Werner K. Kirmse, engineer for One Liberty Place, other projects

Werner K. Kirmse, 90, of Spring House, an engineer who designed the mechanical systems for One Liberty Place, died Monday, Sept. 24, at Kindred Hospital of complications from an aneurysm.

For more than 40 years, Mr. Kirmse was with Willard Inc., a mechanical contractor, designing heating and air-conditioning systems for major construction projects, including a Marriott Hotel and One Liberty Place. The 61-story Liberty Place, which was completed in 1987, changed the skyline of Philadelphia. Before its construction, there had been a "gentleman's agreement" not to build any structures in Center City higher than the statue of William Penn atop City Hall.

Mr. Kirmse retired in 1990 as vice president of Willard.

He was past president of the Philadelphia Chapter of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers.

A native of Germany, Mr. Kirmse immigrated to the United States with his parents when he was 5. He graduated from Olney High School.

During World War II, he served in the Army in the Philippines and Guadalcanal.

After his discharge and while working, he earned a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from what is now Drexel University. He was with York Inc., an engineering firm, when he met his future wife, Gloria Lancelot, an office worker there.

The couple married in 1949 and raised a family in Wyndmoor. An avid gardener, Mr. Kirmse was inspired by an article in House Beautiful to create a Japanese garden with a water feature in his backyard. In 1980, the garden was featured in Green Scene, the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society's magazine, his daughter, Donna Cawthorne, said.

Mr. Kirmse collected and drove vintage cars, including a Ford Model A, a 1966 Maserati, and a 1965 Ferrari.

He enjoyed canoeing and hiking, and a few years ago tried tandem hang-gliding. In May, he and his family visited Costa Rica. "He would climb steep hills and we couldn't keep up with him," his daughter said.

Mr. Kirmse was past president of the Wood Bridge Meadows Homeowners Association in Spring House.

In addition to his daughter, he is survived by a son, Randall; four grandchildren; a sister; and his companion, Elizabeth Nesbitt. His wife died in 2004.

A funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 29, at Ciavarelli Family Funeral Home, 951 E. Butler Pike, Ambler. Friends may call from 9 a.m. Burial will be in Whitemarsh Memorial Park.

Donations may be made to the Nature Conservancy, 100 W. 10th St., Wilmington, Del. 19801, www.nature.org.