Chloethiel Woodard Smith
“I’m an architect with a capital A.
Being a woman has nothing to do with it.” Old Oregon Alumni Publication, 1979 Chloethiel Woodard Smith, FAIA, was the sixth woman inaugurated into the American Institute of Architects College of Fellows and one of the first women to have a nationally recognized reputation in American architecture. At the peak of her practice in Washington DC, she led the country’s largest woman-owned architecture firm. Chloethiel made a point of never casting herself as a “Woman Architect” and was adamantly against being defined by her gender. “She would walk into a room full of male developers and put them in their place,” chuckled Arthur Cotton Moore, a distinguished Washington DC architect who worked for her in the 1960s. “She was a strong, unique figure. There really was not anyone else like her.” Chloethiel played a large role in shaping the urban fabric of post-war Washington DC. The redevelopment of its southwest quadrant was among her most notable large-scale, urban planning commissions (See below). Less known are her contributions to architecture in Maryland, most in the suburbs surrounding Washington DC, but some as far as Annapolis and St. Michaels. In Rockville, Chloethiel was the architect of choice for the Chestnut Lodge Research and Therapy Center for Children (now demolished). She designed its recreational and occupational therapy complex to be expandable with standardized wall panels, steel frame structure, and exposed web beams that created open, flexible interiors. Large areas of glazing alleviated a sense of confinement among the patients and encouraged participation in the outdoor activities. As described in Architectural Forum in 1955, the recreation center was an “outstanding” example of a health facility created through close collaboration of architects and hospital administrators. In the early 50’s, the firm where she partnered developed simple, quick-to-construct tract homes in rapidly expanding Silver Spring and Bethesda. But it is her custom home designs that truly showcased her modern sensibilities. Elizabeth A. Creveling writes of one early custom home: “There is no attempt to recall a past style; rather a new domestic vision through clean lines and simple materials.” It’s that vision as an architect that stood her apart with a capital A. Timeline1910 - Born Chloethiel Blanche Woodard on February 2 to Oliver & Coy Woodard in Peoria, IL
1922 - Family moves to Portland, OR and builds their home, sparking her early interest in architecture 1928-1932 - Attends University of Oregon; - Graduates with high honors & Bachelor of Architecture (Signal Light Tower,1930, and image of a young Chloethiel from University of Oregon Archives) 1929-1931 - Work summers as junior draftsman Portland, OR & Seattle, WA 1933 - Receives Master of Architecture in City Planning, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 1933-1935 - Design Associate in the studio of Henry Wright in New York 1935-1939 - Moves to the Washington DC; - Works for the Rental Housing Division, Federal Housing Authority; - Rises to Senior Architect - Chief of Planning & Research for Large Scale Housing Division 1938 - Receives license to practice architecture, Washington DC 1939 - Co-curates exhibition Washington, Planned City Without a Plan 1940-1941 - Marries Bromley Keables Smith, news editor for Washington Daily News who joins Foreign Service & is posted to Montreal, Canada; - Chloethiel creates exhibit City for Living while working in Montreal 1942 - Becomes a Professor of Architecture and City Planning, University of San Andres while husband is stationed in La Paz, Bolivia 1944 - Receives Guggenheim Fellowship; - Travels through South America studying urban planning history 1946 - Returns to Washington, DC - Joins Berla and Abel Architects - Becomes AIA DC member - Son, Bromley Keables Smith, Jr born 1947 - Project: Rioch Residence, Chevy Chase wins Washington Board of Trade Architecture Award 1948 - Project: Miller Residence, Rockville 1949 - c. Projects: Rowen Residence “Upside Down House,” Chevy Chase (Image courtesy Modern Capital) 1951 - Project: House Beautiful features Hershfang Residence, Washington DC; - Serves as director for the Housing Research Foundation 1951-1956 - Becomes Partner in the firm of Keyes, Smith, Satterlee & Lethbridge 1952 - Daughter, Susanne Woodard Smith, born 1952 - Projects: Tract homes Forestvale, Silver Spring & High Point, Bethesda 1953 - Project: Bullard Residence, Annapolis 1955 - Projects: Dr. Dyrud Home Office, Chevy Chase; Lewis Residence, Potomac; Recreational Center at Chestnut Lodge Research Center and Therapy Hospital for Children, Rockville (Additions 1958 & 1972) 1956-1963 - Principal in firm of Satterlee & Smith 1957 - Washington Board of Trade Award for Architecture for Wilmott Lewis Stable, Potomac (Photograph by Robert C. Lautman) 1958 - Project: Washburn Residence, St. Michaels 1959 - Receives license to practice architecture in Maryland 1959-1963 - Project: Capitol Park Apartments & Townhouses, SW, Washington, DC 1960 - Elevated to AIA College of Fellows; National AIA Award of Merit for Capitol Park Project 1963-1982 - Directs firm of Chloethiel Woodard Smith & Associated Architects 1965 - Project: Addition to St. Andrews Episcopal Church, College Park 1965-1968 - Project: Washington Channel Bridge Proposal, Washington DC (Image shown courtesy National Building Museum) 1966 - Projects: Pension Building Use Study for Washington DC (becomes National Building Museum); Bindeman Residence, Bethesda; Spa Creek Townhouse Condominiums, Annapolis 1967-1976 - Serves on the U.S. Commission of the Fine Arts 1969 - Projects: Wilde Lake High Rise, Columbia; Consolidated Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, Beltsville 1970 - September issue of Life Magazine features Chloethiel in “Women Arise” where she rejects the Women’s Liberation movement - Project: Addition and renovation to Smith Residence, Chevy Chase (Image courtesy Modern Capital) 1983 - Retires from practice (Image from Univ. of Oregon 100 Alumni Stories) 1985 - YWCA votes her their “Woman of the Year” 1987 - Husband passes away 1989 - Receives AIA DC Centennial Medal for “continuous service to the chapter, the community and the profession” 1992 - Passes away on December 30 in Hampton, SC at age 82 |
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