Hoit, Price & Barnes was a prominent Kansas City architectural firm in the early 20th century.

When Ware became founding chair of the School of Architecture at Columbia University in 1881, the firm became Van Brunt & Howe.

In 1901, Van Brunt & Howe received the commission to design the Palace of Varied Industries building at the St. Louis World’s Fair.

Long the wealthy lumber baron, was impressed with Hoit's work on the Varied Industries building.

The firm continued until 1941 when the construction industry started changing to meet the war effort.