A Man and His Work: Philip F. Hallock – Highlands Civic Association

by Nicole Kruse

Part I

Introduction

Regular readers of Hearts in the Highlands may be familiar with Emily Briselli’s January 2019 piece, “Hallock’s Highlands Homes: A Lasting Architectural Legacy.” Briselli’s work is an engaging exhibition of Hallock’s architectural work in the Highlands neighborhood, with an in-depth focus on his distinctive take on mid-century modern architecture.

This article highlights aspects of Philip Fischler Hallock’s life (1914-2013) as a beloved resident of the Highlands, a distinguished architect, and a long-time faculty member in Penn State’s Architecture Department. Throughout his career, Hallock designed numerous homes in the State College Area, such as the Graham House at 284 East McCormick Avenue, the Skavlem House at 522 Waring Avenue, and even his own home at 201 West Prospect at Fraser, which he designed twice-over.

Hallock was an incredibly dynamic person with copious accomplishments and exciting facets of life. Moreover, I have found that he organized his work to represent human life and values through architecture and building design. I have chosen to write about some of his most engaging endeavors to illustrate Hallock’s well-lived life.

Early Years

Philip Fischler Hallock was born on January 6th, 1914, to Frederick and Bertha Hallock in Wellsboro, Pennsylvania, about ninety miles north of State College. Even in his youth, Hallock displayed a fascination with the arts by partaking in his high school’s artistic opportunities. As both a general and an art editor, Hallock poured his time into his high school’s yearbook and assisted in designing his Senior Class ring.

After graduating high school in 1931, Hallock had planned to study art. However, art was not yet offered by Penn State as a major. With encouragement from his art instructor, he declared his intention to study architecture.

Hallock in La Vie, Penn State yearbook 1935

While at Penn State, Hallock engaged in many co-curricular activities. A modern Renaissance man, Hallock’s interests were all-encompassing. He was initiated into numerous academic and interest-based honors societies, including Scarab (architecture), Pi Gamma Alpha Gamma (fine arts), and Pi Delta Upsilon (journalism). In addition to all of his academic and professional engagements, Hallock joined the social fraternity, Acacia. Fittingly, Hallock served as an art editor on La Vie, the Penn State yearbook, in 1935.

Becoming an architect, working in a firm, and then becoming a professor

Before becoming a professor, Hallock worked primarily as an architect. In 1939, he designed a home for his first client in Wellsboro, Pennsylvania. This first design was conventional and less representative of his later, more creative style. In the same year, he began work for J.M. Wickersham, Engineer, in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Then, in 1939, Hallock relocated to Port Allegany, Pennsylvania, where he began a partnership with Raymond Hall of Hall and Hallock Architects. Just two years later, Hallock relocated to Chicago to work with the Schmidt, Garden & Erikson firm.

Hallock entered the U.S. Navy in World War II and served until 1947. Following his time in the Navy, Hallock found himself back in State College and planted his roots, building his first home in the Highlands and establishing his own architecture office.

Eventually, Penn State’s Architecture Department head, Milton Osborne, proposed that Hallock join the department. Initially, Hallock became a part-time instructor in 1947, but within a year, he became a full-time faculty member while remaining active as a professional architect. Hallock progressed upwards in his career as a professor, becoming an Assistant Professor in 1949 and then, in 1953, a Professor of Architecture.

Study Abroad Term

As a professor, Hallock thought it imperative for up-and-coming architecture students to get outside State College and experience urban architecture and planning. Thus, the first architecture term abroad – which took place in London, England during the Spring Semester 1963 – was born.

In the June 1964 issue of the Journal of Architectural Education, Hallock commented on the program in an article titled, “Experiments in Architectural Education: I: Penn State’s Term Abroad.” During Hallock’s time as a professor, it was rare for students outside of the liberal arts college to study abroad. Still, as an avid traveler, Hallock knew it would be incredibly beneficial for his students to study overseas. In addition, he believed that “[the] British system of architectural education completely [integrated] design with other structural engineering disciplines, [such as] construction, fine arts, social science, landscape architecture, and equipment engineering.”

