After having studied at the Bauakademie (Academy of Architecture) in his native Berlin, he began teaching there in 1855, and was soon famous for building churches. In 1863 he was named a professor of architectural history at the Academy.
Due to his profound knowledge of antique architecture, he took part of Ernst Curtius' archaeological expedition to Asia Minor.
He was part of the leading directory of the major excavations in Olympia (1874–81), and took part in the planning of the whole enterprise, which was at first scheduled to last no more than five years. At one point, he was even leader of the excavations. He was also the editor, together with Ernst Curtius, of the publication of the excavations report.
Adler died in his home city of Berlin, aged 80.
Archaeological works (as co-editor, together with Ernst Curtius)
"Olympia: die Ergebnisse der von dem Deutschen Reich veranstalteten Ausgrabung" (Olympia, Results of the Excavation). Tome I-V (1890–1897).
"Olympia und Umgegend" (Olympia and its surroundings); (2 maps and a plan, drawn by Adler's son-in-law Wilhelm Dörpfeld and Johann August Kaupert; 1882).
Architectural works
Adler designed and built many structures, among them 300 churches, some villas, castles and manor houses, holiday resorts, urban residential buildings etc.
Lutheran St. Peter's Church, Berlin, as master builder for Heinrich Strack as of 1850 (destroyed in WW II)
Babelsberg Palace, Potsdam, as master builder for Heinrich Strack as of 1850
Lutheran Village Church, Gräben, as architect, refurbish, as of 1855
Lutheran Christ Church, Berlin, as architect between 1862 and 1865 (destroyed in WW II)
Lutheran Saint Thomas Church (Berlin), as architect between 1865 and 1869 (severely damaged in WW II, rebuilt)
Meyenburg Castle as architect, refurbished in 1865/1866
Lutheran Christ and Garrison Church, Wilhelmshaven, as architect between 1869 and 1872 (severely damaged in WW II, rebuilt)
Lutheran St. Peter's Church, Bromberg (today's Bydgoszcz), as architect between 1872 and 1878 (converted into Catholic Sts. Peter and Paul Church on 2 July 1945)
Lutheran Redeemer Church, Jerusalem, as architect, built after his designs by his pupil Paul Ferdinand Groth between 1893 and 1898
Lutheran St. James Church, Luckenwalde
Lutheran Village Church, Atzendorf (a part of today's Staßfurt)
Lutheran St. Nicholas Church, Frankfurt upon Oder, as architect he designed and added a new double-towered façade
Lutheran Castle Church of All Saints, Wittenberg, as architect he directed the intrusive renovation between 1883 and 1892
Lutheran St. Peter's Cathedral, Schleswig, as architect he designed and added a new western main tower between 1888 and 1894
Catholic St. Peter's Collegiate Church, Bad Wimpfen, as architect he renovated the church and designed and completed the unaccomplished towers between 1898 and 1902.
