McKim

McKim is a surname of Scottish and Irish origin. It is carried by various individuals and has notable associations in American architectural history through the firm founded by Charles Follen McKim.

Charles Follen McKim (1842–1909) was an American architect who co-founded the firm McKim, Mead & White in 1879 with William Rutherford Mead and Stanford White. The firm became a leading force in the American Beaux-Arts movement, shaping many civic and cultural buildings in the United States during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its work is characterized by monumental volumes, classical details, and a emphasis on harmonious urban design.

Notable commissions attributed to McKim, Mead & White include the Boston Public Library, McKim Building (opened 1895), a landmark example of Beaux-Arts architecture that helped define the city’s cultural identity. The firm also designed the original Pennsylvania Station in New York City (opened 1910; demolished 1963) and the Wanamaker Building in Philadelphia (completed 1911), among other prominent institutions and public spaces.

In summary, the name McKim is associated with both a historical family surname and a major architectural legacy in the United States, most prominently through Charles Follen McKim and the collaborative work of McKim, Mead & White.