Biography

ARCHITECT
Biography Projects Biographical References Related Architects printer-friendly version  
PHILADELPHIA ARCHITECTS AND BUILDINGS
SEARCH
OUR PARTNERS

Born: 3/12/1917, Died: 5/18/1994

William W. Eshbach was born in Allentown, PA and attended Allentown High School and the Admiral Farragut Academy in Pine Beach, NJ before he studied at the University of Pennsylvania, where he earned a B. Arch. in 1941. Eshbach won the Alpha Rho Chi Fraternity Leadership Medal his senior year and was also president of his School of Fine Arts class. While in school, he worked for C. L. Beckwith, Mechanical Engineer in Allentown, for the Bethlehem Steel Company in Bethlehem, and for George Neff in Philadelphia.

After leaving Penn, Eschbach worked as a draftsman for the DuPont Company (1941-43), as a draftsman and designer for George Daub (1946-47), and as a designer and project manager as an associated architect with Vincent G. Kling (1947-1952). Recent Penn architecture graduates John F. Glass and Harry Kale were in the office at the time, and presumably worked with Eshbach. In 1952, Eshbach opened his own office, with Glass and Kale as associates. In 1954, Eshbach, Glass and Kale joined Pullinger, Stevens & Bruder as partners to form Eshbach, Pullinger, Stevens & Bruder. In 1972, following Thomas Bruder's death and R. C. Pullinger's departure, Eschbach and his long-time associates re-formed the business as Eshbach, Glass, Kale & Associates and TEI Consulting Engineers, Inc.

Eschbach was very active in the profession: he joined the national AIA in 1953 and was named an AIA fellow in 1964. He served on the AIA's nominating committee, among others, and was the vice-president of that body in 1964-5. He was a member of the Philadelphia Chapter and served as a director in 1958-59. He was among the leadership of the Pennsylvania Society of Architects in the late 1950s and early 1960s, serving as a director, secretary, vice president (1956-60), and as president (1959-1960). In 1969, he was appointed to the National Advisory Panel on Architectural Services of the U.S. General Services Administration, he served until 1973. Eshbach served in the Philippines and Japan with the U.S. Navy during World War II.

Written by Emily T. Cooperman.

Clubs and Membership Organizations

  • Pennsylvania Society of Architects
  • American Institute of Architects (AIA)
  • Philadelphia Chapter, AIA

School Affiliations

  • University of Pennsylvania

 

Philadelphia Architects and Buildings | About | Participating Institutions | Feedback | Search | Login
Website and System: Copyright © 2025 by The Athenaeum of Philadelphia.
Data and Images: Copyright © 2025 by various contributing institutions. Used by permission.
All rights reserved.