Temple Buell
Temple Hoyne Buell was a civic and business leader in Colorado throughout his life.
Buell moved to Denver in 1922 after serving in the First World War and established T.H. Buell & Co., which would become the largest architectural firm in the Rocky Mountain area. The company designed more than 300 buildings in the region during its 60 years in operation. Buell also designed the first low-cost housing projects in Denver and the region. During the depression years, Buell was a leading advocate of improved housing conditions for the poor and creating work for the jobless.
While architecture was Buell’s profession, his business aspirations did not stop there. In addition to designing many notable buildings in Colorado and the region, Buell also owned the land and many of the buildings he designed, was the project developer, and provided the upfront capital for many projects. Throughout his life, Buell built multiple successful corporations.
Buell’s most notable accomplishment was the design and successful development of the Cherry Creek Shopping Center, one of the first of its kind in the country. This project was decades in the making when the mall finally opened for business in 1951. Through this work, Buell became known as the “Father of the Shopping Mall.” His design and execution changed the retail industry and resulted in changed zoning laws in unincorporated areas, which would eventually change the metropolitan Denver landscape for future generations.
The Temple Hoyne Buell Foundation was established in 1962 in order to support Buell’s charitable interests. The foundation initially focused on the education of architects, research into catastrophic illnesses, and programs to prepare young people to live healthy lives. In 1996, the board of trustees changed the emphasis of the foundation to focus primarily on programs in the areas of early childhood development and education. Since 1962, the foundation has grown its endowment to $258 million and has granted approximately $100 million to worthy organizations throughout the state.
Buell’s distinctive career and numerous achievements were recognized with the awarding of honorary doctorate degrees from Columbia University and the University of Colorado among other awards. Buell died in 1990 at the age of 94.
Buell moved to Denver in 1922 after serving in the First World War and established T.H. Buell & Co., which would become the largest architectural firm in the Rocky Mountain area. The company designed more than 300 buildings in the region during its 60 years in operation. Buell also designed the first low-cost housing projects in Denver and the region. During the depression years, Buell was a leading advocate of improved housing conditions for the poor and creating work for the jobless.
While architecture was Buell’s profession, his business aspirations did not stop there. In addition to designing many notable buildings in Colorado and the region, Buell also owned the land and many of the buildings he designed, was the project developer, and provided the upfront capital for many projects. Throughout his life, Buell built multiple successful corporations.
Buell’s most notable accomplishment was the design and successful development of the Cherry Creek Shopping Center, one of the first of its kind in the country. This project was decades in the making when the mall finally opened for business in 1951. Through this work, Buell became known as the “Father of the Shopping Mall.” His design and execution changed the retail industry and resulted in changed zoning laws in unincorporated areas, which would eventually change the metropolitan Denver landscape for future generations.
The Temple Hoyne Buell Foundation was established in 1962 in order to support Buell’s charitable interests. The foundation initially focused on the education of architects, research into catastrophic illnesses, and programs to prepare young people to live healthy lives. In 1996, the board of trustees changed the emphasis of the foundation to focus primarily on programs in the areas of early childhood development and education. Since 1962, the foundation has grown its endowment to $258 million and has granted approximately $100 million to worthy organizations throughout the state.
Buell’s distinctive career and numerous achievements were recognized with the awarding of honorary doctorate degrees from Columbia University and the University of Colorado among other awards. Buell died in 1990 at the age of 94.
