Architects Samuel Gross Wiener Sr. (1896-1977) and William Benjamin Wiener Sr. (1907-1981) were half-brothers, sons of second-generation German Jewish immigrant Sam Wiener Jr. (1864-1942). Both Samuel G. and William B. Wiener studied architecture at the University of Michigan with Samuel graduating in 1920 followed by William in 1929. Samuel continued his education as a graduate student in Europe whereas William studied briefly at Columbia University though he never graduated due to his dissatisfaction with the Beaux-Arts trajectory of the program. Shortly after completing his formal education, Samuel became a partner with the firm of Jones, Roessle, Olschner and Wiener in 1923. Jones and Roessle worked out of the main office in New Orleans and Olschner and Wiener out of a branch office in Shreveport, giving the firm a presence in both north and south Louisiana. William opened his own practice in 1933 where he initially worked out of his parent’s house on Austen Place before moving to office space in the central business district. 

The Wieners designed over 130 buildings over the course of their careers, running the gamut from residential, commercial, and civic structures, many of which were celebrated at the time for their innovative design. Experimental and daring, theirs is a uniquely Modern architecture, adapting the high design of Bauhaus and Art Deco to the Louisiana geography in the service of architecture as a “social, public, and functional art.” In their lifetime, their work won them the recognition of the American Institute of Architects, Architectural Record, International Institute of Arts and Letters, and numerous others. Several of their buildings are included in the National Register of Historic Places.