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: 11 Farm Road
City: New Canaan
State: Connecticut
Zip Code: 06840
Nation: United School
STATUS
Type: Academic
Status: Project
TECHNICAL DATA
Date(s): 1966
Site Area:
Floor Area:
Height:
Floors (Above Ground):
Building Cost: $9,900,000 USD (estimated)
PROFESSIONAL TEAM
Client: New Canaan Public Schools
Architect: Paul Rudolph
Associate Architect: Lyons & Mather; Desmond & Lord
Landscape:
Structural:
MEP:
QS/PM:
SUPPLIERS
Contractor:
Subcontractor(s):
New High School for New Canaan, Connecticut
31 acres (130,000 m²) of land is donated for a new high school in 1964 and an additional 15 acres (61,000 m²) is donated in 1966. The land is donated by the Lapham family from their 300 acre (1.2 km²) Waveny Park estate.
Rudolph is offered the commission in 1966 with two other architectural firms, Lyons & Mather of Bridgeport and Desmond & Lord of Boston. According to Norman P. Ross, President of the school board, it is understood that the exterior design of the building will be exclusively designed by Rudolph.
Local opposition to Rudolph’s selection is raised by local residents. 10 parents write a letter to the school board stating, “We should move toward an attractive school building, one in keeping with 20th-Century building trends, but without revolutionary structural appearance, by eliminating Paul Rudolph.”
There is also opposition to the idea of hiring an architect with an international reputation. “We don’t want a monument or an architectural landmark that people will drive miles to see,” Charles F. Kelley, the town’s first selectman says. “We just want a school. Citizens here want to be left alone, and some of them were afraid that if we let Rudolph do the school, people would read about it in national magazines and say, ‘look what Rudolph did’ in New Canaan; let’s move there.”
Other objections to the project are from residents who are concerned with the project’s estimated cost and that the project’s responsibility is to be divided among three different architects.
In January, 1967 voters defeat an authorization of $31,500 to complete preliminary drawings and estimates for the school building. Since everyone agrees a new high school is needed to relieve overcrowding, the vote is seen as a rejection only of the proposed project team.
Rudolph resigns from the project on February 12, 1967. He has not submitted drawings for the project at the time. Citing the vote against the authorization and other indications of ‘a lack of confidence,’ the five-member citizens committee responsible for the project resigns when it informs the town of Rudolph’s resignation.
Construction on the school building is finished in 1971.
DRAWINGS - Design Drawings / Renderings
DRAWINGS - Construction Drawings
DRAWINGS - Shop Drawings
PHOTOS - Project Model
PHOTOS - During Construction
PHOTOS - Completed Project
PHOTOS - Current Conditions
LINKS FOR MORE INFORMATION
New Canaan High School on wikipedia
RELATED DOWNLOADS
PROJECT BIBLIOGRAPHY