Urbahn has been a leader in architecture and planning for sixty years. Where did we come from? What have we done? Where are we going? Read on.
 

1940's - "Launching Urbahn"

Shortly after receiving his Masters of Architecture from Yale University, Maximilian Otto Urbahn founded the firm with Jeffrey Reisner in 1946. Max set the stage for high quality service to the public by focusing his practice on schools and religious institutions.
 

1950's - "Making our Name"

A decade of optimism for Americans, the 50’s were also upbeat at Urbahn. Building on his stature, charm, and design excellence, Max won a number of major commissions. The success of our design work on these projects resulted in Urbahn’s widespread recognition. In addition to master planning several major university campuses, Urbahn delved into the design of significant national defense complexes.

1960's - "Urbahn in Space"

The 60's was an era of challenges - no challenge was greater or more part of the national psyche than the Space Race. Urbahn designed the Vehicle Assembly Building, a critical component in President Kennedy's challenge to land a man to the moon by the end of the decade. Then-future Urbahn President, Marty Stein was hired to manage the NASA design projects. Meanwhile, Urbahn designed increasingly significant higher education and healthcare commissions.

1970's - "Think Global..."

Urbahn’s successes of the previous decade were the springboard for major triumphs during the 1970’s. The success of our NASA projects launched Urbahn into a new era of global recognition. The firm's work included major healthcare systems planning, public hospitals, research science facilities, international banks, military installations and government office buildings. Our work ranged from New York to Batavia, Illinois and from Europe to Africa and the Middle East.

1980's -"A Time of Change"

The 80’s were a time of transition at Urbahn. Max was retiring, Marty Stein was taking the helm, and our present partners were rising within the organization. Our traditional clients were changing their business practices - competition for architectural commissions became fierce, construction schedules brief and budgets severe. Rather than succumb to a declining economy and unfamiliar challenges, Urbahn adapted to the new business climate and designed a startling array of new facilities while expanding services.

1990's - "Serving the Public Need"

1990's were a time of great challenges and great hopes. A spirit of urban revitalization helped drive the desire to improve our cities' quality of life. For Urbahn, our commitment to the serving the greater public need translated into dynamic new educational environments, revitalized mass transit facilities and justice centers that met rapidly shifting societal needs.

2000's - "New Frontiers"

The new millennium has ushered in new challenges - from the promise of biotechnology to the dramatic changes in fields such as education and healthcare. Urbahn's mission to serve the greater good and look towards the future continues to resonate in all of our work. While technological advances have permeated virtually every sector of society, our ability to meet new challenges is built on the foundations laid over a half century ago.