Utah Heritage Foundation

A few weeks ago I wrote about losing two prominent architects in the same week – Steven T. Baird and Dean Gustavson.  We happened to be in the midst of celebrating their work with the Baird’s cinematic production of ZCMI: A Legacy in Cast Iron and discussing the potential to participate in Salt Lake Modern with Gustavson.

It’s time to now celebrate the work of two more local architects that have passed away this month.  They both happen to be from Ogden.

Keith Wilcox was an Ogden architect who designed buildings such as the Mount Ogden Middle School on Harrison Blvd., the original McKay (now McKay-Dee) hospital, and the Weber State University Fine Arts Center which was (now demolished) one of the state’s premier examples of the New Formalist style.  His architecture will best be remembered for his work on the Washington, D.C. LDS Temple (1968) which undoubtedly is inspired from above.  However, those that knew him best have reflected on how kind and generous Keith was in his work with the LDS Church in various positions all over the world.

Announced in the December 15th Sugar House Journal, the former Rosslyn Heights Elementary School is reopening as the Salt Lake School for the Performing Arts.  Located at 2291 South 2000 East in Salt Lake City, the 1950 school building was vacated about six years ago after consolidation.  Since that time, the school has remained vacant.

UHF toured the building with school district officials in 1999 after the $100 million+ bond was passed and the future of many older school buildings were immediately in doubt.  Our assessment at that time was that Rosslyn Heights was well-maintained and appropriate additions in c. 1955, c. 1980, and c. 1990 were all appropriately done and also in good condition.  At that time, the district had not made a commitment to replace the school building.

The SPA had formerly been housed at Highland High School.  Over the summer, Rosslyn Heights went through a renovation that created optimal space not only for high school students but also the SPA's requirements for dance floors, stages, and production and rehearsal space.  Interestingly, the school also contains a community vet clinic providing vaccinations and licensing at half the cost of a regular veterinarian.

There's been lots of news in the world of Utah historic preservation lately, so I thought a summary would be in order.

Yes to Granite

On Monday, October 17, The Salt Lake Tribune endorsed the bond election in South Salt Lake to buy and rehabilitate Granite High School.  So has Utah Heritage Foundation.  The UHF Preservation Round-up blog talked about the benefits of this bond on three separate occasions (here and here and here).

Top Secret:  For Your Eyes Only

A Tour of Historic Wendover Airbase

Date:               August 27, 2011

Time:               10:00 am – 2pm (approximately 4 hours)

Location:        Wendover Airport, 345 Airport Apron, Wendover, Utah

Watch here for an announcement of our next event, coming Summer 2011.

Please remove the previously announced date of June 18 from your schedules.

In the meantime, we encourage you to like SL Modern on Facebook or send us an email to join the SL Modern email list for future announcements.

The Recent Past Preservation Network (RPPN) is proud to announce its new scholarship for the National Trust for Historic Preservation Annual Conference. This year, in Buffalo, New York.  The Conference Scholarship is open to all active college students who are RPPN members.  Student membership is only $5 and you can join here to be eligible.  The scholarship is designed to give students with an active interest in recent past preservation, and an opportunity to broaden their education by attending the National Trust for Historic Preservation Annual Conference where they will be able to connect with their peers and learn from their predecessors through a variety of educational sessions.

In addition to receiving paid conference registration, the recipient will serve as a liaison for RPPN and will have the opportunity to write a featured article about the Conference for the RPPN Bulletin, our high-quality quarterly magazine, which is read by preservationists throughout the country.

Visit our website for eligibility criteria and to apply.

OPENING NIGHT Fluid Adagio - 20 May

Please join us to celebrate a new paradigm in the way we see space in our city.

Since 2004, UHF has been raising awareness about the historic and architectural significance of the former Salt Lake City Main Library.  Completed in 1964, the style structure originally designed by Edwards & Daniels Architects (now EDA Associates) was determined eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places because of the work of UHF and the Utah Division of State History Preservation Office.  Due to a grant from FEMA for seismic upgrade, the project went through the Section 106 process during design arriving at a system of steel framing within the public space of the to be museum space to be.  The Leonardo embarked on the $15 million rehabilitation in January 2010 with a goal to open in Summer 2011.  The current project architect is AJC Architects, Salt Lake City.  As another positive step, the project has been designed with excellent environmental considerations, including historic preservation through materials conservation, and will apply for LEED Gold designation.  In the end, it appears that using the braced frame seismic system, recommended as the preferred option over concrete shear walls by preservationists due to its transparency, will also save the city and The Leonardo money as it will be nearly $300,000 cheaper than the original estimate for concrete shear walls.  A fabulous example of meeting both the goals of preservation and engineering safety is an elegant manner.

We recently toured the building to see the progress and wanted to give you a look at the work in progress.

Top left: View of seismic braced framing.

All I can say is, Wow!  If you love modern architecture and design, Palm Springs Modernism Week is for you.  Modernism “week” is actually 10 days of tours, lectures, screenings, parties and exhibits.  On a limited schedule this year, my first time there, I only managed to attend two lectures and a movie screening – to my great regret.

War and Peace, the California Design Dividend was a fascinating lecture by Bill Stern, executive director, Museum of California Design, about how the material shortages of WWII sparked the spare, but brilliant innovations by small California startup design companies that we now call Mid-Century Modern style.

The screening of Peter Moruzzi’s Desert Holiday (book title Palm Springs Holiday), a humorous vintage postcard tour of early Palm Springs architecture and resorts was a big hit, presented in a packed ballroom at the Riviera Palm Springs decked out as a movie theater, complete with complementary popcorn. 

In October 2010, about 200 lucky people got to see one of the hidden gems Utah - the Westshire neighborhood in West Valley City.  Billed as Salt Lake Modern's Mini Mod Tour, four private homes were graciously opened to the public in this unique enclave off 2700 West and 4000 South.  The entire neighborhood was designed by architect Ron Molen and built by Research Homes starting in 1963.

We're pleased to say that the excitement generated by the tour hasn't ended.  The popular mid-century modern magazine Atomic Ranch has published a short piece in their Winter 2010 issue in the section titled "modern wisdom" on one of the tour's houses (pictured left, photo by UHF) along with two photographs.  Congratulations to Chris and Tessa Linford for getting included in the magazine!

We'll encourage all our readers to pick up a copy before the March 1 newsstand deadline to see it as well as the other articles on Palm Springs, Kentucky modern, Arkansas ranch, Open House:  Elm Grove, Wisconsin, dressing up your historic ranch, and Historic Georgia.  I will even add a personal endorsement as this is one of my favorite mags in print and always look forward to it coming in the mailbox in case you need some additional encouragement.