Quick Facts
Biography
Joseph R. Koberling, Jr. (27 May 1900 – 8 June 1990) was a Hungarian-American architect. Born in Budapest, Hungary, he emigrated to the United States, first to San Francisco, then, in 1917, to Tulsa, Oklahoma where he was a student of noted art teacher, Adah Robinson. He was in the first graduation class of Tulsa Central High School. He was then educated at the Armour Institute (later part of Illinois Institute of Technology) in Chicago, Illinois. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture in 1925. He returned to Tulsa, where he began practicing. He received his Oklahoma license in architecture in 1929, which he maintained until his death.
Although much of his work was done solo, he was a principal in three partnerships in Tulsa:
Redlich & Koberling, 1929-1931 (F. W. Redlich)
Fleming & Koberling 1933-1937 (Noble B, Fleming)
Koberling & Brandborg, 1946-1956 (Lennart Brandborg)
Even while he was working outside a partnership, Koberling collaborated with several other architects on notable projects. These included Frank W. Atkinson, Bruce Goff and Leon Senter.
Notable projects
The table below lists some of the projects in which Koberling participated. He created several houses, especially in Tulsa, which are still in use as private residences. In 1924, before he received his license as an architect, he worked with Bruce Goff on the design of a residence and studio for their high school teacher, Adah Robinson. He is probably best known in architectural circles for his work designing Will Rogers High School in 1936. He is credited with designing what he called, "...101 features that we hoped would make an attractive as well as a functional building." This school, still in use, has been called "... one of the best examples of Art Deco high school architecture...in the United States." Koberling collaborated on the project with Frank Atkinson and Leon Senter. Koberling also designed the 1949 addition to the school.
Koberling played an active role in civic life, as a member of the Kiwanis Club, Tulsa Executive Association, and the Tulsa Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, serving as president of the Tulsa chapter. He was a member of the Tulsa Boys Home.
| Name | Address | City | Year Built | Architectural Style | Architects | Status | Notes |
| Medical Arts Building | 6th & Boulder | Tulsa | 1927 | Art Deco | M. Atkinson, architect; J. Koberling, designer | Demolished 1966 | |
| Genet Building (American Airlines Building) | Between 9th & 10th on Boston | Tulsa | 1930 | NA | N. Fleming, Architect; J. R. Koberling, Jr Designer | Demolished | |
| Public Service Company Building (Transok Pipeline Company Building) | southwest comer 6th & Main | Tulsa | 1929 | Art Deco | A. M. Atkinson, Architect; J. R. Koberling, Designer | Existing | |
| Palace Theater | Main between 1st & 2nd | Tulsa | 1935 | Remodel | J. R. Koberling,Jr. | Demolished | |
| Will Rogers High School | 3909 East 5th Place | Tulsa | 1938 | Art Deco | J. R. Koberling, Jr. and L. B. Senter, Associated Architects; A. M. Atkinson, Supervising Architect | Existing; listed on NRHP | |
| John B. McGay Residence | 1551 South Yorktown Place | Tulsa Gillette Historic District | 1936 | J. R. Koberling, Jr. | NA | Existing | |
| City Veterinary Hospital | 3550 South Peoria Avenue | Tulsa | 1942 | Art Deco - Streamline | J. R. Koberling,Jr. | Existing | |
| Chamber of Commerce Building | southwest corner 6th & Boston | Tulsa | 1951 | Art Deco | Koberling & Brandborg | Existing | |
| Oklahoma Osteopathic Hospital | 9th & Jackson | Tulsa | 1953 | NA | J.R. Koberling, Jr, | Demolished | |
| Tulsa City-County Library | 4th & Denver | Tulsa | 1965 | Mid-Century Modern | J.R. Koberling and Charles W. Ward, Associated Architects | Existing | |
| J. S. Childs Residence | 1600 South Madison | Tulsa | NA | J. R. Koberling, Jr. | NA | Existing | |
| Tribune House of Progress | 2131 East 21st Street | Tulsa | 1923 | J. R. Koberling, Jr. | NA | Existing | |
| Blue Jacket High School(Remodel) | NA | Blue Jacket, Oklahoma | 1935 | NA | Fleming & Koberling | Existing | |
| Joseph S. Koberling, Jr. House | 1543 South Swan Drive | Tulsa Swan Lake | 1944 | Joseph S. Koberling, Jr. | French Eclectic | Existing | |
| William D. Whenthoff Residence | 1142 South College Avenue | Tulsa | 1935 | Joseph S. Koberling, Jr. | Art Deco Streamline | Existing |
Death and burial
Koberling died June 8, 1990. His funeral was held at Christ the King Roman Catholic Church in Tulsa. Survivors included a daughter and a grandson. He was buried June 11, 1990 in Rose Hill Memorial Park, Tulsa.