Alden B. Dow facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alden B. Dow
|
|
|---|---|
| Born |
Alden B. Dow
April 10, 1904 |
| Died | August 20, 1983 (aged 79) |
| Alma mater | University of Michigan |
| Occupation | Architect |
| Known for | Alden B. Dow, Inc. |
| Parent(s) | Herbert Henry Dow Grace Anna Dow |
Alden B. Dow (born April 10, 1904 – died August 20, 1983) was a famous American architect. He was known for his unique building designs, especially in Midland, Michigan. Alden Dow helped create the "Michigan Modern" style of architecture.
During his career from the 1930s to the 1960s, he designed many buildings. These included over 70 homes, churches, schools, and community centers. Some of his most famous works are in his hometown of Midland, Michigan. These include his own home, the Midland Center for the Arts, and the Grace A. Dow Memorial Library. Alden Dow was the son of Herbert Henry Dow, who started the Dow Chemical Company. His mother was Grace A. Dow, a kind person who helped many charities.
Contents
About Alden B. Dow: His Life and Work
Alden Dow's Early Life and Education
Alden B. Dow grew up in Midland, Michigan. He went to high school there. After high school, he studied engineering at the University of Michigan. He planned to work for his father's chemical company.
But after three years, Alden decided to follow his passion for design. He switched to studying architecture at Columbia University. He graduated from Columbia in 1931.
In 1931, he married Vada Bennett, who was also from Midland. Her father worked at the Dow Chemical Company. Alden and Vada had three children: Michael, Mary, and Barbara.
After college, Alden worked for an architecture company called Frantz and Spence. This company was in nearby Saginaw. In the summer of 1933, he and Vada learned from the famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright. They studied at his special studio called Taliesin in Wisconsin.
Alden Dow's First Architecture Projects
After learning from Frank Lloyd Wright, Alden Dow opened his own design studio. This was in Midland in 1934. He had a special way of thinking about buildings.
Alden Dow believed that architecture was more than just the outside of a building. He said it was about the building's location and its layout. It was also about how it was built and how it was heated or cooled. He felt it included the furniture and even the plants around the building. For him, architecture showed how people could live well.
In 1937, Alden Dow won a big award. He received the Diplome de Grand Prix at the Paris International Exposition. This award was for designing the best home in the world. It was given for his own house and for the John Whitman residence.
In 1941, Alden Dow made his business official. He named it Alden B. Dow, Inc. The next year, he got a very interesting job. He was asked to design a whole town in Texas. This town was for the workers of his father's Dow Chemical Company.
Alden Dow chose a place near Freeport, Texas. He designed the town, which they named Lake Jackson. It was planned for 5,000 people. The streets in Lake Jackson were special. They were not straight. Alden Dow thought winding roads would offer "something of a surprise around each turn." The streets had fun names like "This Way" and "That Way." Other names included "Circle Way" and "Winding Way." He also designed six different house styles for the new town. The first families moved into Lake Jackson in late 1943.
Growing His Architectural Business
In 1963, Alden Dow changed his company's name. It became Alden B. Dow Associates, Inc. This was because he hired more people as his business grew. He designed the Fleming Administration Building at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. This building was finished in 1968. It holds the offices of the university's president.
The building has narrow windows, mostly above the first floor. Its strong, solid look led to a campus story. People joked it was built to be "riot-proof" because of student protests in the 1960s. Alden Dow was reportedly upset by these rumors. He said the small windows were designed to save energy.
As time went on, Alden Dow designed many different kinds of buildings. He created commercial and community buildings. Many of these were in and around Midland. In 1974, he stepped down as the head of his company.
In 1983, Alden Dow received a great honor. He was named the "architect laureate" of Michigan. This was a top award in his 50-year career. He passed away shortly after, on August 20, 1983. No one else has been given this title since him.
Six years later, in 1989, Alden Dow's own home was recognized as a National Historic Landmark. This means it is a very important place in American history. It was honored for its amazing design and for Alden Dow's contributions to architecture.
Notable Buildings Designed by Alden B. Dow
Alden B. Dow designed many important buildings. Here are some of his most well-known projects:
Buildings in Midland, Michigan
- Midland Country Club (1930)
- Many homes built between 1933 and 1938, including:
- Alden Dow House and Studio (1936), which is a National Historic Landmark
- Earl Stein House (1933)
- John S. Whitman House (1935)
- Dow Chemical Company Administrative Building (1937)
- Midland Central Park Bandshell (1938)
- Parents' and Children's Schoolhouse (1938)
- Grace A. Dow Memorial Library (1953)
- Midland Community Center (1953)
- Fire Station No. 1 (1955)
- St. John's Lutheran Church (1955)
- Midland Center for the Arts (1968)
- Dow Gardens Master Plan (1974)
- Sun Bridge (1979)
Buildings in Other Michigan Cities
Buildings in Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Harry and Margaret Towsley House (1932): This home was special. It was the first house in the country with a garage attached to the front.
- Ann Arbor Public Library (1955 or 1956)
- Institute for Social Research (1960)
- Ann Arbor City Hall (1960)
- Fleming Administration Building (1964)
- Greenhills School (1967)
Buildings in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
- Gordon Saunders House (1936)
- Hellenic Orthodox Community Church of St. George (1962)
Buildings in Kalamazoo, Michigan
- Paul & Josephine C. Rood House (1937)
- Kalamazoo Nature Center (1961)
- Kalamazoo Valley Community College (1966)
Buildings in Other States
- Phoenix, Arizona: Phoenix Civic Center and Art Museum (1954)
- Elkhart, Indiana: William and Helen Koerting House (1936)
- Durham, North Carolina: Douglas M. and Grace Knight House (1966)
- Lake Jackson, Texas: Alden B. Dow Office and Lake Jackson City Hall
Awards and Honors for Alden B. Dow
Alden B. Dow received many awards for his amazing work:
- He won the Diplome de Grand Prix at the Paris Exposition of 1937. This was for designing the best home in the world.
- He received special honorary degrees from several universities. These included Albion College and the University of Michigan.
- In 1957, he became a Fellow in the American Institute of Architects (AIA). This is a high honor for architects.
- He was given The Michigan Society of Architects Gold Medal in 1960.
- The Northwood University Alden B. Dow Creativity Center was started in 1978. It helps keep his ideas about quality and new ideas alive.
- He was the first person to get the Frank Lloyd Wright Creativity Award in 1982.
- In 1983, he was named the Architect Laureate of Michigan. This means he was the state's official architect.
- The Alden B. Dow Museum of Science & Art in Midland, Michigan, is named after him.
