Welcome to the Archives of The Paul Rudolph Institute for Modern Architecture. The purpose of this online collection is to function as a tool for scholars, students, architects, preservationists, journalists and other interested parties. The archive consists of photographs, slides, articles and publications from Rudolph’s lifetime; physical drawings and models; personal photos and memorabilia; and contemporary photographs and articles.

Some of the materials are in the public domain, some are offered under Creative Commons, and some are owned by others, including the Paul Rudolph Estate. Please speak with a representative of The Paul Rudolph Institute for Modern Architecture before using any drawings or photos in the Archives. In all cases, the researcher shall determine how to appropriately publish or otherwise distribute the materials found in this collection, while maintaining appropriate protection of the applicable intellectual property rights.

In his will, Paul Rudolph gave his Architectural Archives (including drawings, plans, renderings, blueprints, models and other materials prepared in connection with his professional practice of architecture) to the Library of Congress Trust Fund following his death in 1997. A Stipulation of Settlement, signed on June 6, 2001 between the Paul Rudolph Estate and the Library of Congress Trust Fund, resulted in the transfer of those items to the Library of Congress among the Architectural Archives, that the Library of Congress determined suitable for its collections. The intellectual property rights of items transferred to the Library of Congress are in the public domain. The usage of the Paul M. Rudolph Archive at the Library of Congress and any intellectual property rights are governed by the Library of Congress Rights and Permissions.

However, the Library of Congress has not received the entirety of the Paul Rudolph architectural works, and therefore ownership and intellectual property rights of any materials that were not selected by the Library of Congress may not be in the public domain and may belong to the Paul Rudolph Estate.

LOCATION
Address: 6000 Airport Circle
City: Sarasota
State: Florida
Zip Code: 34243
Nation: United States

STATUS
Type: Transportation
Status: Project

TECHNICAL DATA
Date(s): 1955-1956
Site Area:
Floor Area:
Height:
Floors (Above Ground):
Building Cost:

PROFESSIONAL TEAM
Client:
Architect: Paul M. Rudolph
Associate Architect: Eliot C. Fletcher, John M. Crowell
Landscape:
Structural: George L. Jerome, John M. Crowell
MEP: Charles T. Healy and Associates
QS/PM:

SUPPLIERS
Contractor:
Subcontractor(s):

Sarasota-Bradenton Airport

The project scope is to design a new airport for Sarasota and Bradenton.
Rudolph partners on the design with fellow architects John Murphy Crowell (1915-1989) of Sarasota and Eliot C. Fletcher (1909-1979) of Tampa.
The design includes an air traffic control tower, overnight accommodations, eating facilities, and a large swimming pool.
The airport’s design is a long open pavilion with an overarching roof.
The roof is supported by a series of open- web structural steel joists, reclining on pin connectors and also projecting steel light fixtures. The structural system reflects the lightness of flight and the construction of aircraft components.
A grand staircase leads the people from the main public space to an observation platform above, which gives panoramic views of the airplanes.
The Sarasota-Manatee Airport Authority meets November 30, 1955 following a meeting requested of Sarasota’s retiring Mayor-Commissioner Ben. H. Hopkins during which he made a bid to cancel the basic concept of the project by stripping it of the 12-unit hotel facilities and swimming pool designed to attract private and executive air travelers. Hopkins, who said he spoke for the Sarasota City Commission, also proposed that the restaurant and bar be reduceed to a coffee shop. He called these parts of the half million dollar project “fanfare” and that “we should build what we need at this time.”
The project design exceeds the budget limit and the original design is significantly modified and built without Rudolph’s involvement.