O'Dell, Hewlett and Luckenbach

O'Dell, Hewlett and Luckenbach was a Metro Detroit-based architectural firm. Their firm specialized in schools and civic buildings. Some of their notable buildings include the Pontiac Silverdome, Ford Auditorium, and Oakland County Courthouse. ^[1]

History

The firm was founded by H. Augustus O'Dell (1876–1965), ^[2] Thomas H. Hewlett, and Owen A. Luckenbach in 1938. ^{[3] [4]} Almon J. Durkee and Owen Luckenbach's son, Carl Luckenbach (1935–2022), ^[5] began their own firm in 1962. Their firm merged with the larger firm in 1969, with Carl Luckenbach and Almon Durkee assuming leadership positions. ^{[6] [5]} By 1980, the firm was called Luckenbach-Ziegelman, as Robert Ziegelman was brought on as a partner. ^[7]

List of buildings

• Ford Auditorium, 1955
• Pontiac Silverdome, 1975
• Oakland County Courthouse, 1962 ^{[1] [8]}
• Royal Oak High School, 1957 ^[9]
• Oak Park High School, 1953 ^[3]
• Millennium Middle School (former South Lyon High School), 1968 ^[10]
• Oakland University, Hannah Hall of Science, 1962 ^[11]
• Meadow Brook Amphitheatre, 1964 ^[11]
• Oakland University, Wilson Hall, 1964 ^[11]
• Oakland University, Dodge Hall of Engineering, 1968 ^[11]
• Oakland University, Varner Hall, 1971 ^[11]
• Bicentennial Tower, 4 E Alexandrine, Detroit, 1976 ^[12]
• Pontiac Central High School, 1974 ^[13]
• Flat Rock City Hall, c. 1977 ^[14]
• Wayne State University, Shiffman Medical Library, 1970 ^[15]
• Wayne State University, Law Building, 1966 ^[16]
• Western Michigan University, Sprau Tower/Brown Hall/Shaw Theater complex, 1967 ^[17]
• Western Michigan University, Physical Sciences Buildings (Rood and Everett Halls), 1971 ^{[18] [19] [20]}

References

1. O'Dell, Hewlett and Luckenbach (July 1957). "The Recent Work of O'Dell, Hewlett & Luckenbach Associates, Architects, Birmingham, Michigan". AIA Michigan Society of Architects. p. 17.
2. "Augustus O'Dell obituary". Detroit Free Press. February 4, 1965. p. 9.
3. O'Dell, Hewlett and Luckenbach (July 1957). "The Recent Work of O'Dell, Hewlett & Luckenbach Associates, Architects, Birmingham, Michigan" (PDF). AIA Michigan Society of Architects. p. 17.
4. "Merger of leading Michigan architectural firms" (PDF). AIA Michigan Society of Architects. September 1969. p. 21.
5. "Carl Frederick Luckenbach Obituary". Detroit Free Press. January 10, 2022.
6. "Birmingham architects announce a merger". Detroit Free Press. June 25, 1969. p. 11B.
7. Luckenbach-Ziegelman. "About" . Retrieved May 6, 2025.
8. Deacon, John. "American Courthouses: Oakland County" . Retrieved May 6, 2025.
9. "NEW CLARENCE M. KIMBALL HIGH SCHOOL, ROYAL OAK, MICHIGAN" (PDF). Monthly Bulletin, Michigan Society of Architects. June 1957. p. 62.
10. "New South Lyon High School". Ann Arbor News. October 17, 1968. p. 48.
11. Oakland University. "Buildings @ Oakland University" . Retrieved May 6, 2025.
12. Weddell, Dorothy (September 2, 1978). "Mixing young and elderly". Detroit Free Press. p. B1.
13. Detroiturbex.com. "Pontiac Central High School" . Retrieved May 6, 2025.
14. Miro, Marsha (October 22, 1977). "Choosing the best in Michigan design". Detroit Free Press. p. 14C.
15. "Wayne State University starts new medical library". The Progress-Advance (Pigeon, MI). March 13, 1969. p. 8.
16. Braun, Lilian (August 13, 1967). "Take a stroll along campus at Wayne State". Detroit Free Press. p. 10D.
17. "WM to dedicate three new buildings". Kalamazoo Gazette. May 1, 1968. p. 33.
18. "Physical Sciences Building". Kalamazoo Gazette. January 22, 1966. p. 3.
19. Western Michigan University. "Everett Tower" . Retrieved May 6, 2025.
20. Western Michigan University. "Rood Hall" . Retrieved May 6, 2025.