William C. Weston (April 28, 1866 – September 19, 1932) was a New Zealand-born American architect. Weston practiced architecture in Birmingham, Alabama from 1901 until 1915 and in Detroit until his death in 1932.
Life and career William Crowley Weston was born April 28, 1866, in Wellington, New Zealand. He immigrated to the United States at the age of 19. He was trained as an architect in the office of D. H. Burnham & Company in Chicago, and in other offices, before opening his own office in Birmingham, Alabama in 1901. His first work in Birmingham was the Woodward Building (1902), which he designed in association with Stone Brothers Ltd., architects of New Orleans."Drawing Plans," Birmingham Age-Herald, August 2, 1901, 5.
In 1915 Weston moved to Detroit. Despite his success in Birmingham he found little work there, and closed his office during World War I. In 1922 he reopened his office and formed the partnership of Weston & Smith. This lasted only until 1923, when he formed the new partnership of Weston & Ellington. His new partner, Harold S. Ellington, had previously been the Detroit representative of Giaver & Dinkelberg of Chicago, architects of Grand Park Centre (1922)."Business" in American Contractor 44, no. 3 (January 20, 1923): 30. The firm of Weston & Ellington was chiefly responsible for industrial buildings but also designed non-industrial projects, including the Metropolitan Building (1925). The partnership was dissolved upon Weston's death in 1932. After his death Ellington formed the partnership of Harley & Ellington with architect Alvin E. Harley. This firm is still active under the name Harley Ellis Devereaux.
In 1912 Weston was joined by Eugene H. Knight, a former employee, as chief assistant and minority partner."News of Birmingham in Brief Paragraphs," Birmingham News, May 21, 1912, 11. After Weston's move to Detroit, Knight took over the office under his own name. In 1917 he merged the office with that of William T. Warren to form the partnership of Warren & Knight."Architects Form New Partnership," Birmingham Age-Herald, March 17, 1917, 5.
Personal life Weston was married in 1899. He died September 19, 1932 in Detroit at the age of 66. He was survived by his widow, Louise Gertrude Weston, and a daughter."Famous Detroit Architect Is Dead," Detroit Free Press, September 20, 1932, 11.
Architectural works 1902 – Woodward Building, Birmingham, Alabama 1903 – Frank Nelson Building, 201 20th St N, Birmingham, AlabamaJohn G. Hempstead, "First National Bank Building, Birmingham, Alabama" in Fireproof Magazine (February, 1904): 38. 1903 – Title Building, 300 Richard Arrington Jr Blvd N, Birmingham, AlabamaJefferson County Historical Commission, Birmingham and Jefferson County, Alabama (Charleston: Arcadia Publishing, 1998) 1905 – Birmingham Realty Company building, 2118 1st Ave N, Birmingham, AlabamaMorris Avenue–First Avenue North Historic District NRHP Inventory-Nomination Form (1986) 1906 – Brown-Marx Building, 2000 1st Ave N, Birmingham, Alabama"Tallest Building in Alabama" in Valve World (January, 1907): 4. 1907 – Terrace Court, 1124 20th St S, Birmingham, AlabamaManufacturers' Record (August 10, 1907) 1908 – Wimberly-Thomas Warehouse, 1809 1st Ave S, Birmingham, AlabamaWimberly-Thomas Warehouse NRHP Inventory-Nomination Form (1985) 1910 – Age-Herald Building, 2107 5th Ave N, Birmingham, AlabamaAge-Herald Building NRHP Inventory-Nomination Form (1984) 1912 – Temple Emanu-El, 2100 Highland Ave, Birmingham, AlabamaEngineering News (June 1, 1911): 259. 1913 – City Federal Building, 2024 2nd Ave N, Birmingham, AlabamaAmerican Contractor (February 8, 1913): 67. 1914 – Otto Marx house, 2600 Highland Ave, Birmingham, AlabamaAmerican Contractor (May 16, 1914): 95. 1918 – Bearings Service Company building, 4145-4161 Cass Ave, Detroit"Bearings Service Company To Move To Larger Quarters" in Accessory and Garage Journal 7, no. 11 (March, 1918): 19. 1925 – Metropolitan Building, 33 John R St, Detroit 1926 – Fort Wayne Hotel, 408 Temple Ave, Detroit 1926 – The Park Shelton, 15 East Kirby St, Detroit
Weston designed two of the four buildings at the so-called Heaviest Corner on Earth in Birmingham, both of which were the tallest buildings in the state at the time of their construction.
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