Harold Craig Severance (July 1, 1879 – September 2, 1941) was an American architect who designed a number of well-known buildings in New York City, including the Coca-Cola Building, Nelson Tower and most prominently, 40 Wall Street.
[1] He was born on July 1, 1879, to George Craig Severance and Emma Alida Gilbert.
In his early career, Severance worked for Carrere and Hastings and later, in partnership with William Van Alen.
Although the Chrysler Building claimed victory with its spire at 1,046 feet, Severance protested that his building had the highest usable space.
The issue became moot when the Empire State Building was completed less than a year later.