Interiors project where Pulgram removed the desks, and replaced them with TRM's that hold telephones, drawing boards, and typewriters. There were few doors or walls, the space was separated by TRMs and cabinets. He created a ‘think tank’ where a hidden door led visitors to a small arena with a waterbed in the floor to relax and take time to take care of their minds, creating a space where they could be creative.[11] The space was created with irregular shapes and padded walls.^[12]
• The Huff-Feldman House Built in 1953, remodeled in 1955,1958 and again once it was purchased by the Feldman's and restored by Margaret Gilchrist Serro and interior designer Herbert Brito in 2000. It is 3,000 square feet and one of only five houses designed by Pulgram.^[13][14]
• Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium 1965. William Pulgram and his firm designed this project as a joint-venture team of FABRAP (Finch Alexander Barnes Rothschild & Paschal) and Heery, Inc.^[15]
• First National Bank Mid-1960s. Designed with Emory Roth and Sons of New York, it was a design to replace the Ten Eyck Brown's Peachtree Arcade (1916–17).
• TRM (task response module) System. 1970. Eppinger Furniture, INC used the TRM system in their office planning. TRMs are similar to wall units in homes used to hold decorations, books, and stereos. A TRM is able to hold any necessary item while also allowing the occupant to add items to make them feel more comfortable.^[16]
• Tampa Electric Company in Tampa, Florida. 1979. Atrium overlooking offices.^[10]
• Old Post Office in Washington, D.C. 1979. An adaptive restoration, the first project of its type in the U.S. government. Completed as part of the Pennsylvania Avenue Redevelopment Project.^[10]
• Headquarters of the Coca-Cola Company 1970, 1979, 1981.
• Southern Bell (later BellSouth) 1980. The latter with Skidmore Owings and Merrill of New York.
• Hurt Building Redevelopment in
  Atlanta, Georgia. 1985. Ground floor arcade and art gallery.^[10]

He was a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects and a member of the American Society of Interior Designers, The National Committee on Interiors, the Architectural Research Council, the Atlanta Arts Association, and the AIA Foundation.^[10] Pulgram was awarded first prize for design while attending Ecole Des Beaux Arts.

Personal life

William met his wife Lucia Walker Fairlie while attending

William Pulgram died in April 2020 at the age of 99.[18] His wife Lucia preceded him in death by 70 days.

References