Erhart & Eichenbaum

Erhart & Eichenbaum
Company type	Private
Industry	Architecture
Founded	1930 in Little Rock, Arkansas, United States
Founder	Frank J. Erhart, Howard S. Eichenbaum
Headquarters	Springfield (since 2003), United States
Area served	Arkansas, Missouri
Key people	Noland Blass Jr., Lugean L. Chilcote, Jerry C. Wilcox, William J. Gaskin, Charles C. Hill Jr., Joe C. Norcross
Products	Architectural design services

Adapted from the English Wikipedia article Erhart & Eichenbaum, available under CC BY-SA 4.0Updated 27 November 2025

Erhart & Eichenbaum, currently operating as GHN Architects & Engineers, is an architectural firm based in the United States, originally established in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1930 by Frank J. Erhart and Howard S. Eichenbaum. Over time, the partnership expanded to include architects such as Noland Blass Jr., Lugean L. Chilcote, Jerry C. Wilcox, among others. The company was formally incorporated in 1980 and broadened its presence by opening a second office in Springfield, Missouri in 1981. In 2003, the two offices parted ways, with only the Springfield branch continuing operations. The firm is recognized for its prominent contributions throughout Arkansas, especially those led by its founders and Blass.

History

Frank J. Erhart and Howard S. Eichenbaum began their architectural journeys in 1920 as draftsmen at Mann & Stern, a Little Rock-based firm. After Stern acquired full ownership from Mann in 1927, Erhart and Eichenbaum remained with him until 1930, when they left to establish their own firm, Erhart & Eichenbaum, following Stern’s refusal to sell them equity stakes. During the Great Depression, their portfolio included projects such as county courthouses and expansions to the Arkansas Tuberculosis Sanatorium. Throughout World War II, the firm engaged in government contracts, notably designing Camp Como (1943), a prisoner-of-war camp located in Mississippi.

In 1945, architect John A. Rauch became a partner, prompting a name change to Erhart, Eichenbaum & Rauch. A decade later, Noland Blass Jr., who had been an associate since 1946, joined as partner, resulting in the firm being known as Erhart, Eichenbaum, Rauch & Blass. Blass played a pivotal role in elevating the firm's design quality through significant projects such as the Veterans Administration Hospital (1950), UAMS Medical Center (1956), Justice Building (1957), Bank of America Plaza (1969) in Little Rock, and the George Howard Jr. Federal Building and United States Courthouse (1967) in Pine Bluff.

By 1970, both Erhart and Rauch had retired; new partners included engineer Edgar K. Riddick Jr. and architect Lugean L. Chilcote. Following Eichenbaum’s passing in 1973, Blass assumed senior partnership and delegated design responsibilities to junior partners. The firm was renamed Blass, Riddick, Chilcote in 1976 with additional partners Gulley Carter, Richard L. Lanford, and Jerry C. Wilcox joining the team. Riddick exited the firm in 1978; by 1980 it was incorporated under the name Blass, Chilcote, Carter, Lanford & Wilcox.

In 1981, the company acquired Harold A. Casey & Associates of Springfield, Missouri, which underwent several rebrandings before becoming Hill & Bixler in 1992 under local partner Charles C. Hill Jr. Lanford and Wilcox left the firm in 1985 and 1988 respectively; subsequent renamings culminated with Blass, Chilcote, Carter, Gaskin, Bogart & Norcross. Blass retired in 1990; Chilcote followed suit in 1999.

By 1998 the firm adopted the name Gaskin Hill Norcross for both offices; senior principals were William J. Gaskin, Hill, and Joe C. Norcross. In 2003 Hill and his associates purchased the Missouri corporation from its Arkansas counterpart and began operating independently thereafter. The Missouri-based company rebranded as GHN Architects & Engineers in 2005. Following Gaskin’s death in 2007, the Arkansas office was dissolved, leaving GHN of Springfield as the continuing entity carrying forward the legacy of Erhart & Eichenbaum.

Frank J. Erhart

Francis James "Frank" Erhart (March 9, 1889 – January 14, 1979) was a native of Hot Springs, Arkansas. He pursued studies at Regis College (currently Regis University) in Denver and later attended the University of Pennsylvania, although he did not complete a degree program.

In 1915, he entered into marriage and fathered two children. Erhart passed away in Little Rock at the age of 89.

Howard S. Eichenbaum

Howard Samuel Eichenbaum (April 25, 1904 – February 13, 1973) was born in Little Rock. He earned a Bachelor of Architecture from Washington University in St. Louis in 1924. During his studies, he gained experience working summers with Mann & Stern and joined their firm full-time after graduation.

Eichenbaum played a key role in establishing the Arkansas chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and was a strong advocate for the state's architectural registration legislation. He held the position of AIA chapter president, became the first Arkansan to be elected as AIA director, vice president, and Fellow, and chaired the Arkansas State Board of Architects created under the registration statute in 1941. Additionally, he contributed to planning commissions for Little Rock, North Little Rock, and Metroplan.

Married in 1929 with three children, Eichenbaum was Jewish and served as vice president of his congregation, B’nai Israel. He died in Little Rock at age 68.

John A. Rauch

John Alexander Rauch (October 11, 1891 – July 8, 1990) was born in St. James, Missouri and completed his education at Washington University. Between 1917 and 1920, he worked for Mann & Stern before founding his own practice. Rauch became part of Erhart & Eichenbaum in 1941.

He married in 1924 and had four children. Rauch died in Little Rock at the age of 98.

Noland Blass Jr.

Noland Blass Jr. (May 20, 1920 – July 21, 1998) was born in Little Rock and was the grandson of Gustave Blass, founder of the Gus Blass Department Store established in 1871. He graduated from Cornell University with a Bachelor of Architecture degree in 1941 and served with the Army Corps of Engineers during World War II. Following his military service, he joined Erhart, Eichenbaum & Rauch and became an associate by 1946.

Blass married Elizabeth Weitzenhoffer in 1947 and had two daughters. He died in Little Rock at age 78.

Lugean L. Chilcote

Lugean Lester Chilcote FAIA (January 14, 1929 – September 21, 2015) was an architect born in Oklahoma City who grew up in Little Rock. He earned his Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Arkansas in 1951. Prior to joining Erhart, Eichenbaum, Rauch & Blass in 1958, he worked with local firms Ken Cole Jr. and Swaim & Allen.

Chilcote married Clara Dudis in 1953 and fathered four children. He passed away at age 86 in Little Rock.

Legacy

Erhart & Eichenbaum stood as one of the region’s largest architectural firms, with its principals deeply involved in both local and national architectural organizations.

More than ten buildings designed by Erhart & Eichenbaum or its successors are listed on the United States National Register of Historic Places, alongside additional contributions to recognized historic districts.