This experience abroad offered Penn State students the opportunity to observe a foreign yet comprehensive architectural design approach that would ultimately supplement their preexisting architectural education. The 1963 Spring term in London was transformative for Penn State architecture students. Not only did they create professional and academic relations during their time abroad with the Royal Institute of British Architects, but the American students’ knowledge of British culture broadened. Hallock notes that students learned “[the] value of the ‘tea-break’ in the Members’ Rooms in the process of initiating the students in British customs was apparent in the lively discussion which usually followed.”

Following the immersion of his pupils in British culture – in and outside the workplace – Hallock observed that the Penn State undergraduates had generally adopted gregarious and mature dispositions.

These experiences would later fashion Hallock’s perspective on world travel and influence him to a life of travel for professional and personal endeavors. Mr. and Mrs. Hallock voyaged to the British Isles, Europe, the former Soviet Union, Africa, and Japan. The Hallocks eventually owned an apartment in Hawaii, as well.

Dara Project

Hallock believed that students could learn immensely when immersed in a new culture. Perhaps it is not a coincidence that one of his former students, Taylor Potter, worked as an architect and construction adviser for the Dara Academy in Chiang Mai, Thailand, following graduation. As head of missionary housing and church construction, Potter assumed responsibility for numerous buildings on the campus, founded in 1878 by Presbyterian missionaries.

During his time as head of missionary housing and church construction, Potter was aware of the issues with various structures on the campus. In the spirit of Hallock, Potter thought it would be an excellent opportunity for up-and-coming architects to obtain real-world experience and expand their cultural knowledge and understanding.

The semester abroad was successfully coordinated by Hallock, and so, Penn State’s sixth-semester architecture students went abroad to Thailand. Mindful of Thailand and its people, Hallock’s pupils were required to understand the customs of Chiang Mai people along with the country’s natural resources and climate. The Penn State students were faced with creating functional spaces for the Dara Academy, its students, and missionaries.

During their immersive architecture study, the students worked to plan functional infrastructure for the Dara Academy. In each master plan, students were charged with designing public buildings, such as dormitories, dining halls, academic classrooms, and chapels.

As evidenced by the Sixth Semester Architectural Design at the Dara Academy, Hallock sought to teach his students the importance of human perspective in design.

Hallock brought some of his personal tastes and those of his clients into his work; he knew that all design must fully consider the human element in the finished product. The first architecture students abroad discovered that their academic and life experiences broadened as they stepped onto another continent and into a different lifestyle. As a result, students could bring a fresh perspective to design and their future clients’ design needs. For the Sixth Semester Architectural Design Project participants at the Dara Academy, Hallock highlighted cultural education, sensitivity, and mindfulness to his students while planning their designs. Hallock was undoubtedly aware of the need to consider function and personality in design.

Duality as an Architect

Hallock’s designs are undeniably innovative and iconic, as they illustrated the emerging mid-century modern design movement. Emily Briselli’s January 2019 article highlights the specifics of Hallock’s work as breaking the “cookie-cutter” mold of the previous homes local to the area. Besides being an imaginative architect, Hallock had excellent knowledge of home and design beyond aesthetics.

Hallock’s first mid-century modern design, known as the “Moorhouse house,” located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, utilized his heating and cooling designs. The home proved to be the beginning of his architectural awakening. Outwardly, the Moorhouse house presented itself with distinctive rooflines and a generally geometric structure. The inner workings of the home proved to be just as modern as its appearance.

Besides conventional architectural concerns, Hallock took an interest in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning engineering, concerning home design. First published in 1947, The Home Freezer Handbook marked a collaborative effort between Hallock and Gerald Stout.

Specifically, Hallock authored a chapter that pertains to the ‘Planning For Storage and Freezing Equipment in New or Remodeled Homes.’ He advised homeowners to be practical and mindful of their needs in acquiring a home freezer. Hallock emphasized that from the “[…] standpoints of convenience and economy, the present requirements and the future size of the family must be studied […]” to make an informed decision. Refreshingly, Hallock’s advice was straightforward and direct: discussing the advantages of a home freezer candidly but without superfluous salesperson-like gimmicks to guide readers towards a suitable conclusion for their circumstances.

