A great Chicago architect passed away recently, one who has been central to the origin story of our firm. Below, in his son’s words, is the story of Norm Koglin, whose entrepreneurial spirit and problem-solving prowess live on at OKW to this day.
In memoriam
OKW is always looking to the future, knowing it is built on our past. That recognition means being good stewards of the legacy and history of this 60+ year-old architectural and interiors practice, and of the memory of those who took the original leap of faith to start this business many years ago.
On October 23, at the age of 96, one of those originals passed away. Norman Koglin was truly one of a kind. An architect, amateur race car driver, global traveler, father and grandpa, he was born in Chicago to a German engineer and the daughter of a gifted bronze sculptor. Norm would follow in their artistic footsteps, thriving in Lane Tech High School’s drafting classes and at the University of Illinois School of Architecture, from where he would graduate in 1951.
Shortly after graduation, he was drafted into the army. He was lucky to avoid the Korean War directly and instead arrived in France, where he led an architectural department working on various small building renovation projects for the military. While on leave, he traveled throughout Europe, developing a lifelong travel bug.
After his discharge, he returned home to begin his career. Chicago was in a post-war boom and Norm was influenced by the large-scale work of Mies, Bertrand Goldberg, Bruce Graham and Walter Netsch, and residential projects by the Keck brothers. After several years working for small firms, he made the leap to global giant, Skidmore, Owings and Merrill.
At SOM, he had the privilege of working on the final phases of the Air Force Academy alongside another young draftsman named Stanley Tigerman. Norm spent his remaining years there working on high rise office structures in downtown Chicago; one of those buildings was a new headquarters for Harris Bank. When the call came for SOM to provide an on-site space planner, Norm was tapped for the role. Architectural space planning and interior design were in their infancy and Norm found that he truly enjoyed it and recognized its growth potential.
In 1967, he left SOM to open his own practice. Like most start-ups, he took on pretty much whatever work came in the door, ranging from offices for small law firms and brokers, to designing the Golf Mill Theatres. Back from his stint at Yale University, Stanley Tigerman joined Norm and formed Tigerman and Koglin.
After two years of mixed success, the two friends split up and Norman A. Koglin Associates resumed with a focus on corporate planning and design. Over the next few years, the firm grew and became a successful and respected practice with a nationwide presence. Clients such as Harris Bank, Paribas Becker, Chicago Corporation, and Swiss Bank would consult with NAKA on their office needs.
Two decades later in 1993, the firm would be purchased by Andy Koglin and Bob Wilson to become Koglin-Wilson Architects. With their merger in 1999 with Otis Associates, that modest firm, which began out of a tiny sublet Loop office in 1967, became what is now OKW Architects, LLC.
After selling the firm, Norm retired with his late wife Bernie. They spent their golden years traveling through Europe, Asia, and Australia, making regular visits to their children and grandchildren scattered throughout the US, and cruising on their boat through the estuaries of southwest Florida.
Norm leaves behind a legacy of work that is inextricably linked to the world-renowned DNA of Chicago architecture. His entrepreneurial, client-focused, and relationship-building spirit, which drove him to start and build his practice, remains a critical element of OKW today.