MID-CENTURY MODERN IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA

Architectural Biography


William R. Frizzell AIA

  • Born
    September 29, 1929, in Punta Gorda, Florida
  • Died
    November 21, 1978, in a plane crash in Volusia County, Florida, at the height of his career
  • Wife
    Margaret
  • Education
    Graduated from Florida Military Academy in 1947; earned degrees in engineering and architecture from Georgia Tech.
Career

Was a very early employee of Twitchell & Rudolph Architects, and his earliest buildings (the Bever houses and the Corbin residence) were very much influenced by the Sarasota School and by Mark Hampton of Tampa. Joined Bolton McBryde in 1955, and formed McBryde & Frizzell partnership until 1965. Formed Frizzell Architects in 1965, and headed the firm until his death in 1978.

Known for

Many local residences, including the Bever houses at 1303 and 1309 Cordova, the Corbin residence, Sunset South Condominiums (the first condominiums on Sanibel), and many public buildings, including the Fort Myers Public Library, Fort Myers City Hall (with Ray Jensen), Lee County School Administration Building, and First Federal Savings & Loan building (with Ray Jensen). Frizzell Architects was responsible for over 1000 buildings around the state of Florida.

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AIA Florida Southwest Southwest Florida Museum of History Herman Miller