In the 1943 publication New Pencil Points, Hallock illustrated effective design, concept, and practices of internal heating systems. In his piece, “Design and Practice of Radiant Heating,” Hallock scientifically examined the loss of heating and discusses how conventional forms of heating and cooling systems are less than optimal sources to maintain the indoor climate. However, Hallock presented an alternative – introducing how convection heating and cooling systems produce uniform heating and cooling systems’ effects. His other findings included how humidity and air temperatures may be manipulated for prime indoor climates. Although appreciative of aesthetic and beauty, Hallock exemplified a scientific understanding and appreciation for critical and practical air control systems; thus, maintaining an overall modern home design approach.

Taylor Potter, a former student of Hallock, wrote of Hallock’s comprehensive approaches to architecture and design. Potter noted that Hallock stressed the importance of thorough research before starting a new project. Potter wrote that Hallock’s students “[…] were expected to know as much as possible about site conditions, soil, climate, topography [ as well as] the needs and demands of the client.” Hallock ensured that his students took a comprehensive approach to design, highlighting that structural and technical considerations be included in the architectural process.

Hallock approached all matters related to heating and cooling in a practical yet scientific manner. His feature in The Home Freezer Handbook conveyed his approach to new technology and advice to consumers, which is pragmatic and disciplined regarding such a purchase. He demonstrated a commendable knowledge of the science behind internal cooling systems – a vital asset that benefitted his students and his clients. Essentially, Hallock proved to be multi-dimensional, curious, and with a wide range of interests beyond traditional architectural orientation.

Part II

Work in State College

In his 1939 master’s thesis titled “A Planning Analysis of the Borough of State College, Pennsylvania,” Hallock highlighted the elements of the topography and history of the State College Area while also commented thoughtfully on architectural planning of relevance to the Borough. At the time Hallock wrote his thesis, the Great Depression had spread globally. The President of the United States, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, worked conscientiously to restore the economy to its previous state, inspiring many Americans, such as Hallock.

In his thesis, Hallock quoted President Roosevelt:

City planning, to be successful, depends on a high degree of cooperation between leaders in public affairs, owners of the property, the general body of citizens, and those who practice the profession of city planning. To obtain this cooperation it is essential that there should be something equivalent to an agreement to the meaning, scope, and purpose of the movement, an understanding of what it involves in connection with public policies, and finally the best methods of controlling such developments.

Considering that Hallock observed some of the successes of the Roosevelt-led New Deal policies and programs, such as the Public Works Administration and the Works Progress Administration, he likely believed in the benefits of such works projects that benefitting the general public.

In his thesis, Hallock asserted that: “People accept only what they can understand when dealing with matters of civic improvement. The public is educated on the benefits of civic improvement through instruction and visual object lessons.” Hallock wholeheartedly believed in this statement and carried this message into his teaching and instruction years later.

For example, in 1964, as part of his professor of architecture responsibilities, Hallock directed fourth-year architecture students in surveying and designing a civic center for State College. Subsequently, the most accomplished students provided submissions of their work in the 1965 Koppers Competition, a national competition that sought to provide fourth-year architecture students with scholarships in the fifth year of their studies.

The work that each architecture student carried out included researching the need for a local civic structure, examining potential locations for the building, and gaining information through local officials. Along with the State College Borough mayor, and other local representatives, Hallock served as one of the Competition’s judges. His commitment to improving the State College area was admirable and thus, created a connection between Penn State and its surrounding community.

Hallock: A State College Architect

Concerning Hallock’s work in State College, he sought to preserve the natural beauty throughout the area while still making open spaces functional for its inhabitants. Unfortunately, Hallock concluded that the parks in State College were not very effective in this regard.

When designing homes, Hallock often kept natural elements in consideration. As a result, many of Hallock’s homes integrated nature, such as a now-150-year old white oak tree preserved on the Graham house’s property at 284 East McCormick Avenue, built in 1954. The home has natural hallmarks, including wooden siding.

