Historic Preservation typically considers the impact of historic works that reflect a time when certain trends and ideas dominated the world of design and thus worth saving. But what happens when historic preservation takes into consideration modern design, projects that were built in the early to mid twentieth century? I wrote this article at the behest of ArcCA Journal, and can be read by going to this link, on Preserving Modernism.
In late 1999 early 2000, I was moved by a work of architecture tucked away just behind a grove of overgrown brush behind a vacant parking lot just east of highway 101 in Novato, CA. The building and its grounds was designed as a bowling alley for William J. Nave, a prominant business man and civic leader, and opened in 1960. The building was designed by an architect by the name of Gordon Phillips, who at one time was an apprentice to Frank Lloyd Wright. The building was designed in a Wrightian manner which was a befitting style as it was located just ten miles north of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Marin County Civic Center. At the time we were living in Sausalito, and had an opportunity to learn how hard it is to save buildings, even if they have unique or historic significance. I was unable to save this work of architecture, but through a series of articles for the Marin Independent Journal and Docomomo, at least I was able to give voice to a faded memory.
Great article on the mass timber movement here in the United States. “Timber Grows Up“. So refreshing to see our resources being put to good use. Management of forestry is key, and important factor in contributing to the growth of this specialized sector of our profession. Architects tend to shy away from anything too risky, but since banks are willing to loan on this technology, wood being readily available and more companies such as StructurCraft and Seagate expand into the US market, it’s expected to see more construction in mass timber.
A new four story commercial project in Des Moines, Iowa uses dowel-laminated timber (DLT) designed by Newmann Monson Architects, http://neumannmonson.com. This newly completed Type-A office building uses an advanced form of timber joinery once common in the US but out of favor as concrete and steel became the dominant material of use. Today dowel-laminated timber is making a comeback in commercial construction through the use of cross laminated timber, nail laminated timber, mass plywood timber and a host of other inventive ways wood can be structurally sound, meet today’s stringent fire codes and provide a sense of warmth and elegance to a design.
You need to be either in a state that will or has already adopted the language to the new 2021 Building Code, or prove the safety of the building, which is darn near impossible if you intend to go up over 8 stories. Many states are expected to adopt this language over the next few years. In Canada and much of Europe, mass timber construction has been gaining popularity over the past twenty years. Here in the US, we are just seeing the surge of construction that incorporates mass timber as prime components of the structure. Better late than never.