Arthur G. Odell Jr.

The former Camille Dreyfus Laboratory of the Research Triangle Institute, completed in 1961. Triangle Universities Nuclear Laboratory, completed in 1965. DeTamble Library of St. Andrews University, completed in 1968.

Arthur G. Odell Jr. (1913–1988) was an American architect in practice in Charlotte, North Carolina, from 1940 to 1982. He was founder of the practice now known as Odell Associates and was president of the American Institute of Architects for the year 1964–65.

Life and career Arthur Gould Odell Jr., often known as Gouldie Odell, was born November 22, 1913, in Concord, North Carolina, to Arthur Gould Odell and Grace (Patterson) Odell. He attended Duke University and Cornell University, graduating with a B.Arch. from the latter in 1935. He then spent a year abroad, studying in the atelier of Jacques Debat-Ponsan of the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris. After he returned to the United States he worked for Harrison & Fouilhoux and Raymond Loewy in New York City before returning to North Carolina, opening an office in Charlotte in 1940. His practice was interrupted by World War II, and in 1941 he enlisted in the Corps of Engineers, and attained the rank of lieutenant colonel. In 1945 he reestablished his practice as A. G. Odell Jr. & Associates. During his career, Odell's office won more than 75 design awards.

Odell was also involved in urban and campus planning, creating master and redevelopment plans for Charlotte and Raleigh as well as plans for St. Andrews University and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. These were less well received than his architectural work. His Charlotte plan paved the way for the demolition and redevelopment of large portions of the historic city core. In Raleigh, his plan for the Halifax Mall for the state government north of the North Carolina State Capitol caused widespread demolition, and his now-removed Fayetteville Street Mall to the south severely disrupted the city's existing urban pattern. Odell also designed the centerpiece buildings for both projects: The Archdale Building and the Raleigh Civic and Convention Center, which has since been demolished to restore the former street pattern.

Personal life Odell was married to Polly Robinson in 1941. Following a divorce, he married Mary Walker in 1951. He had three children.

Legacy A number of architects later prominent in North Carolina and elsewhere worked in Odell's office. These include Harvey Gantt, later Mayor of Charlotte, and Harry Wolf. In 1973 several architects from his firm left to form the large firm of Clark, Tribble, Harris & Li, architects of 100 East Wisconsin in Milwaukee and other skyscrapers. Double Oaks Elementary School, 1326 Woodward Ave, Charlotte, North Carolina (1955) Campus plan and buildings, St. Andrews University, Laurinburg, North Carolina (1959–61 et seq.) Charlottetown Mall, Charlotte, North Carolina (1959, demolished 2006) Camille Dreyfus Laboratory, Research Triangle Institute, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina (1961, demolished 2011) Archdale Building, 512 N Salisbury St, Raleigh, North Carolina (1977) R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company headquarters (former), 1100 Reynolds Blvd, Winston-Salem, North Carolina (1978)