• Source: James William Kideney

James William Kideney (April 25, 1899 – November 10, 1987) was an American architect in practice in Buffalo, New York from 1926 until his retirement in 1974. The firm he founded is still in business as Kideney Architects PC. He is the namesake of the James William Kideney Gold Medal Award, the highest honor awarded by AIA New York State.




Life and career


Kideney was born April 25, 1899, in Pittsburgh to William W. Kideney and Ada J. Kideney, née Porter. He was educated at the University of Michigan, graduating with a BS in architecture in 1921. After a year of European travel he moved to Buffalo, New York, where he worked as a drafter. In 1926 he opened his own office. In 1929 he formed the partnership of Harbach & Kideney with Paul Hyde Harbach, an architect in practice in Buffalo since 1923. They worked together until they dissolved their partnership in 1942 during World War II. After eight years of independent practice, in 1950 he formed a new partnership, James William Kideney & Associates, with several staff. In 1958 this became Kideney, Smith & Fitzgerald to reflect the growing roles of partners George D. Smith Jr. and Thomas W. Fitzgerald . The firm was renamed Kideney, Smith, Fitzgerald & Partners in 1969 after the admission of several other partners, including John M. Laping . Kideney retired in 1974 after 48 years of practice.
Kideney joined the American Institute of Architects (AIA) in 1935 as a member of the Buffalo chapter. He was a founder of the New York State Association of Architects, the AIA's state-level chapter, and served as its first president from 1938 to 1942. In 1949 he was elected a Fellow of the AIA. He also served on the New York board of examiners of architects from 1949 until 1957.




Personal life


Kideney was married to Isabel Houck in 1930. He died on November 10, 1987, at the age of 88.




Legacy


In 1974, the year of Kideney's retirement, his firm became the oldest continuously operating architectural practice in Buffalo following the closure of James, Meadows & Howard, successors to Green & Wicks.
In 1977 John M. Laping, a partner since 1969, became managing partner and the firm was renamed The Kideney Smith Fitzgerald Laping Partnership. In 1989 the firm was incorporated as Kideney Associates/Laping Jaeger Architects PC, soon changed to Kideney Architects/Laping Jaeger Associates PC. Laping retired in 2003 and the firm was renamed Kideney Architects PC, its current (2024) name, in 2006.
AIA New York State, of which Kideney was founding president, established the James William Kideney Gold Medal Award in his name in 1981. It was first awarded to Joseph D. Monticciolo of Long Island. Notable recipients have included Robert T. Coles (2004), Giorgio Cavaglieri (2006), George H. Miller (2011) and David J. Burney (2016) as well as his partner, Laping (1989).




Architectural works


1931 – Amherst Central High School, 4301 Main St, Snyder, New York
1939 – York Central School, 2578 Genesee St, Greigsville, New York
1949 – Jewish Community Center of Buffalo, 787 Delaware Ave, Buffalo, New York
1950 – Student union and dormitories, Buffalo State University, Buffalo, New York
1954 – Harris Hill Elementary School, 4260 Harris Hill Rd, Williamsville, New York
1956 – Public School 38, 350 Vermont St, Buffalo, New York
1957 – Gowanda Central High School, 10674 Prospect St, Gowanda, New York
1960 – Orchard Park High School, 4040 Baker Rd, Orchard Park, New York
1962 – Faith United Church of Christ, 1300 Maple Rd, Williamsville, New York
1962 – Upton Hall, Buffalo State University, Buffalo, New York
1964 – Buffalo & Erie County Public Library, 1 Lafayette Sq, Buffalo, New York
1964 – Heim Middle School, 175 Heim Rd, Williamsville, New York
1964 – Pembroke Junior/Senior High School, 8750 Alleghany Rd, Corfu, New York
1964 – Twin Rise complex, Buffalo State University, Buffalo, New York
1969 – SUNY Erie north campus expansion, Williamsville, New York
1972 – Classroom Building, Buffalo State University, Buffalo, New York




Notes






References

Kata Kunci Pencarian:

• James William Kideney
• Architecture of Buffalo, New York
• Milton Milstein
• Buffalo & Erie County Public Library
• Rand Building
• Robert T. Coles
• List of City of Buffalo landmarks and historic districts
• Ellicott Development Co.