He studied with William R. Ware at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, founded the first American curriculum based on the Beaux-Arts system of architectural training.

[3] He designed hospitals, schools, factories, and power buildings in Chicago, Kansas City, New Orleans, Toronto, and Montreal.

[2] Hammond designed several suburban homes, especially in the Clifton Park area of Lakewood and published A Treatise on Hospital and Asylum Construction in 1891.

It was said to have been outfitted handsomely with "massive redwood and mahogany fittings", exclusively designed furniture, a crystal dining room that politicians used as a meeting place.

It "boasted electric lights, 100 private baths, and fireproof construction" [4] Much of the interior design work was overseen by Hammond.

[6] The article is illustrated with a view of the hotel's basement elevator foyer showing the completed work carried out by The George Rackle & Sons Co. of Cleveland including columns types Hammond said were found at Egypt's Philae temple, as well as panels featuring Isis and Osiris sculpted by Jirouch of Fisher and Jirouch Co. Hammons spoke of his own trip to Egypt and the "1,500 to 2,000" negatives he made to use along with pictures from professional photographers.