J. Irwin Miller, 95, the industrialist and philanthropist who guided Cummins Engine Co. to international prominence and helped shape his home town of Columbus, Ind., into an architectural gem, died August 16 at his home. It was Miller’s influence and inspiration that convinced the small town to hire the likes of I.M. Pei; Robert A.M. Stern; Venturi and Scott Brown; Richard Meier; Cesar Pelli; Roche and Dinkeloo; Hardy, Holzman, Pfeiffer; Gunnar Birkirts; Edward Larrabee Barnes; Mitchell Giurgola; John Carl Warnecke; James Polshek; William Rawn; Gwathmey/Siegel; Eliot Noyes; and Paul Kennon.

Miller made his fortune at Cummins, beginning in 1934 as general manager and continuing until his retirement as chair and chief executive office in 1977. His public involvement with architecture began by convincing his fellow denizens of Columbus to hire Eliel Saarinen to redesign the city’s First Christian Church in the 1930s. In 1957, Miller offered to pay the architect’s fee for the town’s new school building if the school board agreed to hire an outstanding American architect. Since then, the foundation Miller funded has paid $13.7 million in fees for 42 commercial projects, including 12 of the 17 local schools. Although Cummins itself does not fund church building, Miller inspired the town to architectural excellence in its religious structures, including churches by AIA Gold Medalist Eero Saarinen and Harry Weese.

On a personal note, Miller’s 1957 home was designed by Saarinen. It was designated a national historic landmark in 2001.

The AIA named Miller an honorary member in 1970, and in 2003 awarded him an AIA Institute Honor for Collaborative Achievement, conferred by the AIA to recognize the distinguished achievements of individuals who have had a beneficial influence on or advanced the architectural profession. “The American Institute of Architects deeply regrets the recent death of Honorary AIA Member J. Irwin Miller,” said AIA Executive Vice President/CEO Norman L. Koonce, FAIA. “The city of Columbus, Indiana, has lost not only a great leader, but also a great visionary, who truly understood the ability of architecture to elevate and enrich the human spirit. He has created, in a town of 40,000 people, a deeper appreciation of architecture. This is Miller’s legacy. And it will continue to touch the citizens of Columbus as well as the profession of architecture for years to come.”

Copyright 2004 The American Institute of Architects. All rights reserved. Home Page