Boulder Modern House:
Mid-century architecture in Boulder County, Colorado
The Primary, or Small Building, was designed in 1949. One level in elevation and asymmetrical in plan, the building's prominent feature is its use of glass block in the upper half of the classroom wing. Combined with the ribbon windows below, the glass blocks make for a pure curtain wall for each classroom, punctuated only by one slender vertical support in the center of each section. In the building's early years the lighting effects must have been delightful; during the days, nice and even on the interior, and at night if they wished, a dramatic back-lit display for the neighbors and passers-by. As of 2007, all but two of the classrooms have had their glass blocks painted white on the inside-apparently to minimize solar gain and excessive heating. This problem was noted early on; letters from late 1952 discuss the problem and possible cures. Suggestions included sandblasting the exterior of the blocks and adding some sort of glass screen to the interiors. A louvered screen was attached for some time to the exterior of one of the classroom sections, but it is long gone.
This building was conceived around 1946, and original plans called for a structure of about 20,000 square feet. What got built was smaller, with the possibility left open of an addition on the north end. The shed roof over the north door looks like an afterthought, and it was; a minor design error let rainwater and snowmelt drip down over the door rather than flow completely into drains in the center of the roof.
In plan the school is modular. Each classroom is 40 by 22 feet, and a pair of classrooms with hall space between measure 40 by 53 feet. The gym, or play room, is also 40 by 53 feet (and 4 inches). Another 40 by 22 foot classroom hangs off the south end, and the office area, on the southeast corner, is also 40 feet wide. If you could eliminate the office hall by shoving the front bank of offices up against the back service rooms, you would again have a 40 by 22 foot space.
Hunter has separated the various functions of the building-classrooms, foyer, offices, and gym, and made them evident in the plan. He has done the same with the elevations. The classroom wing and the office section share the same roof, but the latter has a brick facade. The higher roof of the gym pitches off to the south, while the roof of the south classroom slopes down to the north. A wide chimney-like structure rises between and above the offices and gym, adding some visual weight to the elevation at that equilibrium point just off center. The slight butterfly of the classroom wing/office roof feels sophisticated and adds a little extra light to the interiors. An afterthought may have been the south classroom; was it in the plan from the beginning, or did they decide to use up some extra space in the yard?
This building was conceived around 1946, and original plans called for a structure of about 20,000 square feet. What got built was smaller, with the possibility left open of an addition on the north end. The shed roof over the north door looks like an afterthought, and it was; a minor design error let rainwater and snowmelt drip down over the door rather than flow completely into drains in the center of the roof.
In plan the school is modular. Each classroom is 40 by 22 feet, and a pair of classrooms with hall space between measure 40 by 53 feet. The gym, or play room, is also 40 by 53 feet (and 4 inches). Another 40 by 22 foot classroom hangs off the south end, and the office area, on the southeast corner, is also 40 feet wide. If you could eliminate the office hall by shoving the front bank of offices up against the back service rooms, you would again have a 40 by 22 foot space.
Hunter has separated the various functions of the building-classrooms, foyer, offices, and gym, and made them evident in the plan. He has done the same with the elevations. The classroom wing and the office section share the same roof, but the latter has a brick facade. The higher roof of the gym pitches off to the south, while the roof of the south classroom slopes down to the north. A wide chimney-like structure rises between and above the offices and gym, adding some visual weight to the elevation at that equilibrium point just off center. The slight butterfly of the classroom wing/office roof feels sophisticated and adds a little extra light to the interiors. An afterthought may have been the south classroom; was it in the plan from the beginning, or did they decide to use up some extra space in the yard?
The Small Building: James M. Hunter, Architect. 1949-50. 889 17th St., Boulder
Front (east) facade & entrance
Rear (west) entrance, with gymnasium (note the clerestory windows)
The north end. Isn't the roof pitch cool?
The south classroom: one of two without painted glass blocks
A plan from around 1961: about 10,000 square feet
