William Wayne Caudill, FAIA, commonly referred to as Bill Caudill, was a notable American architect and professor. He was one of the founding partners of Caudill Rowlett Scott. The Chicago Tribune stated that he was known for his development of one of the world's largest architectural firms, introducing the team-based approach to architectural design, and building the School of Architecture at Rice University. Two years following his death, he was awarded the American Institute of Architects's Gold Medal.
Caudill was an educator at Texas A&M University, where he taught architecture from 1939 to 1949, except during World War II. At the Texas Engineering Station, he was a research assistant and in 1941, following the influx of students following the war, wrote Space for Teaching. From 1961 to 1969, he was director of the School of Architecture at Rice University. For the following two years, he was a professor at the university. Among his contributions at the School of Architecture, he developed the Architecture at Rice publication series and a student intern program.
Caudill was a founding partner of an architectural firm with John M. Rowlett in 1946. Two years later, Wallie E. Scott became the third partner and the organization name was changed to Caudill Rowlett Scott. William Merriweather Peña became a partner in 1949. One of the country's largest architectural organizations, it designed houses, schools, hospitals, churches, and commercial and public buildings. Originally located in College Station, the firm was ultimately located in Houston. Caudill introduced a team-based approach to architectural design at the firm. Notable buildings included elementary schools in Washington, Parkside, Northside, and Houston, which were listed on the National Register of Historic Places. His firm is noted for its work on school designs, beginning with a building constructed in Blackwell, Oklahoma. It expanded to also have engineering and construction divisions and became a public corporation. He was a member of the American Institute of Architects, became a fellow in 1962, and served on its board of directors. In 1985, following his death, he was awarded the Gold Medal of AIA; he was the first architect from Texas to receive the award. In the 1960s, he was a member of the Advisory Panel on Architectural Services of the General Services Administration and Advisory Committee on New Educational Media of the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. He was a United States Energy Research and Development Ad-Hoc Commission member. From 1974 to 1977, he was an architectural consultant on foreign buildings to the Department of State.
Author and speaker
He wrote more than 80 articles and 12 book on architecture. He was also a frequent public speaker. His books include, Space for Teaching, and Architecture by Team.
Personal life
In 1940, he married Edith Roselle Woodman, with whom they had two children. In 1973, Edith died and Caudill was married a second time in 1974 a friend from Oklahoma A&M College, Aleen Plumer Harrison. He died on June 25, 1983 in Houston.
