Herbert L. Bass

(Nov 13, 1877-Apr. 8, 1926). A native and lifelong resident of Indianapolis, Bass designed numerous notable public residences, schools, commercial and industrial buildings, and post offices during his 23-year career. A graduate of Manual High School, he continued his training in several local architectural firms.

At age 26 he began practicing architecture under the firm name of Herbert L. Bass & Company. In 1921 Lynn O. Knowlton, a consulting engineer, joined the firm, which was renamed Bass, Knowlton and Company. Bass designed the mansions of Stoughton A. Fletcher Ii (which houses the Phi Kappi Psi fraternity), Charles B. Sommers, James A. Allison, and James I. Holcomb (the latter three estates on Cold Spring Road).

He was noted for several high schools across the state, including those at Lebanon (1908), Logansport (1912), and Greencastle (1914). Buildings of the Cole Motor Car Company plant on East Washington Street were among his industrial designs. One of his most architecturally significant buildings is the nine-story Test Building on Monument Circle, constructed in 1925. Within the design of a conventional urban building, it combined ground floor commercial spaces and offices with multilevel parking—an unusual example of mixed-use for its time.

He was noted for several high schools across the state, including those at Lebanon (1908), Logansport (1912), and Greencastle (1914). Buildings of the Cole Motor Car Company plant on East Washington Street were among his industrial designs. One of his most architecturally significant buildings is the nine-story Test Building on Monument Circle, constructed in 1925. Within the design of a conventional urban building, it combined ground floor commercial spaces and offices with multilevel parking—an unusual example of mixed-use for its time.

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