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Chapel of the Holy Cross

The Chapel of the Holy Cross in Sedona, Arizona, commands a dramatic view set against the cliffs above and the valley below. Built in 1955-56 in a Modernist style, the chapel stands as a highly significant and outstanding example of mid-20th century modern architecture that harmoniously blends a modern building of concrete, steel, and glass into the natural rock bound desert environment for which Sedona is known. The chapel is the work of patrons Marguerite and Tony Staude and Californian architects Anshen and Allen, who also designed the Quarry Visitor Center National Historic Landmark at Dinosaur National Monument. The building and its 11.08 acre site is on land owned by the U.S. Forest Service, but is managed by a local church and the corresponding Catholic diocese by permit with the U.S. Forest Service. The Chapel of the Holy Cross remains in excellent condition, and draws thousands of visitors every year. (Adapted from the NPS website)

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Dome House Cosanti

When architect Paolo Soleri and his family settled in a 5-acre plot in Paradise Valley, Arizona, in 1955, there was only a ranch house on the property occupied by the previous owner. Since then, many buildings have been added in a bricolage fashion with Soleri’s trademark "creative resourcefulness." Most of the structures at Cosanti were built using the “earthcasting” method. Concrete was poured over pre-shaped (curved and sometimes colored with cement pigments) earthen forms, and the earth excavated once the concrete solidified. The general orientation of the buildings is important. Many are built below ground level and surrounded by mounds of earth. This acts as natural insulation to help moderate interior temperatures year round. The property also features several apse (quarter spherical) structures. An apse is a passive solar energy collector running solely on how it displays itself to the ever-changing journey of the sun. South facing apses are used at Cosanti and Arcosanti as year-round outdoor workspaces for artists, providing sunny space in the winter and shady conditions in the summer due to the changing angle of the sun.

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Hoover Dam

Built across the Colorado River at the Colorado-Arizona border, the Hoover Dam is among the earliest of the Bureau of Reclamation's massive multi-purpose dams. By providing flood control, irrigation water, and electric power, the dam made possible increased population and agricultural production in large areas of the Southwest. The austerity, imposing size, and stripped-down forms of the dam express the sheer scale of the project as well as the cutting-edge technology required for its construction. Upon completion, it was the largest concrete structure in the world as well as one of the first public work structures of its scale designed in a Modernist aesthetic.

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Occidental Life Insurance Company Building

This dramatically cantilevered “island in the sky” immediately conveys a jet-age image of modernity. The smooth concrete and glass, 868-square foot executive office is cantilevered out from a three-story pylon. It adds a gravity-defying tension to the building's already dynamic interplay of horizontal and vertical thrusts. The pylon’s Arizona sandstone veneer on its sleek streamlined horizontality was a popular material in Hawaii from the late 1940s through the early 1960s. The building's combination of materials--sandstone walls, smooth concrete lanai railings, cast stone columns, wrought-iron stair rails, and tile pavers--also typifies the period. This L-shaped structure was originally two stories in height and the cantilevered office and third story were added in 1967.

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Quarry Visitor Center at Dinosaur National Monument

The Quarry Visitor Center was one of the flagship buildings of Modernist design completed as part of the National Park Service Mission 66 program. The center is essentially a massive concrete block, steel-frame and a glass shed built over and into one of the most spectacular beds of Jurassic Period fossils ever discovered. The building's remarkable appearance is due in part to the "butterfly" steel-frame construction, which supports the roof and the extensive glazed curtain walls of the main shed. The National Park Service closed the Quarry Visitor Center to the public in 2006, citing “serious hazards to life and safety caused by foundation movement.” The original structure has since been altered.

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Growing up Modern with Edward Durell Stone

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Schedule

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Phoenix 2017

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Previous Events

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About the National Symposium

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Moonscape of the Mind: Japanese American Design after Internment

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Two significant modern homes designated in Tucson

Two significant modern homes in the Tucson, AZ region have recently received official recognition as historic landmarks. Due to an increase in population growth in the mid twentieth 20th century, Tucson saw a correlated rise in construction during that time. Now, thanks to organizations such as Tucson Preservation Foundation, they are beginning to receive the attention and recognition that they deserve. In 2021, both the Beck House, designed by John H. Beck, and Viewpoint/Johnson House, designed by Judith Chafee, were designated as local landmarks.

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How to save 165 tons of precast concrete panels

Architect Fred Guirey and his associates received the commission in 1961 to be the architect for the Arizona Public Service (APS) administrative building. Over the next 60 years, several panels over the walkway developed hairline cracks, making them a safety hazard. Alison King of Modern Phoenix and the firm 180 Degrees Design + Build stepped in to save them from the landfill.

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A midcentury roadtrip through Tour Day 2021

For Tour Day 2021 we were thrilled to have a number of tours return to in-person formats, as well as many tours that offered a hybrid option, allowing attendees from both near and far to participate. This year's events explored the ways that midcentury travel and leisure trends influenced the modern landscape, from residential homes to roadside structures to infrastructre and beyond. 

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A Good Night’s Sleep: The Evolution of the Motel Room

The sign beckons you, the building interests you, and the office welcomes you, but the room itself defines most of your motel lodging experience. It is here that the traveler sheds the stress of the road, seeking relaxation and slumber. The success, or lack thereof, of this effort determines the enjoyment of your stay.