Other renowned works, such as the Skavlem house, at 522 Waring Avenue, in the Highlands, demonstrate Hallock’s commitment to natural elements, such as built-in wooden cabinets and a kitchen island with large windows allowing for direct sunlight. Throughout the home, natural wooden floors, doors, and built-ins remain a recurring attribute. Further, the Skavlem home has copious amounts of windows in the great room that lead to a screened-in porch facing the mountains.

Hallock’s Views on City Planning

In his master’s thesis, Hallock quoted Dr. Thomas Adams, a Scottish-born architect, urban planner, and pioneer, who stated that “town planning is the art of shaping and guiding towns’ physical growth in harmony with social and economic needs.” Dr. Adams became a prominent designer in urban spaces and worked in numerous cities – including Quebec, New York, and Newfoundland. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology even called on his expertise to design a city planning curriculum.

Similarly, Hallock emphasized the significance of finding a place for human-centered design in architecture. In his thesis, he related this objective to the particulars of State College Borough, calling for the creation of a “more wholesome environment for living and working.”

To achieve such an environment, Hallock introduced different approaches for re-planning the roads in State College. His proposals included limiting parking from College Avenue to remove some congestion. Because of College Avenue and Atherton Street’s congestion, Beaver and Allen Street have served as secondary traffic lanes. Hallock suggested the development of College Avenue as a natural parallel lane to Beaver Avenue. Additionally, he suggested utilizing the outskirts of towns as a natural traffic directive. Hallock highlighted that the significant number of automobile accidents on College Avenue and Atherton Street demonstrate the urgency to redesign how these streetways function.

Hallock was also involved with other State College area building projects that capture his dedication to the region and its people. For example, in 1996, the Daily Collegian printed an article noting the impending development of a new hospital in Centre County that had been deemed essential in the wake of the growing State College population. There had been ongoing discourse regarding whether the hospital’s construction was entirely necessary because of the preexisting Bellefonte hospital. As chairman of the hospital construction committee, Hallock defended the project’s essentiality, stating that the facility could provide “[…] out-patient facilities, rest homes, psychological therapy, and research. It would also be possible to have doctor’s offices right on site.” Further, he articulated the project’s essentiality as a humanitarian – not as a business deal, accentuating the importance of the project’s function and benefit to the community.

Personal Life and Retirement

The Hallocks had an ever-loving and fulfilling marriage. The pair had two children, Hal and Val. Kitty and Philip built a relationship based on a shared interest in dancing, design, and travel. Their home was prominently adorned with artifacts from their extensive voyages.

Hallock closed his architectural practice in 1976 and subsequently retired from Penn State as a Professor Emeritus of Architecture in 1979. Nevertheless, Hallock indeed thrived in retirement. Ever a man of many talents, Hallock was a notable bowler in the Centre County region, receiving copious awards from State College and Bellefonte Retirees Leagues. He occupied himself with gardening and woodworking projects, as well.

Hallock enjoyed a long, prosperous life and passed away young-at-heart at the age of ninety-nine on March 17th, 2013. He was predeceased by his wife Kitty and son Val. Hallock wore many hats throughout his lifetime, with his influence spanning numerous decades, making him a most striking individual of the Highlands.

About the author:

Nicole Kruse is a rising Junior at Penn State University, studying History and Italian, with a minor in Political Science. In her time at Penn State, she has founded a chapter of Empowering Women In Law. Further, Nicole is a proud member of Sigma Sigma Sigma’s Beta Upsilon chapter, College Democrats, Phi Alpha Delta Pre-Law Fraternity, Schreyer For Women, and Art History Club. She plans to become an attorney, travel the world with her loved ones, and return home to New York once tired of moving around. If you would like to contact Nicole with any questions or comments, she may be reached via email: njk5440@psu.edu.

Bibliography

Primary Sources

Hallock, Philip F. “Experiments in Architectural Education: 1: Penn State’s Term Abroad.” Journal of Architectural Education 19, no. 1 (1964), 9-11. doi:10.1080/00472239.1964.11102208.

Hallock, Philip F. “A Planning Analysis of the Borough of State College, Pennsylvania.” Master’s thesis, Pennsylvania State University, 1937. https://psu.illiad.oclc.org/illiad/pdf/2649697.pdf.

