Henry Klein, an architect who designed the Kent Library and Kent Senior Activity Center, died March 5 in Mount Vernon.
Klein, 92, drew up the plans for the senior center that opened in 1986 at 600 E. Smith St., and the library that opened in 1991 at 212 Second Ave. N., just a few blocks west of the senior center.
“All of us at HKP architects extend our gratitude to those who have expressed their condolences,” said Brian Poppe of HKP architects in Mount Vernon, a company started by Klein, in an email. “Henry’s memory and legacy continue to motivate and inspire all who knew him.”
The Kent Library was built at the former site of the Sea-Kent Cold Storage Plant, according to the Kent Library website. City residents voted to annex to the King County Library System in 1993.
“From the quiet corner of Mount Vernon, Washington, Henry Klein consistently produced some of the region’s most admired architecture over a career spanning more than 50 years,” according to a 2007 posting on the state Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation website.
Klein was born Sept. 6, 1920 in Cham, Germany, according to a HKP media release. He left Cham with his family at age 15 and moved to Switzerland where he continued his education before moving to the U.S. He attended Hobart and Williams College in New York and graduated from Cornell University with a degree in architecture.
World War II delayed the start of his career as he was stationed in India and the South Pacific with the Army Engineers. Following the war he returned to New York to start his career, but city life was not for him so he moved to Portland, Ore., where he worked for Pietro Belluschi and also met his wife Phyllis Harvey.
In 1952 when Belluschi took the job to head the MIT School of Architecture, Henry and Phyllis packed up and moved to Mount Vernon where he opened his office, the first architect in Skagit County, and started his family. He was fortunate enough to be welcomed by the early pioneer families in the valley and designed private residences for them before branching out to commercial and public buildings.
Klein later founded Henry Klein and Associates which became The Henry Klein Partnership and now is known as HKP architects. He designed many homes and buildings in Skagit County, including the Skagit County Administration Building, Mount Vernon Public Library, The Museum of Northwest Art, Mount Vernon High School gym and field house and the Swinomish Tribal Community Hall.
Other projects extended into neighboring counties and beyond, including; an Art Studio, The Performing Arts Center and Mathes and Nash Residence Halls at Western Washington University in Bellingham, senior centers in Redmond, Kent, Bellingham and Ferndale, the Orcas Island Public Library, The Marine Laboratory Commons building and Dormitories on Friday Harbor for the University of Washington, a cloister for Our Lady of the Rock Monastery on Shaw Island, and many other buildings, schools and homes in Washington State.
In 1981 the firm was awarded the Louis Sullivan Award for Architecture, the first small firm to ever win the award as well as the only west coast firm at that time. Henry’s very personal speech is available online at: www.hkpa.com/publications/speech_sullivan.html. Henry retired in 2004 after 52 years of practice. HKP Architects continues on today in the same location, the Matheson Building in downtown Mount Vernon.
Henry was a quiet humble family man who loved the arts, nature and the diversity of people he came into contact with. His work was his chosen expression of his citizenship.
At Henry’s request, no services will be held.
Survivors include his sons, Vincent, Paul (Lisa), and David; grandchildren, Kyle Klein and Alexis Stringfellow. He was preceded in death by his wife, Phyllis; brother, Charles; and sister, Ann.
The Skagit County Historical Museum will present an exhibit of Henry’s career and work in April, which HKP called a fitting tribute to his contributions to his community and his profession.
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