Works of Charles W. Nicol, Architect

Charles Wheeler Nicol (1888-?) started an architectural practice in Lafayette on March 1, 1913. He soon became one of the most prominent architects in Lafayette, designing commercial buildings, schools, residences, and a variety of buildings at Purdue University. Nicol was featured in the January, 1914 edition of The Ohio Architect, Engineer and Builder. This article contains many illustrations of his work from 1913 and renderings of upcoming projects. The magazine also featured an article entitled "Lafayette is Wide Awake," describing the prosperity of Lafayette and its many advantages.


Charles W. Nicol, 1913	Drafting room of Nicol's office, 1913

Charles W. Nicol later formed the firm of Nicol, Scholer & Hoffman, the premier Lafayette architectural firm of the 1920s. After Nicol left Lafayette, Walter Scholer went on to found his own practice, which is now Scholer Corp. Aside from the 1914 article, there is little documentation of Nicol's work. Scholer Corp. retains some drawings from the Nicol, Scholer & Hoffman period. Charles Nicol moved to Chicago and later founded the firm of Nicol, Nicol Chaney and Vanek with his son, Robert Scott Nicol (1916-?). Nicol seems to have known Louis Sullivan personally and was a fellow-member of the Cliff Dwellers Club, a private social club for people "seriously interested in the arts." Charles W. and Robert S. Nicol were both lifetime members of the Illinois St. Andrew Society, a Scottish-heritage organization. Charles Nicol also served as president of the Chicago Building Congress from 1947-1948.