Robert C. Broward (March 30, 1926 – June 28, 2015) was an architect and author based in Jacksonville, Florida. He had a 61-year professional career during which he designed more than 500 projects.[1] He was an adjunct Professor of Design at the University of Florida for more than four decades. He is known for his water effects including spilling effects with a decorative and sonic element, taking advantage of Florida's frequent rainstorms. His designs often included the work of local painters, sculptors and mixed-media artists. His works included small houses and chapels, large warehouses and office buildings, churches, art museums, movie theatres and large high-rises.[2]

Broward attended Landon High School in Jacksonville. After graduating in 1944, he served in the United States Army Air Corps, then studied architecture at Georgia Tech. He studied with Frank Lloyd Wright at both Taliesin and Taliesin West.[3]

Jim Moran commissioned Broward to create the Deerfield Beach corporate campus for JM Family Enterprises in 1981. Broward incorporated an oriental flair in the building's architecture in recognition of the Japanese company that manufactured Toyotas.[4]

Among Broward's writings is a book about Henry John Klutho and The Prairie School in Jacksonville.[2][5] In 2011 he was selected as a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects.[6] An issue of a national architectural journal, Friends of Kebyar, was devoted to his work, and he was inducted into the Florida Artists Hall of Fame in 2012.[2]

Broward died on June 28, 2015, following a stroke. He was 89 years old.[3]

Projects

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  • Sharecroppers' chapel in West Georgia (completed at the age of 23)
  • Oceanfront residences and corporate headquarters for Southeast Toyota
  • Unitarian Universalist Church of Jacksonville (1965), named by Broward as his favorite of his Jacksonville buildings[5][7][8]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Charlie Patton, "Jacksonville architect Robert Broward finally chronicles family's long history in Florida", The Florida Times-Union, December 17, 2011.
  2. ^ a b c Robert C. Broward
  3. ^ a b Charlie Patton, "Architect Robert C. Broward 1926-2015: 'One of our regional treasures'", The Florida Times-Union, June 28, 2015.
  4. ^ Pounds, Marcia Heroux (20 September 2018). "JM Family embarks on grand-scale project to add green spaces, dining hall, sports complex to Deerfield HQ". Sun-sentinel.com. South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  5. ^ a b Lee Butcher, "Broward in his environment as an independent architect", Jacksonville Business Journal, May 23, 2005.
  6. ^ "2011 FAIA Announcement", American Institute of Architects (accessed 2015-03-17).
  7. ^ Jane Greer, "The church in the hill: Architect of Jacksonville, Fla., church wanted building to look like an extension of the land." UU World, Spring 2007.
  8. ^ Unitarian Universalist Church, Florida Top 100 Building Survey, AIA Florida (accessed 2015-03-18).