Leoni W. Robinson

The Welch Training School in New Haven, Connecticut, designed by Leoni W. Robinson and built in 1883. Leoni W. Robinson (1851-1923) was a leading architect in New Haven, Connecticut.

Life and career Leoni Warren Robinson was born September 26, 1851, in New Haven, Connecticut, to Warren Robinson, a builder, and Sarah Howard (Woodward) Robinson. He was one of eight children. The family lived in Ohio from 1854 to 1857 and in Janesville, Wisconsin, from 1857 to 1863 before returning to New Haven. He attended the local public schools and received preliminary architectural training in the office of Henry Austin. In 1870 he moved to New York City and joined the office of architect Robert G. Hatfield. In 1874, on Hatfield's recommendation, he joined the Office of the Supervising Architect in Washington, DC, where he worked on large Federal projects under Supervising Architects Alfred B. Mullett, William A. Potter and James G. Hill. In 1877 and 1878 he traveled in Europe, and when he returned to the United States he opened his own office as an architect in New Haven. By this time he was the leading architect in New Haven. Gray & Lawrence were responsible for the Little Theatre of New Haven, built in 1924 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. For a time he was president of the Connecticut chapter. Robinson was also affiliated with the Architectural League of New York and the Connecticut Society of Civil Engineers. For two years he was a member of the Board of Education of New Haven.

Robinson died February 12, 1923, at home in New Haven at the age of 71.

Legacy In 1917 Robinson was among the founders of the Architectural Club of New Haven, later the Connecticut Architectural League, and was its first president. It is not known if the medal was awarded after 1929.

Robinson designed at least five buildings that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and others contribute to listed historic districts.

Architectural works Welch Training School (former), 495 Congress St, New Haven, Connecticut (1883, NRHP 1983) Lovell School (former), 25 Lawrence St, New Haven, Connecticut (1884) Episcopal Church of the Ascension (former), 375 Howard Ave, New Haven, Connecticut (1887) Horace Day School (former), 91 Rosette St, New Haven, Connecticut (1888) Southern New England Telephone Company Building, 122 Court St, New Haven, Connecticut (1889, demolished) Union School, 174 Center St, West Haven, Connecticut (1890, NRHP 1987) House for Augustus H. Kimberly, 271 Whitney Ave, New Haven, Connecticut (1891) Monson Building, 760 Chapel St, New Haven, Connecticut (1891) Quinnipiac Brewery addition, 1 Brewery Sq, Fair Haven, New Haven, Connecticut (1896, NRHP 1983) Roger Sherman School (former), 765 Elm St, New Haven, Connecticut (1896) House for Oliver C. Andrews, 24 Edgehill Rd, New Haven, Connecticut (1899) First Baptist Church, (Designed in association with Clarence H.) Blackall of Boston. New Haven Water Company Building, 100 Crown St, New Haven, Connecticut (1903) House for Thomas D. Goodell, 35 Edgehill Rd, New Haven, Connecticut (1904) House for Philip E. Browning, 23 Edgehill Rd, New Haven, Connecticut (1905) Trinity Church on the Green nave reconstruction, 230 Temple St, New Haven, Connecticut (1906) Buildings for the Winchester Repeating Arms Company, 275 Winchester Ave, New Haven, Connecticut (1908 et seq.) Southern New England Telephone Company Building, 31 West St, Danbury, Connecticut (1908) Southern New England Telephone Company Building, 185 Pearl St, Hartford, Connecticut (1911, demolished) Optical Building, 849 Chapel St, New Haven, Connecticut (1912) Southern New England Telephone Company Building Addition, 126 Court St, New Haven, Connecticut (1916, altered 1929)

Gallery of architectural works