In 1888, the firm was commissioned by Senator and Mrs. Leland Stanford to join landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted in planning the campus for Stanford University. For major commissions in Chicago and the World's Columbian Exposition, Coolidge moved to Chicago and the firm opened its branch office there in 1893, in which many Prairie School architects received their early professional training, notably Hermann V. von Holst who was head draughtsman.
In 1888, the firm was hired by Senator Leland Stanford and his wife to collaborate with landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted on designing the campus for Stanford University.  Coolidge later moved to Chicago and opened a branch office there in 1893, which became a training ground for many architects of the Prairie School style, including Hermann V. von Holst who served as head draughtsman.