PWA Moderne
PWA Moderne (or "P.W.A. Moderne", PWA/WPA Moderne,[1] Federal Moderne,[2] Depression Moderne,[1] Classical Moderne,[1] Stripped Classicism) is an architectural style of many buildings in the United States completed between 1933 and 1944,[2] during and shortly after the Great Depression as part of relief projects sponsored by the Public Works Administration (PWA) and the Works Progress Administration (WPA).
Hoover Dam, Arizona/Nevada
The style draws from traditional motifs such as Beaux-Arts classicism and Art Deco and is similar to Streamline Moderne,[2][3] often with zigzag ornamentation added. The structures reflect a greater use of conservative and classical elements and have a monumental feel. They include post offices, train stations, public schools, libraries, civic centers, courthouses,[2] museums, bridges, and dams across the country. Banks were also built in the style because such buildings radiated authority.[1]
Elements of the style
Typical elements of PWA Moderne buildings include:[1]
- Classical balanced and symmetrical form
- Windows arranged as vertical recessed panels
- Surfaces sheathed in smooth, flat stone or stucco
Examples of PWA buildings
Examples of PWA buildings and structures include:
Arizona/Nevada
- Hoover Dam (Boulder Dam) – on the Colorado River in Arizona and Nevada.[4][5]
- Arizona State Fairgrounds Grandstand (1936–1937) – Phoenix, Arizona. The exterior of the grandstand has 23 bas-relief panels by David Carrick Swing and Florence Blakeslee, that were funded by the Federal Art Project.[6][7]
- WPA Administration Building (1938) – at 19th Avenue and McDowell Road on the Arizona State Fairgrounds, Phoenix, Arizona. It was headquarters for Works Progress Administration−WPA projects in Arizona.[8][9][10]
Florida
Ed Austin Building (Former Federal Courthouse, current Florida State Attorney's Office), Jacksonville, Florida
- Jacksonville
- Ed Austin Building (former Federal Courthouse, current State Attorney's Office), 1933, Marsh & Saxelbye
Greater Los Angeles
Venice Police Station, Los Angeles
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- Burbank: Burbank City Hall, Allen Lutzi[11]
- Culver City:
- Helms Bakery, 1930, E. L. Bruner
- MGM Studios, 1938–39, Claude Beelman, Beaux-Arts in the guise of PWA Moderne
- El Segundo: El Segundo Elementary School, 1936
- Hermosa Beach: North School, 1934 Samuel Lunden (Per File #19-45 of DSA Records); Pier Avenue School, 1939, March, Smith, and Powell
- Inglewood: Inglewood Memorial Park, buildings 1933 and 1940, Walter E. Erkes
- Lancaster: Post Office (1940, Louis A. Simon and former School Building (c. 1937)
- Lawndale: Leuzinger High School, T.C. Kistner & Cómo.; Kistner & Curtis; Eugene D. Birnbaum and Associates[11]
- Long Beach
- Jefferson Junior High School Building, 1936
- Long Beach Main Post Office, 1934, Louis A. Simon and James A. Wetmore
- Municipal Utilities Building, 1932, Dedrick and Bobbe
- Robert Louis Stevenson school, c. 1936
- Veteran's Memorial Building 1936–37, George Kahrs
- Los Angeles:
- Abraham Lincoln High School (Lincoln Heights), 1937–38, Albert C. Martin
- Carpenter Community Charter School
- Distribution Station #28, Department of Water and Power (West L.A.), 1945–46, G. E. Benker, engineer
- Federal Building and Post Office (now U.S. Federal Courthouse), 1938–1940, Louis A. Simon
- Hall of Administration, 1956–1961: A continuation of the PWA Moderne style in the 1950s
- Hollywood Branch Post Office, 1937, Claude Beellman, Allison and Allison
- Pacific Stock Exchange, 1929–30, Samuel E. Lunden
- Police and Fire Station of Venice, c. 1930
- San Pedro High School, 1935–1937, Gordon B. Kaufman
- Sepulveda Dam, 1941, flood control dam on the Los Angeles River in the San Fernando Valley, 1939–1941, War Department
- U.S. Customs House and Post Office (San Pedro), 1935
- U.S. Naval and Marine Corps Armory, 1939–40, Stiles Clements
- University of Southern California campus: Alan Hancock Foundation and Memorial Museum, 1940, Cram and Ferguson
- Pasadena:
- Armory Gallery (former California State Armory), 1932, Bennett and Haskell
- Grover Cleveland Elementary School, 1934
- San Gabriel: San Gabriel Union Church and School, 1936
- Santa Monica:
- Santa Monica City Hall, 1938–39, Donald B. Parkinson and J. M. Estep
- Post Office, Robert Dennis Murray, Louis A. Simon[11]
- Torrance:
- Auditorium (Torrance High School)
- Torrance Public Library, 1936, Walker & Eisen
- Whittier:[12]
- National Trust and Savings, c. 1935, William H. Harrison
- Whittier Post Office, 1935, Louis A. Simon
- Whittier-Union High School, 1939–40, William H. Harrison
Elsewhere in California
San Diego County Administration Center sculpture by Donal Hord
- Bakersfield: Kern County Hall of Records, 1939 remodel, Chris Brewer
- Fresno: County Hall of Records, 1937, Allied Architects of Fresno[13]
- Jackson: Amador County Courthouse, 1940 remodel, George Sellon [14]
- Oakland: Alameda County Courthouse, 1939 [15]
- Salinas: Monterey County Courthouse, 1937, Robert Stanton & Charles Butner[16]
- San Diego: San Diego County Administration Center, 1938, Samuel Wood Hamill, William Templeton Johnson, Richard Requa, Louis John Gill[17]
- San Francisco: San Francisco Mint, 1937
- San Luis Obispo: San Luis Obispo County Courthouse, 1940, Walker & Eisen[18]
- Santa Cruz: Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium, 1939 [19]
- Visalia: Tulare County Courthouse (now Department of Public Social Services), 1935, Ernest Kump[20][21]
District of Columbia (Washington, D.C.)
