Leonard Evantash, 92, architect for King of Prussia Mall, many other spaces
Leonard Evantash died Friday, Dec. 30, at age 92, but his life's work endures in places of business and commerce across the Philadelphia region.
Leonard Evantash died Friday, Dec. 30, at age 92, but his life's work endures in places of business and commerce across the Philadelphia region.
During a nearly 50-year career, the architect designed or helped to design many of the area's largest shopping centers and retail spaces, including the gigantic King of Prussia Mall.
"Some people just know what they want to be, and my dad did," said his son, Michael. "Even as a kid living with his father, he would draw up the living room. He had a great instinct for that kind of thing."
Born in Philadelphia, Mr. Evantash served in Europe with the Army Corps of Engineers during World War II, returning home to earn his degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1950.
Eight years later, he and Stanley Friedman formed Evantash Friedman Architects in Philadelphia, which lasted until 1974, when Friedman withdrew from the firm.
Mr. Evantash continued the practice until 1988, when he left to become architectural consultant to Kravco Co. in King of Prussia. He remained there until his retirement in 1995.
During his career, Mr. Evantash designed or codesigned more than 30 million square feet of shopping malls, including space at King of Prussia, Granite Run, and Springfield Malls. He designed 25 department stores, 11 food markets, a number of office buildings, hotels and motels, a hospital, and several nursing homes.
The clients of Evantash Associates included some of the area's most prominent real estate developers, including Kravco, Goodman Co. of Allentown, and Strouse Greenberg & Co. of Philadelphia.
His firm also designed buildings in New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, New York state, Texas, and Ohio.
In addition to his son, he is survived by his wife, Diane; daughter Jill Fleishman; and two grandchildren. One grandchild died earlier.
Funeral services will be private.
Contributions may be made to Deborah Hospital Foundation, Box 820, Browns Mills, N.J. 08015, or at www.deborahfoundation.org.
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@JeffGammage