Hallock, Philip F. “Design and Practice of Radiant Heating.” New Pencil Points, December 1943. https://usmodernist.org/PA/PP-1943-12.pdf.

“New Acting Head.” Charette 43, no. 02 (February 1963): 33. https://digitalcollections.library.cmu.edu/knowvation/app/consolidatedSearch/#search/v=thumbnails,c=1,q=qs%3D%5Bhallock%5D%2Cbrowse1%3D%5BCharette%5D%2CqueryType%3D%5B16%5D,sm=s,l=library2_lib.

Osborne, Milton S., and Philip F. Hallock. “The Expansion and Development of Dara Academy.” Charette 39, no. 06 (June 1959): 21–21.

Stout, Gerald J., and Philip F. Hallock. The Home Freezer Handbook. New York, New York: D. Van Nostrand Company, Inc., 1947. ICh.

Secondary Sources

Architecture and Landscape Architecture Library. “Philip F. Hallock Biography.” Penn State University Libraries. Last modified May 16, 2018. https://libraries.psu.edu/about/collections/hallocks-mostly-hidden-houses/background-biography/philip-f-hallock-biography

Briselli, Emily. “Hallocks’ Highlands Homes: A Lasting Architectural Legacy – Highlands Civic Association.” www.statecollegehighlands.org. Highlands Civic Association, January 3, 2019. https://statecollegehighlands.org/hallocks-highlands-homes-a-lasting-architectural-legacy/.

Caves, Roger W. 2013. Encyclopedia of the City. New York, NY: Routledge.

Dara Academy. 2021. April 20, 2021. https://sites.google.com/web1.dara.ac.th/dara2020.

“Highlands: Graham.” Penn State University Libraries, May 16, 2018. https://libraries.psu.edu/about/collections/hallocks-mostly-hidden-houses/residential-architecture/highlands-graham.

“Highlands: Hallock II.” Penn State University Libraries, May 16, 2018. https://libraries.psu.edu/about/collections/hallocks-mostly-hidden-houses/residential-architecture/highlands-hallock-ii.

“Highlands: Skavlem.” Penn State University Libraries, May 16, 2018. https://libraries.psu.edu/about/collections/hallocks-mostly-hidden-houses/residential-architecture/highlands-skavlem.

“Obituary of Philip Hallock: Koch Funeral Home.” Koch Funeral Home: State College, Pen… Accessed March 25, 2021. https://kochfuneralhome.com/tribute/details/526/Philip-Hallock/obituary.html.

“La Vie 1935.” Penn State University Libraries. Accessed March 25, 2021. https://alias.libraries.psu.edu/lavie/1935.

Lott, John. “New Hospital Facility on Campus.” The Daily Collegian. June 30, 1966.

“Moorhouse House.” Penn State University Libraries. Last modified June 24, 2020. https://libraries.psu.edu/about/collections/hallocks-mostly-hidden-houses/residential-architecture/moorhouse-house.

“Philip Hallock Obituary (1914 – 2013) – State College, PA – Centre Daily Times.” www.legacy.com. Centre Daily Times, March 21, 2013. https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/centredaily/obituary.aspx?pid=163758789. ‌

“Students Plan Civic Center for Architectural Study.” The Daily Collegian. October 22, 1964. https://panewsarchive.psu.edu.

“The Potter Letter.” 2016. Penn State University Libraries. September 12, 2016. https://libraries.psu.edu/about/collections/hallocks-mostly-hidden-houses/background-biography/potter-letter.

Kruse is a rising Junior at Penn State University, studying History and Italian, with a minor in Political Science. In her time at Penn State, she has founded a chapter of Empowering Women In Law. Further, Nicole is a proud member of Sigma Sigma Sigma’s Beta Upsilon chapter, College Democrats, Phi Alpha Delta Pre-Law Fraternity, Schreyer For Women, and Art History Club. She plans to become an attorney, travel the world with her loved ones, and return home to New York once tired of moving around. If you would like to contact Nicole with any questions or comments, she may be reached via email: njk5440@psu.edu.