Steele, Sandham and Steele
| Company type | Architectural practice |
|---|---|
| Industry | Architecture |
| Headquarters | Omaha , United States |
Key people | William LaBarthe Steele, Josiah D. Sandham, William Steele Jr., Alex Weinstein |
| Products | Architectural design of churches, federal facilities, academic buildings |
Steele, Sandham, and Steele is an architectural practice located in Omaha recognized for integrating Modern design principles with elements of Historicism in the creation of churches, federal facilities, and academic buildings throughout Omaha, Nebraska and surrounding areas. The firm's principal architect, William LaBarthe Steele, played a significant role in the Prairie School, helping to introduce this architectural movement to Iowa and Nebraska. Prior to his tenure at the firm, he apprenticed with Louis Sullivan from the Chicago School. Later, Steele moved to Sioux City, IA, where he designed numerous prairie-style residences and churches, four of which have been designated as historic landmarks. In 1928, he partnered with Thomas R. Kimball in Omaha to establish Kimball and Steele.
Beginnings
Although the firm's name changed as new partners joined, it consistently reflected Steele Sr.'s distinctive architectural vision. Their large-scale commissions were instrumental in spreading prairie and modernist design throughout the Midwest's western regions. Josiah D. Sandham became part of the team in 1929, resulting in the formation of Kimball, Steele, and Sandham. After Kimball passed away in 1946, William Steele Jr. entered into partnership, prompting a rebranding to Steele, Sandham, and Steele.
Works
The inaugural project under Kimball, Steele, and Sandham was Minneapolis’s Ivy Hotel and Residence (1930). Initially conceived as one of four towers for the Second Church of Christ Scientist, only this single tower—exhibiting Art Deco influences—was completed, distinguished by its textured concrete façade.
Their most notable work is Omaha’s Old Federal Building, constructed during the New Deal era and finished in 1933; it is now listed as a historic landmark. The building’s stripped classical style combined with Art Deco motifs captured the spirit of its time while providing employment during economic downturns. Its steel framework was clad with regional limestone and granite to emphasize both strength and local materials. After government use ended, it was converted into a Residence Inn.
St Cecilia's Cathedral (1905), designed exclusively by Thomas R. Kimball before the firm’s establishment, exemplifies Spanish Renaissance architectural influences typical of Roman Catholic tradition; construction was finalized by Kimball, Steele, and Sandham in 1938.
Following World War II, the firm made significant contributions to the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. In 1949, they undertook a redesign of the Agronomy Building—celebrated for its advanced laboratories and refined design—and it was renamed Keim Hall in 1957 after Franklin D Keim, the department chair. Subsequent to William Steele Sr.'s passing and Alex Weinstein joining as partner, the firm became Steele, Sandham, and Weinstein; under this designation they designed Behlen Laboratory (1962), one of Nebraska’s rare examples of brutalist style.
Stylistic designation
The aesthetic approach of Steele, Sandham, and Steele evolved alongside societal changes and shifts in partnership. Their early projects incorporated historic styles such as Renaissance and Art Deco elements, as seen in St. Cecilia's Cathedral and The Ivy Tower Hotel and Residence. The Old Federal Building in Omaha represents their largest endeavor that merges traditional materials like granite and limestone with modern steel framing and reinforced concrete techniques. During the 1950s and 1960s, their brutalist expression matured notably on the University of Nebraska campus with structures like Behlen Laboratory featuring exposed concrete surfaces and fortress-like forms.