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Description area
Dates of existence
History
Hugill, Blatherwick, Fritzel, Kroeger, Griffin & Berg was a prominent South Dakota architectural firm whose evolution spanned much of the 20th century.
The firm began in 1921 when George C. Hugill and Wilfred F. Blatherwick established Hugill & Blatherwick in Sioux Falls. Both men were formally trained architects with experience in civic, educational, and ecclesiastical design. Over the next two decades, the firm became known for designing county courthouses, churches, schools, and public buildings throughout South Dakota, with several projects later listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
In 1946, Wendell C. Fritzel joined as partner, forming Hugill, Blatherwick & Fritzel. Jean R. Kroeger entered in 1956, expanding the firm’s scope and reputation as Hugill, Blatherwick, Fritzel & Kroeger. After the deaths of Hugill and Blatherwick in the late 1950s and early 1960s, Edward L. Griffin and Milton L. Berg joined, and the firm continued under the name Fritzel, Kroeger, Griffin & Berg.
Throughout these transitions, the firm remained influential in shaping South Dakota’s built environment, contributing notable designs for universities, civic centers, schools, religious institutions, and airports. In 1985, the practice transitioned into Holman Beck Associates, which later became Holman & Associates, continuing operations until its closure in 2009.
Over nearly nine decades, the firm and its successors left a ignificant architectural legacy across the region, blending early 20th-century classicism with mid-century modernism in their wide-ranging portfolio.