Harrington College of Design Honors Robert C. Marks

Harrington College of Design honored Robert C. Marksadvantage of all the educational and cultural venues
with the Frances Harrington Award for outstandingthat Chicago has to offer.Along with Mr. Marks, six
achievement in Education and Interior Design. Theother individuals were given awards.For the Excellence
event took place in the Grand Hall at Union Station,in Design Award the following individuals were
210 S. Canal St., Chicago, Illinois. Nelson Sears,honored: Lucien Lagrange, Eva Maddox, Stanley
Communications Manager at Harrington, orchestratedTigerman, and Victor Skrebneski.For the Design Vision
the event. Never has the Grand Hall looked as goodAward the following individuals were honored: Mayor
as it has for this special event. The room wasRichard M. Daley and Commissioner Cherilyn
resplendent, colored lights were mounted at the baseHeremb.Mr. Marks is a patron of the Arts. He is a
of the Greco/Roman fluted columns that surroundsupporter of Lyric Opera of Chicago, The Chicago
the room. The hall was finely appointed with wallSymphony Orchestra, The Art Institute of Chicago,
decorations, balloons, and an assortment of flowers.and the Metropolitan Opera of New York. Mr. Marks
A very fine dancing band that played in a mannersits on the Boards of leading Chicago cultural
that was festive yet not overly engaging.Starting outinstitutions and is a moving force in them.Today
as a student at the Frances Harrington Institution ofHarrington College of Design stands at the forefront
Interior Decoration, Robert C. Marks took control ofof education in Interior Design. Under the helm of
the school in 1959. A man of vision, Mr. MarksPresident Erik Parks, Harrington College of Design is
expanded the programs and course offerings. Seeingthe world's largest Interior Design school. Harrington
a need for school research, Mr. Marks started whatCollege of Design is located at 20 W. Madison,
came to be the largest and most replete InteriorChicago, IL 60606-3433, (866) 590-4423.Images of
Design library in the country. Further, he saw tothe event can be seen at: was born and raised on
having the school accredited by the American Societythe south side of Chicago in Hyde Park Township,
of Interior Designers (ASID) and changed the namenear the University of Chicago. As I child I was
to The Harrington Institute of Interior Design.As timealways drawing and painting. My father owned an art
passed Mr. Marks developed educational seminars insupply company, Favor Ruhl & Watson, where I was
conjunction with on site tours to architecturalable to get all that I needed to progress in my work.I
destinations for research. They went to cities all overhave always enjoyed portraiture and landscape
the world visiting famous places that have changedpainting. In High School (Naperville Central High School)
Interior Design. These seminar events along with theirI took Drafting from Mr. Pierce. I quickly grasped the
enhanced curricula helped established Harringtonprinciples of perspective and drafting and hence
Institute as the premier school for Interior Design inmade a career with both Fine Art and Architectural
Chicago and as one of the leading Interior DesignRenderings.In the mid 1970's I joined the US Navy
schools in the Country.Mr. Marks saw a need forand was stationed on board the USS Midway, CV-41.
educational credentials for interior designers so heThe Midway was home ported in Yokosuka, Japan
expanded the school to a college offering a Bachelors(A suburb of Tokyo). While in service I traveled all
Degree. The Institute was renamed the Harringtonover Asia including such countries as Korea, China,
College of Design as it remains today.For yearsPhilippines, Singapore, Pakistan, Hong Kong, and Japan.
Harrington was located in the Fine Arts Building at 410While in Japan I learned Japanese. I speak German
S. Michigan Avenue in downtown Chicago. Thisand Spanish as well.
excellent location enabled Harrington students to take