Marshall Erdman (September 29, 1922 – September 17, 1995) was a Lithuanian-American builder and colleague of Frank Lloyd Wright.

Marshall Erdman
Born
Mausas Erdmanas

(1922-09-29)September 29, 1922
DiedSeptember 17, 1995(1995-09-17) (aged 72)
NationalityLithuanian American
Alma materUniversity of Wisconsin–Madison
OccupationArchitect
PracticeMarshall Erdman & Associates

Life edit

Early life edit

Erdman was born Mausas Erdmanas on September 29, 1922, in Tverai, Lithuania. He emigrated to the United States at age 17[1] to live with an uncle in Chicago.

Education edit

Following high school, Erdman studied architecture at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He joined the United States Army Corps of Engineers in 1943, where he helped build the Remagen pontoon bridge.[2] He returned to his studies after the war, receiving a B.S. in Political Science from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1946.

Career edit

Erdman started a construction company in 1946, which he incorporated in 1951 as Marshall Erdman & Associates. An integrated healthcare design-build company, Marshall Erdman & Associates grew rapidly, expanding into six different markets throughout the U.S. In early 2008, Marshall Erdman & Associates was purchased by Cogdell Spencer, a healthcare real estate investment trust, for $247 million. This part of Marshall's legacy is now traded on the NYSE as CSA.

In addition to founding Marshall Erdman & Associates, he introduced U-Form-It prefabricated house kits to the market in 1953 and Techline office furniture in 1969.

Legacy edit

The Middleton Hills neighborhood in Middleton, Wisconsin had its first homes completed in 1996. This development is considered a Neo-traditional design.

Family edit

Erdman married Joyce Mickey (1924–1992), a UW-Madison student, in 1946,[3][4] with whom he had four children.[5] Erdman cut off ties to his remaining family members after marrying Mickey.[6]

Work edit

 
Unitarian Meeting House, Shorewood Hills, Wisconsin

Projects edit

Awards edit

References edit

  1. ^ Martell, Chris (September 21, 1995). "Son Adopts Family Business". Wisconsin State Journal. Madison, WI. p. 23. Retrieved June 9, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  2. ^ Lambert, Bruce (1995-09-29). "Marshall Erdman, 72, Producer Of Prefabricated Structures, Dies". New York Times. Retrieved 2008-02-02.
  3. ^ "William F. Rowe, Jr. in Washington Wedding". The Free Lance-Star. Fredericksburg, VA. August 19, 1946. p. 5. Retrieved June 10, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  4. ^ "Mr. and Mrs. Willis Gale Gray". The Standard-Star. New Rochelle, NY. August 16, 1946. p. 12. Retrieved June 10, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  5. ^ Wineke, William R. (September 18, 1995). "A Builder of Madison Dies". Wisconsin State Journal. Madison, WI. pp. 1, 2. Retrieved June 10, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  
  6. ^ Davidoff, Judith (September 13, 2003). "Friends Remember an Uncommon Man". The Capital Times. Madison, WI. p. 10. Retrieved June 10, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.  

Further reading edit

  • Moe, Doug; Alice D'Alessio (2003). Uncommon Sense: The Life of Marshall Erdman. Trails Custom Publishing. ISBN 1-931599-31-9.

External links edit