Wittenberg, Delony & Davidson

Wittenberg, Delony & Davidson
Company type	Architectural firm
Industry	Architecture
Founded	1919 in Little Rock, Arkansas, United States
Founder	George H. Wittenberg, Lawson L. Delony
Headquarters	North Little Rock, United States
Key people	Chad Young (current principal), Richard Alderman (former president), Thomas A. Gray (former president), Gordon G. Wittenberg (former president)
Products	Architectural design services

Wittenberg, Delony & Davidson is a United States-based architectural firm established in 1919 in Little Rock, Arkansas originally under the name Wittenberg & Delony by architects George H. Wittenberg and Lawson L. Delony. Leadership transitioned to Gordon G. Wittenberg, George's son, in 1959, followed by Thomas A. Gray, who enhanced the firm's reputation for exceptional design quality. Currently headquartered in North Little Rock, Arkansas, the firm operates under the name WDD Architects.

History

The firm began as Wittenberg & Delony in 1919 when childhood friends George H. Wittenberg and Lawson L. Delony launched their practice in Little Rock. Early on, business was modest; Wittenberg supplemented earnings by teaching mechanical drawing and coaching football teams. Their prominence rose significantly in 1925 after being selected as one of three architectural firms to design the new Little Rock High School (completed 1927), which firmly established their professional standing. The company developed a specialization in educational facilities, collegiate buildings, courthouses, and completed the Robinson Center (1939) amidst the economic challenges of the Great Depression.

Following World War II, the firm expanded to become Wittenberg, Delony & Davidson with the addition of Julian B. Davidson. They continued focusing on academic and civic architecture while incorporating large-scale commercial projects such as the Arkansas Power and Light Building (1959). Over fifty years, they served as the sole architects for Southern Arkansas University and also collaborated extensively with the University of Arkansas and Arkansas Tech University.

In 1952, Gordon G. Wittenberg joined the partnership; his father George passed away in 1953. The firm was formally incorporated in 1959 with Gordon appointed as its inaugural president. Key projects during the 1960s and 1970s included Arkansas State Hospital (1965) and the Regions Center (1975), which was then Little Rock’s tallest structure. After Davidson retired in 1972, Jack See assumed principal responsibilities; Thomas A. Gray succeeded Gordon Wittenberg as president in 1976. Gray retired in 1987 and was followed by Tom Adams, who steered the firm into prison facility design amid a surge of correctional construction during the 1980s and 1990s.

Richard Alderman became president in 2012 after joining as principal in 1984. In 2019, Chad Young—principal since 2002—assumed leadership and currently heads the firm.

George H. Wittenberg

George Hyde Wittenberg (1892–1953), born in Little Rock, completed his education at the University of Illinois. After initial employment in Peoria, he returned to Little Rock in 1918 to work with Thomas Harding before co-founding the architectural practice. A member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), he served on Little Rock’s planning commission and was an advocate for architectural licensing regulations, earning license number one in Arkansas in 1941. His grandson, George H. Wittenberg III, also became a licensed architect within the firm.

Wittenberg was married to Minnie Greenfield and fathered three children; he passed away at age 61 in Little Rock.

Lawson L. Delony

Lawson Leonard Delony (1890–1976) received his education at Illinois followed by postgraduate studies at Columbia University. He gained experience working for George B. Post & Sons and served during World War I before returning to Little Rock in 1919 to establish his career. As an AIA member, Delony played a significant role in local infrastructure development, including service on Little Rock’s waterworks commission from 1949 to 1972 where he influenced creation of Lake Maumelle, which remains a vital water supply for the city.

Delony married Joyce Manning and had two children; he died at age 86 in Little Rock.

Julian B. Davidson

Julian Bunn Davidson (1906–1997) was a dedicated architect based in Little Rock throughout his career. After earning his degree from Washington University in St. Louis in 1928, he joined the firm Wittenberg & Delony. Notably, he became the first architect in Arkansas to obtain an engineering license, thereby strengthening the firm's technical capabilities.

Davidson was married to Irene Davis McCall, and together they had one child. With a passion for railroads, he designed his family residence to overlook nearby train tracks. He passed away at the age of 91.

Gordon G. Wittenberg

Gordon Greenfield Wittenberg (1921–2020) completed his education at the University of Arkansas and later earned a BS in Architectural Engineering from the University of Illinois in 1943. Following service in the air force during World War II, he joined the architectural practice. An esteemed AIA Fellow since 1967, Wittenberg was honored with the Fay Jones Gold Medal by AIA Arkansas in 1992 for his significant professional achievements.

In collaboration with Charles Witsell, he co-wrote Architects of Little Rock, 1833-1950 in 2014, a work that received the Dick Savage Award recognizing excellence in historical research.

Wittenberg married twice and fathered two sons. He died at 98 years old in Little Rock.

Thomas A. Gray

Thomas Albert Gray (December 16, 1928 – December 21, 2014), originally from Indianapolis, graduated with a BS from the University of Cincinnati in 1953. After serving in the air force until 1957, he joined Wittenberg, Delony & Davidson. Gray was elected an AIA Fellow in 1984 and was awarded the Fay Jones Gold Medal in 2003. He was married to Ruth Ann and had two children. Gray died at age 86 in Little Rock.

