Years:
1915–2004
Year Hutchinson Medal awarded:
1979
Born in Chicago, Barnes studied architecture at Harvard and founded Edward Larrabee Barnes Associates in Manhattan in 1949. Throughout his career, Barnes designed a wide range of buildings, including museums, churches, schools, buildings at botanical gardens, and master plans for universities. His architectural work often involved landscape-integrated designs, reflecting a sensitivity to natural surroundings; he played a significant role in the design of the Chicago Botanic Garden in collaboration with landscape architect Dan Kiley, one of the leading figures in modern landscape architecture. Their collaboration helped shape the Chicago Botanic Garden into a space that is both aesthetic and functional, serving as a model for public garden design.
Designs at the Chicago Botanic Garden:
Barnes was involved in the architectural design of key structures at the Garden, including the Visitor Center and the Barbara Whitney Carr Administrative Center, which won the Louis Sullivan Award for its strength, geometry, and simplicity in masonry. Barnes’ architectural contributions were characterized by clean lines, functional elegance, and a sensitivity to the surrounding landscape, aligning with the Garden’s mission to blend horticulture with design.
Other notable projects:
- Haystack Mountain School of Crafts in Deer Isle, Maine
- Dallas Museum of Art
- Walker Art Center in Minneapolis
- IBM Building at 590 Madison Avenue, New York City
Other major honors:
- American Institute of Architects Gold Medal (posthumously awarded in 2007)
- Thomas Jefferson Medal in Architecture
- Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences