Solomon Andrew Layton

Solomon Andrew Layton (July 22, 1864 – February 6, 1943) was an American architect who designed over 100 public buildings in the Oklahoma City, Oklahoma area and was part of the Layton & Forsyth firm. Layton headed partnerships in Oklahoma from 1902 to 1943; his works included the Canadian County Jail in El Reno, Oklahoma State Capitol, sixteen Oklahoma courthouses, and several buildings on the University of Oklahoma campus. Layton had a considerable influence on the area's architecture, and he became known as the "dean of Oklahoma City architecture".

Biography Layton was born on July 22, 1864, in Lucas County, Iowa, to Andrew and Jennette Miller Layton. Most of his family was employed in carpentry or building, giving Layton early experience in building. In 1885, Layton married Alice Wood; the couple later had two daughters. Layton began practicing architecture in Denver in 1887; in 1902, he moved to El Reno, Oklahoma and began to design buildings in El Reno - Oklahoma City area, the most notable being the Canadian County Courthouse, (The Canadian County Courthouse was found to be structurally unsound during 1962–1964, and was demolished.) He moved to Oklahoma City in 1907. By 1911, Layton had become a recognized architect in Oklahoma City, and he bid successfully to build the Oklahoma State Capitol. He originally intended the Capitol to have a dome, but due to budgetary constraints, his vision was not realized until a dome was added to the Capitol in 2002. After the Capitol, Layton began designing skyscrapers in downtown Oklahoma City such as the Baum Building, the Medical Arts Building, and the Skirvin Hotel. During this time, Layton also designed buildings at the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma City University. Layton died on February 6, 1943; he is buried in Rose Hill Cemetery.

Architectural work Layton designed over one hundred public buildings in Oklahoma during his career. Twenty-two of his buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, an Oklahoma state record. Original Oklahoma City Public Schools Administration Building (1919) at 400 N. Walnut, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Currently being rehabilitated for occupation by the Ryan Whaley law firm.

National Register of Historic Places Buildings Beckham County Courthouse, Courthouse Square in Sayre, Oklahoma (NRHP #84002968) Braniff Building (1923) 324 North Robinson Street in Oklahoma City (NRHP #80003281) Canadian County Jail 300 S. Evans in El Reno, Oklahoma (NRHP #85002790) Daniel J. Donahoe House 302 South 7th St. Ponca City, Oklahoma (NRHP #82003686) El Reno High School at 405 South Choctaw in El Reno, Oklahoma (NRHP #0000179) Greer County Courthouse at Courthouse Square in Mangum, Oklahoma (NRHP #85000682) Mid-Continent Life Building at 1400 Classen Drive in Oklahoma City (NRHP #79002009) Oklahoma Publishing Company Building at 500 North Broadway in Oklahoma City (NRHP # 78002249) Oklahoma State Capitol 22nd St. and Lincoln Blvd. Oklahoma City OK Layton, S.A. (NRHP #76001572) Science Hall at Northwestern Oklahoma State University in Alva, Oklahoma (NRHP #83002141) Taft Middle School at 2901 NW 23rd ST in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (NRHP #07000515)