- Folger Shakespeare Library, 1932, Paul Philippe Cret[2]
- Library of Congress Annex (John Adams Building), 1939, Pierson & Wilson[2]
- Harry S Truman Building (particularly the War Department building) of the United States Department of State, 1939, Underwood & Foster[22]
Iowa
Sioux City Municipal Auditorium. The smooth brick walls, rounded corners, and deeply incised openings typify the Moderne style.
- Animosa: Jones County Courthouse, 1937, Dougher, Rich and Woodburn
- Audubon: Audubon County Court House, 1940, Keffer and Jones
- Atlantic: Cass County Courthouse, 1934, Dougher, Rich and Woodburn
- Burlington: Des Moines County Court House, 1940, Keffer and Jones
- Charles City: Floyd County Court House, 1940, Hansen & Waggoner
- Dakota City: Humboldt County Courthouse, 1939
- Independence: Buchanan County Court House, 1940, Dougher, Rich and Woodburn
- Indianola: Warren County Court House, 1939, Keffer and Jones
- St. Olaf: St. Olaf Auditorium, 1939
- Sioux City: Sioux City Municipal Auditorium, 1938–50, Knute E. Westerlind
- Waukon: Allamakee County Court House, 1940, Charles Altfillisch
- Waverly: Bremer County Court House, 1937, Mortimer Cleveland
Minnesota
William K. Nakamura Federal Courthouse, Seattle, WA
- Minneapolis: Minneapolis Armory, 1935–36, P.C. Bettenburg; Walter H. Wheeler
Mississippi
- Mississippi: Amory National Guard Armory, 1937–38, Overstreet & Town
Nevada
- Pioche: Lincoln County Courthouse, 1938, A. Lacy Worswick; L.F. Dow
Oregon
Texas
- Austin: Heman Marion Sweatt Travis County Courthouse 1930,1931, Page Brothers
- Longview: Gregg County Courthouse 1932, Voelcker and Dixon[23]
Utah
Washington
See also
- Moderne architecture
- Streamline Moderne architecture
- WPA Rustic architecture
References
- Fullerton Heritage site
- The Grove Encyclopedia of American Art, Volume 1, Joan M. Marter, ed., p. 147
- McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Architecture and Construction
- Arizona.edu: "The New Deal in Arizona: Connections to Our Historic Landscape", University of Arizona, The New Deal in Arizona Chapter of the National New Deal Preservation Association.
- Arizona.edu: Photos of New Deal projects in Arizona
- KJZZ.org: "Did You Know: Arizona State Fairgrounds 110 Years Old", by Nadine Arroyo Rodriguez, 21 August 2015; with images of the WPA Grandstand and Administration Building.
- Living New Deal Blog: Arizona State Fairgrounds Stadium and Art
- Phoenix New Times: "Demolition of WPA Civic Building at Arizona State Fairgrounds on Temporary Hold", 18 July 2014.
- Youtube.com: "1938 WPA Administration Building in 1949 & 1969"
- "Azfamily.com: "$200,000 to go toward preserving State Fairgrounds WPA Administration Building"". Retrieved 10 April 2016.
- "PWA Moderne", Los Angeles Conservancy website
- An Arch Guidebook to Los Angeles, Robert Winter, p. 322
- "Fresno County, US Courthouses". Retrieved 11 Aug 2016.
- "Amador County, US Courthouses". Retrieved 11 Aug 2016.
- "Alameda County, US Courthouses". Retrieved 11 Aug 2016.
- "Monterey County, US Courthouses". Retrieved 11 Aug 2016.
- "San Diego County, US Courthouses". Retrieved 11 Aug 2016.
- "San Luis Obispo County, US Courthouses". Retrieved 11 Aug 2016.
- "Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium - Santa Cruz CA - Living New Deal". Retrieved 11 Aug 2016.
- "Tulare County, US Courthouses". Retrieved 11 Aug 2016.
- "Tulare County Department of Public Social Services - Visalia CA - Living New Deal". Retrieved 11 Aug 2016.
- https://www.gsa.gov/portal/ext/html/site/hb/category/25431/actionParameter/exploreByBuilding/buildingId/700
- "Gregg County Courthouse, Longview, Texas". www.texasescapes.com. Retrieved 16 March 2018.
- "William K. Nakamura Federal Courthouse - Seattle WA - Living New Deal". Retrieved 11 Aug 2016.
Further reading
- Greif, Martin. Depression Modern: The Thirties Style in America. New York: Universe Books, 1975.
- Prosser, Daniel. "The New Deal Builds: Government Architecture during the New Deal". Timeline vol. 9, no. 1 (1992): 40–54.
- United States Public Works Administration. America Builds: The Record of PWA. Washington, D.C.: PWA, 1939.
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