Carson and Lundin
| Company type | Architectural firm |
|---|---|
| Industry | Architecture |
| Founded | 1941 in New York City, United States |
| Founder | Robert Carson, Earl H. Lundin |
| Defunct | 1996 |
| Headquarters | New York City , United States |
| Products | Large-scale office buildings and other architectural projects |
Carson & Lundin, subsequently known as Carson, Lundin & Shaw and later Carson, Lundin & Thorson, was an architectural practice based in New York City that operated from 1941 until 1996. The firm was initially founded by architects Robert Carson and Earl H. Lundin.
History and principals
The firm Carson & Lundin was launched in 1941 by Robert Carson and Earl H. Lundin, both of whom served as Resident Architects for Rockefeller Center Inc., the entity responsible for developing Rockefeller Center.
Robert Carson (born July 19, 1906, Macon, Illinois) earned his degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1928 under the tutelage of Paul P. Cret. He gained professional experience working with Raymond Hood and Harrison & Fouilhoux, the architects behind Rockefeller Center, until its completion in 1939. That same year, Carson and Lundin were appointed Resident Architects for the center’s developers, a role they maintained until 1957.
Earl H. Lundin (born January 11, 1902, Detroit) graduated from the University of Michigan in 1923. He joined the Rockefeller Center architectural team in New York City in 1930 and was promoted to Resident Architect alongside Carson in 1939.
Drawing on their Rockefeller Center background, Carson & Lundin focused on designing large-scale office buildings. Their portfolio began with 75 Rockefeller Plaza (completed in 1947) and expanded to include projects not only across New York City but also in cities such as Tulsa and Cleveland. In 1957, Arvin B. Shaw III became a partner without prompting a change in the firm's name.
Arvin B. Shaw III (born March 7, 1916, Los Angeles) graduated from Yale University in 1939 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in architecture. After gaining experience at Harrison & Fouilhoux and serving in the Navy during World War II, he returned to California before joining Carson & Lundin in 1955.
Following Carson’s death in 1960 at age 53, Lundin and Shaw continued operating under the name Carson, Lundin & Shaw. In 1962, their firm was one of seven contenders considered to design the original World Trade Center but ultimately lost the commission to Minoru Yamasaki & Associates. Among their significant projects during the 1960s was Albany’s Swan Street Building (1968), which formed part of the Empire State Plaza complex. Robert L. Thorson became a partner in 1970.
Robert L. Thorson (born April 9, 1930, St. Ansgar, Iowa) graduated from both the University of Minnesota and Harvard Graduate School of Design (class of 1957). Prior to joining Carson, Lundin & Shaw as a senior associate in 1969, he worked with I.M. Pei & Associates and Ulrich Franzen.
After Shaw retired in 1972 and passed away in 1973, followed by Lundin’s death in 1976, Thorson incorporated the firm as Carson Lundin & Thorson PC that same year. In 1979, state authorities identified safety concerns regarding marble facade panels on the Swan Street Building; this led to a $28 million lawsuit against the firm that was dismissed in 1983 due to statute of limitations constraints. Subsequent to these events, the firm’s activity diminished significantly. Thorson died in 1992 and the company was formally dissolved in 1996.
Architectural works
All completion years are indicated.
Carson & Lundin, 1941–1960
- 1947 – 75 Rockefeller Plaza, located at 15 W 51st St, New York City; designed by Carson & Lundin with Harrison & Abramovitz acting as consulting architects.
- 1948 – I. Miller & Sons building at 75 Mamaroneck Ave, White Plains, New York
- 1950 – Esso Building at 4045 Scenic Hwy, Baton Rouge, Louisiana; design led by Lathrop Douglass with Carson & Lundin serving as associate architects.
- 1950 – First National Bank Building situated at 15 E 5th St, Tulsa, Oklahoma
- 1952 – Office tower at 600 Fifth Avenue, New York City
- 1953 – Ridgeway School at 225 Ridgeway Cir, White Plains, New York
- 1955 – Liberty Life Insurance Company Building located at 2000 Wade Hampton Blvd, Greenville, South Carolina
- 1955 – Cypress Hills Houses for NYCHA, at 475 Fountain Ave, Brooklyn
- 1956 – FDNY Engine Company No.28/Ladder Company No.11 firehouse at 222 E 2nd St, New York City
- 1956 – PS 175 Henry H. Garnet school building at175 W134th St, New York City
- 1957 – 660 Fifth Avenue, New York City
- 1958 – 55 Public Square, located in Cleveland
- 1958 – Office building at125 Maiden Lane, New York City
- 1958 – Carrier Corporation administration and research center at4800 Carrier Pkwy, DeWitt, New York; designed by Schmidt, Garden & Erikson with Carson & Lundin providing consultation (now demolished).
- 1958 – Deering Milliken Building at1045 Sixth Ave, New York City (demolished in2009)
- 1959 – Office building at730 Third Ave, New York City
- 1961 – 399 Park Avenue, located in New York City
- 1962 – Building at28 East28th Street, New York City
- 1962 – United States Courthouse and Emanuel Celler Federal Office Building at225 Cadman Plz E, Brooklyn; designed jointly with Lorimer Rich & Associates; currently part of the Theodore Roosevelt United States Courthouse complex.
Carson, Lundin & Shaw, 1960–1972
- 1963 – Brooklyn Savings Bank Building located at 205 Montague Street, Brooklyn
- 1963 – One Constitution Plaza in Hartford, Connecticut; developed by Kahn & Jacobs with Carson & Lundin serving as associate architects
- 1966 – 4 New York Plaza, situated at 25 Water Street, New York City
- 1966 – Chaney Dining Hall along with Heritage Residence Hall at the State University of New York at Canton
- 1966 – Union Bank Building at 300 Ottawa Avenue NW, Grand Rapids, Michigan
- 1967–68 – Various residence halls and academic facilities constructed at the State University of New York at Canton
- 1968 – Swan Street Building within the Empire State Plaza, Albany, New York
- 1969 – 25 Park Place in Atlanta; collaborated with Abreu & Robeson as associate architects
- Early 1970s – Additional educational buildings including Dana Hall and Cooper Service Complex added to State University of New York at Canton
Carson, Lundin & Thorson, 1972–1976
- 1972 – Belson Hall on the campus of St. John's University, located in Queens
- 1976 – Chase Tower at 400 Texas Street, Shreveport, Louisiana; initially constructed for the First National Bank of Shreveport
Carson Lundin & Thorson PC, 1976–1996
- 1990 – Dawnwood Apartments positioned at 500 Fairview Avenue, Hudson, New York
- 1994 – Finley Hall at St. John's University, situated in Queens