Background
Philip Sawyer was born in 1868 in New London, Connecticut, United States.
Philip Sawyer was born in 1868 in New London, Connecticut, United States.
Mr. Sawyer first studied Civil Engineering, and in 1888 served with the U. S. Geological Survey in New Mexico, later was in charge of the Irrigation Survey of the Yellowstone in Wyoming. Turning his attention to architecture, the young man received a preparatory education at Columbia University and the Paris Ecole des Beaux Arts.
Following which he began work as a draftsman with the New York firm of McKim, Mead & White.
In 1904 he joined Mr. York in organizing the firm in which the partners enjoyed a long and successful career. Noteworthy buildings in New York designed in their office include the Federal Reserve Bank, #33 Liberty Street; Academy of Medicine, 5th Avenue at 103rd Street; Pershing Square Office Building; Bowery Savings Bank and the Greenwich Savings Bank; Guaranty Trust Company Building; Rockefeller Hospital; Manhattan Ear, Eye and Throat, and the Fifth Avenue and Orthopaedic Hospitals. The firm also was chosen to design the Department of Commerce Building and the Riggs National Bank in Washington, D. C., Federal Building and General Hospital, Honolulu, Hawaii, the Royal Bank of Canada at Montreal, Law Buildings at the University of Michigan, and Children's Village, Dobbs Ferry, N. Y.
Following the death of his partner in 1928, Mr. Sawyer continued practice under the firm name, and in later years maintained an office at #101 Park Avenue, while his home was at #660 Park Avenue.
Prominent professionally he had been a member of the Beaux Arts Society of Architects, New York Chapter, A.I.A., and after being elected to Institute Fellowship in 1907, was made a Life Member in 1927.