William J. Brown

The Veterans Memorial Building in Cedar Rapids, designed by associated architects William J. Brown and Harry E. Hunter, with consulting architect Henry Hornbostel, in the Neoclassical style and completed in 1928. Armstrong Hall of Cornell College, designed by Brown in the Colonial Revival style and completed in 1938. The St. James United Methodist Church in Cedar Rapids, designed by Brown in the Gothic Revival style and completed in 1954. The Monroe Elementary School in Cedar Rapids, designed by Brown & Healey in the International Style and completed in 1961. The State Historical Building in Des Moines, designed by Brown Healey Bock in the Postmodern style and completed in 1987. The National Balloon Museum in Indianola, designed by Brown Healey Bock in the Postmodern style and completed in 1988. William J. Brown (December 10, 1878 – February 4, 1970) was an American architect based in Cedar Rapids in the U.S. state of Iowa. Brown practiced architecture from 1910 until shortly before his death in 1970.

Life and career William Jay Brown, informally known as Jay Brown, was born December 10, 1878, in Urbana, Illinois, to William G. Brown, deputy clerk of the Champaign County circuit court, and Harriet A. Brown, née Wolfe. He studied architecture at the University of Illinois, graduating in 1900, and worked for prominent architects in Chicago and New York City including Holabird & Roche, Kenneth M. Murchison and John Russell Pope. In January 1910 Brown settled in Cedar Rapids, where he joined his elder brother, Frederick G. Brown, in partnership to form the firm of Brown Brothers. Frederick was also a graduate of the University of Illinois and had previously practiced in Urbana and Danville, Illinois, and in Los Angeles before moving to Cedar Rapids in 1909. His practice in Los Angeles contributed to his local success as an architect of California-style bungalows.

Their first major project, in 1910, was the Knights of Pythias Building. Frederick died in February 1911, but William stayed and completed the building in 1912. He was a sole practitioner for over forty years. In May 1953 he formed the partnership of Brown & Healey with architect Edward H. Healey. Brown was senior partner of his firm until shortly before his death.

Personal life Brown was married in 1914 to Isabel Howell. They had two children, both sons. He was a member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), the Cedar Rapids Country Club and local fraternal organizations. He served on the boards of the Cedar Rapids Art Association, now the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, and the YMCA. He died February 4, 1970, at the age of 91. In December 1981 the firm incorporated as Brown Healey Bock PC, with Healey as president. In October 1990, with Bock retired, the firm was renamed a final time to Brown Healey Stone & Sauer; Brown's name was kept for historical reasons. Major late works of the firm included the State Historical Building (1987) in Des Moines and the National Balloon Museum (1988) in Indianola, both designed chiefly by Stone. In 2001 the firm merged with the Howard R. Green Company, an engineering and consulting firm. Brown and Green had shared office space in Cedar Rapids when Green established his firm in 1913. That firm, now known as HR Green, still maintains a Cedar Rapids office as of 2024.

Several buildings designed by Brown have been listed on the United States National Register of Historic Places, and others contribute to listed historic districts.

Architectural works Brown Brothers, 1910–1911 1911 – Sinclair Memorial Chapel, Coe College, Cedar Rapids, Iowa Designed by Brown Brothers and Charles A. Dieman, associated architects. Demolished.

William J. Brown, 1911–1953 1911 – Mike Ford house, 1900 Linden Dr SE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa NRHP-listed. 1914 – Palace Theatre, 508 Sycamore St, Waterloo, Iowa NRHP-listed. 1915 – Strand Theatre, 314 3rd Ave SE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa NRHP-listed. 1924 – Franklin Middle School, 300 20th St NE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa A contributing resource to the NRHP-listed B Avenue NE Historic District. 1928 – Cedar Rapids Scottish Rite Temple, 616 A Ave NE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa Designed by William J. Brown and Henry Hornbostel, associated architects. NRHP-listed. 1928 – Elmer Moots house, 710 8th Ave NW, Mount Vernon, Iowa A contributing resource to the NRHP-listed Cornell College-Mount Vernon Historic District. 1928 – Veterans Memorial Building, 50 2nd Ave Bridge, Cedar Rapids, Iowa Designed by William J. Brown and Harry E. Hunter, associated architects, with Henry Hornbostel, consulting architect. 1930 – Pfeiffer Hall, Cornell College, Mount Vernon, Iowa Designed by Jens Fredrick Larson, architect, with William J. Brown, associate architect. 1952 – St. John's Lutheran Church, 780 Court Ave, Marengo, Iowa 1954 – St. James United Methodist Church, 1430 Ellis Blvd NW, Cedar Rapids, Iowa NRHP-listed.

Brown & Healey, 1953–1961 1956 – McAuley Hall, Mount Mercy University, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 1958 – Regis High School, 735 Prairie Dr NE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 1959 – Asbury United Methodist Church, 350 27th Ave SW, Cedar Rapids, Iowa A contributing resource to the NRHP-listed Monroe Elementary School Historic District.

Brown, Healey & Bock, 1961–1981 1962 – Christ Episcopal Church, 220 40th St NE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa A complete reconstruction within the deteriorated original church, originally designed by L. B. Dixon of Chicago and completed in 1869. 1964 – Regina Hall, Mount Mercy University, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 1966 – Gage Memorial Union, Coe College, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 1971 – Elmcrest Country Club clubhouse, 1 Zach Johnson Dr NE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 1986 – Eastern Iowa Airport terminal, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 1987 – State Historical Building, 600 East Locust St, Des Moines, Iowa 1988 – National Balloon Museum, 1601 N Jefferson Way, Indianola, Iowa 1989 – DeWitt Community Library, 917 5th Ave, DeWitt, Iowa

Brown Healey Stone & Sauer, 1990–2001 1992 – Newton Public Library, 100 N 3rd Ave W, Newton, Iowa 2002 – Germantown Community Library, N112 W16957 Mequon Rd, Germantown, Wisconsin