Jack See

Jack Fletcher See Jr. (born April 9, 1935) is a Little Rock-based architect who earned his Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Arkansas in 1958, studying under E. Fay Jones. He further obtained a Master of Architecture degree from Yale University in 1962. Upon returning to Little Rock, he joined the firm and advanced to become director of interior design by 1970. See was named an AIA Fellow in 2009 and received the Fay Jones Gold Medal in 2008. He married Judy Park in 1958; they have two children.

Legacy

During the 1960s and 1970s, the firm achieved national acclaim by securing three Progressive Architecture Awards for projects such as Arkansas State Hospital (1963), Henderson Junior High School (1964), and Arkansas Department of Health offices (1966). More than ten of their works are listed on the United States National Register of Historic Places, reflecting their significant impact on both the market and architectural profession.

Wittenberg & Delony, 1919-1946

1922 – Arkansas Christian College Administration Building, Morrilton, Arkansas
1925 – Gay Oil Company Building, Little Rock
1927 – Little Rock Central High School, Little Rock; collaboration with Mann & Stern and John Parks Almand; designated National Historic Landmark
1929 – Dunbar Junior and Senior High School and Junior College, Little Rock; included within NRHP-listed historic district
1932 – First United Methodist Church, Camden, Arkansas
1935 – University of Arkansas Chemistry Building, Fayetteville
1936 – Cross and Nelson Halls, Southern Arkansas University, Magnolia
1936 – Faulkner County Courthouse, Conway
1937 – Gibson Hall, University of Arkansas
1939 – Arch Ford Education Building, Little Rock
1939 – Robinson Center (Little Rock), Little Rock; co-designed with Eugene J. Stern; listed on NRHP
1940 – Independence County Courthouse, Batesville
1943 – Lincoln County Courthouse (Arkansas), Star City
1943 – Overstreet Hall, Southern Arkansas University, Magnolia

Wittenberg, Delony & Davidson, since 1946

1948 – Gregson Hall, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas
1950 – Bussey Hall, Southern Arkansas University, Magnolia, Arkansas (part of the Dolph Camp, Bussey and Peace Halls Historic District, listed on the NRHP in 2013)
1951 – Julian Bunn Davidson House, Little Rock, Arkansas (family residence of Davidson; included in NRHP)
1951 – Peace Hall, Southern Arkansas University, Magnolia, Arkansas
1952 – Synagogue Agudath Achim, Little Rock, Arkansas (no longer standing)
1956 – Piggott National Guard Armory, Piggott, Arkansas (NRHP-listed)
1957 – Dolph Camp Hall, Southern Arkansas University, Magnolia, Arkansas
1958 – President's House, Southern Arkansas University, Magnolia, Arkansas (NRHP-listed)
1959 – Arkansas Power and Light Building, Little Rock, Arkansas (Fred E. Arnold Jr. was the architect; NRHP-listed)
1960 – Empire Life Insurance Company Building, Little Rock, Arkansas (designed by Gray; listed on NRHP)
1960 – Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse, Hot Springs, Arkansas (NRHP-listed)
1963 – Booker Junior High School, Little Rock, Arkansas
1963 – Thomas Gray House, Little Rock, Arkansas (Gray’s personal residence; NRHP-listed)
1963 – Addition to Majestic Hotel Lanai Towers, Hot Springs, Arkansas (demolished)
1963 – McEver Hall, Arkansas Tech University, Russellville, Arkansas
1963 – Talbot Hall at Southern Arkansas University, Magnolia (part of Greene-Talbot-Talley Halls Historic District; NRHP-listed in 2023)
1964 – Central Arkansas Milk Producers Association office building in Little Rock (demolished)
1964 – Former Henderson Junior High School in Little Rock (designed by Fred E. Arnold Jr.)
1964 – Talley Hall at Southern Arkansas University, Magnolia
1965 – Campus of Arkansas State Hospital in Little Rock (Fred E. Arnold Jr. design)
1965 – Mountain View Towers in Hot Springs
1966 – Office building for Arkansas Louisiana Gas Company in Little Rock (demolished)
1966 – Greene Hall at Southern Arkansas University
1967 – Olin C. Bailey Library at Hendrix College, Conway (collaboration with Philip Johnson; later demolished)
1968 – David W. Mullins Library at University of Arkansas
1968 – Second Presbyterian Church in Little Rock
1969 – Office building for Arkansas Department of Health in Little Rock
1969 – Residence of Gordon G. Wittenberg in Little Rock
1970 – Headquarters for Riceland Foods in Stuttgart
1970 – Wilson Hall at Southern Arkansas University
1972 – Fred W. Parris Towers in Little Rock (NRHP-listed)
1972 – Wharton Nursing Building at Southern Arkansas University
1973 – Arkansas Union at University of Arkansas
1974 – Cumberland Towers in Little Rock (NRHP-listed)
1975 – Mills Center for the Social Sciences and Regions Center located respectively in Conway and Little Rock; the latter was the tallest building in Little Rock until 1986
1977 – Christ the King Catholic Church in Little Rock (primarily designed by Fred E. Arnold Jr.)
1978 – Business Building at University of Arkansas
1980 – North Arkansas College facility in Harrison
1983 – Fausett Hall along with various projects completed by 1994 at Hendrix College in Conway
Subsequent works comprise Donald W. Reynolds Center for Academic Excellence at Arkansas State University Mid-South (2000), Har-Ber High School in Springdale (2005), Bear Stadium at University of Central Arkansas (2009), and Maumelle High School (2011)

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