Martin Roche was born on August 1, 1853. His family moved to Chicago in 1857. He attended the Armour Institute. He began his career as a cabinetmaker, but gained an apprenticeship with William LeBaron Jenney, where he met Martin Roche.
Holabird and Simonds partnered in 1880. Roche joined the firm in 1881. Simonds left in 1882 to pursue a career in landscape architecture
The partnership of Holabird and Roche has been compared to Burnham and Root. Holabird, like Burnham was the businessman. Roche, like Root was the artist and designer.
Holabird was a massive presence. He was 6'-5" tall and peaked at 260 lbs. Roche suffered from a curvature of the spine. Holabird had six children. Roche was a life long bachelor. Despite their differences, their partnership was one of the most prolific in the country. In 1910 they employed more than 100 draftsmen, creating some of Chicago's most important buildings. William Holabird died in Evanston on July 19, 1923. He was followed by Martin Roche on July 5, 1927.
"CONSECRATION"
AT
The Medinah Athletic Club
505 North Michigan Avenue
Chicago
VIEW THE GALLERY OF PHOTOGRAPHS
HOLABIRD & ROCHE
Graceland Cemetery 1881
Tacoma Building 1886
Fort Sheridan. Various Commissions
Monadnock Addition 1893
Marquette Building 1893-95
The Ayer Building 1899
Gage Building 1899
Congress Hotel 1902-07
The Champlain Building 1903
Chicago Building 1904
Maurice L. Rothschild Building 1906
Oliver Building 1908
University Club 1908
The Brooks Building 1910
City Hall / Cook County Building 1911
Crane Manufacturing 1912
Monroe Building 1912
Otis Elevator Building 1912
Three Arts Club 1914
Lumber Exchange 1915-22-26
Soldier Field 1922-26
Chicago Hilton and Towers 1922-27
Chicago Temple 1923
The Palmer House 1926
Chicago Women's Club Building 1929
The Palmer House
17 EAST MONROE STREET
Chicago
The Champlain building
37 South wabash Avenue
Chicago
Crane Company Building
836 South Michigan Ave
Chicago
The Brooks Building
223 W Jackson Street
Chicago
The Palmer House
17 East Monroe Street
Chicago