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Born: 4/23/1917, Died: 6/28/1991

Although Leon Lewis Levin began his academic career in anthropology, graduating from the University of Pennsylvania in 1938, after World War II he switched to architecture the profession of his father, Isadore Levin. In 1949 the younger Levin completed his architecture degree, again at the University of Pennsylvania. Later he would enroll in graduate courses at Columbia University and Harvard Law School and would pursue a specific course in fall-out shelter planning at Pennsylvania State University. Extending his expertise to others, Levin taught courses at Temple University in the Department of Architectural Technology.

At first the younger Levin worked with his father, but in 1953 he established the independent firm, Leon Lewis Levin & Associates, with offices in Philadelphia. By 1979 he had established a second office in Camden, NJ as Leon Lewis Levin & Associates, Architects & Planners. His offices produced designs for apartment houses, housng developments, individual residences, hotels, office and industrial buildngs, and religious structures. With electrical engineer William Latanze Levin was responsible for the design of the Iroquois apartment building at 47th and City Line Avenue in Philadelphia, hailed in the EHC Recognition Profile as "the nation's largest all-electric apartment building, featuring electric heating, air-conditioning, and a host of lighting, wiring and appliance extras." In 1960 the Electric Heating and Cooking Magazine presented Levin and Latanze with specific EHC awards for their achievement.

Leon Levin was also active in his profession, serving as recorder for the Pennsylvania Council of the Society of Amaerican Registered Architects. His firm became a corporate member of the American Institute of Architects in 1963.

Written by Sandra L. Tatman.

Clubs and Membership Organizations

  • American Institute of Architects (AIA)
  • Harvard Law Club of Philadelphia
  • Jewish War Veterans
  • Society of American Registered Architects (PA Council)
  • Wynnefield Cultural Center

School Affiliations

  • University of Pennsylvania
  • Harvard University
  • Columbia University
  • Pennsylvania State University

 

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