Willis Polk

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Willis Jefferson Polk (October 3, 1867-September 10, 1924) was an American architect most well known for his work in San Francisco, California. He was born in Jacksonville, Illinois and was related to United States President James Polk. Addison Mizner was one of his apprentices.

Willis Polk's early career included work with McKim, Mead & White, as well as Bernard Maybeck^[1]. Polk also worked with Daniel Burnham in Chicago, and then moved to San Francisco to establish and direct Burnham's San Francisco office. Before long, Polk started his own firm and spent many years designing highly regarded California commercial and residential architecture.

Polk was a highly versatile architect, with particular skill in combining classical styles with environmental harmony. He was highly regarded for his elegant residential work, mainly in mansions and estates, in the Georgian Revival style for wealthy and prominent San Francisco residents.

After the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire he was a member of Mayor Eugene Schmitz's Committee of Fifty leaders who undertook ambitious plans to rebuild a world-class city.

[edit] Notable Polk buildings

Example of a Polk-designed house in San Francisco

Palace of Fine Arts (Polk was the Supervising Architect of the 1915 Exposition)^[1] Pacific Union Club Hallidie Building Sunol Water Temple Filoli Estate The reconstruction of Mission Dolores (1917) which was damaged in the 1906 earthquake The Carolands Chateau, following the plans of French home designer Ernest Sanson Le Petit Trianon 86 Sea View, Piedmont CA (for James K. Moffitt) 22 Roble Road, Berkeley CA (for Duncan McDuffie) 2550 Webster Street, San Francisco CA (for William Bowers Bourn II, which made clinker brick famous)