Edward Frank Baker

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Baker, Edward Frank age 80, passed away Thursday, June 15, 2006, in Mpls. He was born May 24, 1926 in Chicago, IL. He moved to Mpls., in 1932, enrolled in the U of M 2 quarters prior to high school graduation. He majored in engineering and received honor grades. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy April 1944 until 1946 and then enrolled in U of M Architect School in 1946. He graduated with distinction in 1950. He went to work for Larson & McLaren Architects. As an apprentice, he worked on projects that included the Daytons Department Store, Dayton Radisson Ramp, Marquette Bank, First Federal Savings & Loan and numerous smaller banks and office interiors. Registered as Architect in 1955. NCARB member. Formed Edward F. Baker Associates Architect which was located in the Mobile Oil Building. He was then commissioned as architect for the Northstar Center in Downtown Mpls. He went on to be registered as an architect in 48 states. Baker and his firm received national and international acclaim for some notable local projects. He was owner of Baker Associates and Downtown Auto Park. He was responsible for joint planning & design of the IDS Center, as a joint venture partner of Philip Johnson and presented the AIA Gold Metal for the building. Achievements include Northstar Center, 1955 Downtown Plans for Future 1965 Minneapolis published by the Star and Tribune showing the first idea for a second floor city, sketches for the development of Nicollet Ave. Mall in 1958 covering the street, and ultimately incorporating the first skyway system into the Northstar Bldg. and planning approximately 16 skyways into projects that turned into a true pedestrian system. Their projects included the Mpls. . Center (Gambles Center) and Norman Center, Northland Center, Sofitel, Mpls. Jewish Community Center, St. Louis Park City Hall, Hazeltine Country Club Building, Brooklyn Park City Hall, Gleason Lake Apts. in Wayzata, Marquette Bank, Twin City Federal Complex, Energy Center Building & Ramp, The Peavey Building, The Wells Fargo Bank of Wayzata (Wayzata Bank & Trust), Design architects for the remodeling of the Baker Block, and developed the Nicollet Center (Law Center), and other banks and community buildings. He was president and founding member of the Hennepin Center for the Arts, member of the Nicollet Mall Advisory Committee, Skyway Advisory Committee, Dunwoody Board of Directors, Sister Kenny Board of Directors, Officer of the Mpls. Chapter AIA, member of the Downtown Council since 1959, and served on the Board, member of Citizen League, Member of Zoning Appeals for St. Louis Park, board member of Plymouth Music Series, Calhoun Beach Club, Children's Heart Fund, and co-chaired with his wife, the Annual Fund-Raising Heart Ball. He was recently awarded "The Father of the Waters" Award at the Downtown Council of Mpls. and the Greater Mpls. Building Owners and Managers Association awarded him "The Trend Setters" Award for the design of the first skyway. His great joy was launching projects from pen & pencil on an architect's pad to concrete and steel realities enhancing the skyline of Mpls. and its suburbs. He shared a love of music with Karen and they seldom missed a concert these past 25 years while in Mpls., when not traveling. He took great pleasure in sharing ideas with his family and respected their views. He had great respect for his family, friends and community leaders who made a difference in the community. He never said no to the young people who wanted to get his advice about a career in architecture or business. Married Sylvia in 1948. She passed away in 1979. Also preceded in death by parent, Benjamin and Rose Baker. Survived by wife, Karen who he married in 1981; children, Sara Baker, Jonathan (Carol) Baker, Matthew (Melinda) Baker; and Karen's children, Leslie MacDonald, Steven Hyde, and Todd (Liesl) Hyde; grandchildren, Paul Baker, Chana Engel, Jared Hillman, Max Baker, Joshua Engel-Baker, Madelaine Hyde, Misha Baker, and Gabriel MacDonald; brother, Leonard (Beverly) Baker. Private family services will be held at Lakewood Cemetery. SHIVA will be held at the home of Matthew & Melinda Baker, 3900 West 25th St, Mpls (Monday from 6-8 with a service at 7 pm). Memorial Service will be held MONDAY, JUNE 26, 2006, 12 NOON at TEMPLE ISRAEL 2324 Emerson Ave S, Mpls. Memorials may be directed to Minnesota Orchestra or Abbott Northwestern Hospital. HODROFF-EPSTEIN 612-871-1234 Online Guestbook at: hodroffepstein.com

Published on June 16, 2006