# Solomon Andrew Layton

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Solomon_Andrew_Layton
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Solomon_Andrew_Layton.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solomon_Andrew_Layton
> Source revision: 1299995633
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

**Solomon Andrew Layton** (July 22, 1864 – February 6, 1943) was an American [architect](/source/Architect) who designed over 100 public buildings in the [Oklahoma City, Oklahoma](/source/Oklahoma_City,_Oklahoma) area and was part of the [Layton & Forsyth](/source/Layton_%26_Forsyth) firm. Layton headed partnerships in Oklahoma from 1902 to 1943; his works included the [Canadian County Jail](/source/Canadian_County_Jail_and_Stable) in El Reno, [Oklahoma State Capitol](/source/Oklahoma_State_Capitol), sixteen Oklahoma courthouses, and several buildings on the [University of Oklahoma](/source/University_of_Oklahoma) campus. Layton had a considerable influence on the area's architecture, and he became known as the "dean of Oklahoma City architecture".[1]

## Biography

Layton was born on July 22, 1864, in [Lucas County, Iowa](/source/Lucas_County,_Iowa), to Andrew and Jennette Miller Layton. Most of his family was employed in [carpentry](/source/Carpentry) or building, giving Layton early experience in building. In 1885, Layton married Alice Wood; the couple later had two daughters. Layton began practicing architecture in [Denver](/source/Denver) in 1887; in 1902, he moved to [El Reno, Oklahoma](/source/El_Reno,_Oklahoma) and began to design buildings in El Reno - Oklahoma City area, the most notable being the Canadian County Courthouse,[a] and the [Canadian County Jail](/source/Canadian_County_Jail_and_Stable).[2] He moved to Oklahoma City in 1907. By 1911, Layton had become a recognized architect in Oklahoma City, and he bid successfully to build the [Oklahoma State Capitol](/source/Oklahoma_State_Capitol). He originally intended the Capitol to have a dome, but due to budgetary constraints, his vision was not realized until a dome was added to the Capitol in 2002. After the Capitol, Layton began designing [skyscrapers](/source/Skyscraper) in downtown Oklahoma City such as the [Baum Building](/source/Baum_Building), the [Medical Arts Building](/source/100_Park_Avenue_Building), and the [Skirvin Hotel](/source/Skirvin_Hilton_Hotel). During this time, Layton also designed buildings at the [University of Oklahoma](/source/University_of_Oklahoma) and [Oklahoma City University](/source/Oklahoma_City_University). Layton died on February 6, 1943; he is buried in Rose Hill Cemetery.[3]

## Architectural work

Layton designed over one hundred public buildings in Oklahoma during his career. Twenty-two of his buildings are listed on the [National Register of Historic Places](/source/National_Register_of_Historic_Places), an Oklahoma state record.[3] He designed the neoclassical [Oklahoma State Capitol](/source/Oklahoma_State_Capitol) in 1914 and created the original plans to add a dome to the building, a feature which was not installed until 2002. His works also include sixteen courthouses, including Oklahoma City's [Oklahoma County Courthouse](/source/Oklahoma_County_Courthouse), and forty-six public schools, including the first five high schools in Oklahoma City. Layton's major projects include the campuses of the [University of Oklahoma](/source/University_of_Oklahoma) and [Oklahoma City University](/source/Oklahoma_City_University). He designed some of the most prominent buildings on the University of Oklahoma campus, including the administration building, [Bizzell Memorial Library](/source/Bizzell_Memorial_Library), and [Oklahoma Memorial Stadium](/source/Oklahoma_Memorial_Stadium). Several of Layton's skyscrapers still remain in Oklahoma City, including the [Skirvin Hilton Hotel](/source/Skirvin_Hilton_Hotel) and the Medical Arts Building, now known as the [100 Park Avenue Building](/source/100_Park_Avenue_Building). Layton also designed the since-demolished Halliburton department store, the Patterson and Mercantile Buildings, and the [Baum Building](/source/Baum_Building), a replica of the [Doge's Palace](/source/Doge's_Palace,_Venice) in [Venice](/source/Venice). Eleven of Layton's buildings, including seven on the National Register of Historic Places, survived the 1995 [Oklahoma City bombing](/source/Oklahoma_City_bombing).[3]

## Projects

- - - For buildings designed by one of Layton's firms see [Layton & Forsyth](/source/Layton_%26_Forsyth)

