Thread by @CIA

This week, the iconic 1960s #TWA Flight Center designed by legendary architect Eero Saarinen reopened as a hotel @JFKairport in New York.

Before achieving fame as a master of American 20th-century architecture, Eero worked for #OSS, our #WWII spy agency.

bit.ly/2muiNWl

During #WWII, Eero was recruited to #OSS & appointed Chief of Special Exhibits Section.

He designed:
- Military schools & situation rooms
- 3D org chart instrumental in showing procedure & work-flow problems throughout #OSS
- Model weapons for training & film props

OSS considered Eero “the most versatile & gifted young designer & architect in this country.”

His work for #OSS was highly commended by Undersecretary of War, Director of Women’s Army Corps, & many others.

His OSS experience & experiments are reflected in his later design work.

Eero become a prolific architect who designed furniture, national memorials, corporate campuses and, of course, airport terminals.

In addition to the #TWA terminal, some of his most famous designs are the iconic @GatewayArchSTL, @Dulles_Airport, & the “Tulip” chair & table.

Eero Saarinen: “The purpose of architecture is to shelter and enhance man’s life on earth and to fulfill his belief in the nobility of his existence… I hope that some of my buildings will have lasting truths. I admit frankly I would like a place in architectural history.”