- [Home of E.W. Marland](/source/Home_of_E.W._Marland) (1916) at 1000 East Grand Avenue in [Ponca City](/source/Ponca_City), Oklahoma. Houses the 101 Ranch and Indian Museums and is owned by the City of Ponca City. (Not to be confused with the [E. W. Marland Mansion](/source/E._W._Marland_Mansion).)[4]
- Original Oklahoma City Public Schools Administration Building (1919) at 400 N. Walnut, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Currently being rehabilitated for occupation by the [Ryan Whaley](http://ryanwhaley.com) law firm.[5]

## National Register of Historic Places Buildings

- [Beckham County Courthouse](/source/Beckham_County_Courthouse), Courthouse Square in [Sayre, Oklahoma](/source/Sayre,_Oklahoma) (NRHP #84002968)
- [Braniff Building](/source/Braniff_Building) (1923) 324 North Robinson Street in Oklahoma City (NRHP #80003281)[6]
- [Canadian County Jail](/source/Canadian_County_Jail) 300 S. Evans in [El Reno, Oklahoma](/source/El_Reno,_Oklahoma) (NRHP #85002790)
- [Daniel J. Donahoe House](/source/Daniel_J._Donahoe_House) 302 South 7th St. Ponca City, Oklahoma (NRHP #82003686)
- [El Reno High School](/source/El_Reno_High_School) at 405 South Choctaw in [El Reno, Oklahoma](/source/El_Reno,_Oklahoma) (NRHP #0000179)
- [Greer County Courthouse](/source/Greer_County_Courthouse) at Courthouse Square in [Mangum, Oklahoma](/source/Mangum,_Oklahoma) (NRHP #85000682)
- [Mid-Continent Life Building](/source/Mid-Continent_Life_Building) at 1400 Classen Drive in Oklahoma City (NRHP #79002009)
- [Oklahoma Publishing Company Building](/source/Oklahoma_Publishing_Company_Building) at 500 North Broadway in Oklahoma City (NRHP # 78002249)
- [Oklahoma State Capitol](/source/Oklahoma_State_Capitol) 22nd St. and Lincoln Blvd. Oklahoma City OK Layton, S.A. (NRHP #76001572)
- [Science Hall](/source/Science_Hall_(Alva,_Oklahoma)) at [Northwestern Oklahoma State University](/source/Northwestern_Oklahoma_State_University) in [Alva, Oklahoma](/source/Alva,_Oklahoma) (NRHP #83002141)
- [Taft Middle School](/source/Taft_Middle_School) at 2901 NW 23rd ST in [Oklahoma City, Oklahoma](/source/Oklahoma_City,_Oklahoma) (NRHP #07000515)

## See also

- [Layton & Forsyth](/source/Layton_%26_Forsyth)

## Notes

1. The Canadian County Courthouse was found to be structurally unsound during 1962–1964, and was demolished.[2]

## References

1. Bryant, Keith (2001). [*Culture in the American Southwest: The Earth, the Sky, the People*](https://books.google.com/books?id=yDz4djWiAgkC&q=solomon+andrew+layton). Texas A&M University. p. 69. ISBN 9780890969489.

1. ["Canadian County Jail." National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination Form. November 14, 1985.](https://npgallery.nps.gov/nrhp/GetAsset?assetID=124bb2cc-0f7a-42a5-8756-fb475897ef5c) Accessed January 18, 2017.

1. ["Layton, Solomon Andrew"](https://web.archive.org/web/20100719011813/http://digital.library.okstate.edu/encyclopedia/entries/L/LA036.html). *Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture*. [Oklahoma Historical Society](/source/Oklahoma_Historical_Society). Archived from [the original](http://digital.library.okstate.edu/encyclopedia/entries/L/LA036.html) on July 19, 2010. Retrieved January 20, 2010.

1. [Oklahoma Main Street Saturday Walking Tours: Ponca City, OK](http://www.poncacitymainstreet.com/walkingtourokms.htm) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20090703105520/http://www.poncacitymainstreet.com/walkingtourokms.htm) July 3, 2009 at the Wayback Machine Mainstreet News

1. ["New owners pledge historic restoration of Deep Deuce landmark"](https://newsok.com/article/5610414/new-owners-pledge-historic-restoration-of-deep-deuce-landmark). *NewsOK.com*. 2018-10-03. Retrieved 2018-10-12.

1. ["Oklahoma City's Braniff Building changes hands for $15.9 million"](https://newsok.com/article/5474361/oklahoma-citys-braniff-building-changes-hands-for-159-million/). *NewsOK.com*. 24 January 2016. Retrieved 4 December 2018.

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Solomon Andrew Layton](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solomon_Andrew_Layton) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solomon_Andrew_Layton?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.