Alden B. Dow, Midland, Michigan
(Born 1904, Midland, Michigan; died 1983, Midland, Michigan)
Alden B. Dow Associates, Midland, Michigan
Alden B. Dow entered Columbia University in 1927. After completing studies there, he returned to Midland and worked in the office of Saginaw architects Frantz and Spence. In 1933, he spent six months at Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin. After returning to Midland, he opened his own architectural office. His firm was reorganized as Alden B. Dow & Associates in 1963. In 1981, it was again reorganized as Dow Howell Gilmore and Associates.1
Nationally recognized for his innovative designs, Alden B. Dow’s office and designs had a profound impact on mid-twentieth century design in the Saginaw area. His influence extended beyond the buildings he designed in Saginaw. Several Saginaw architects worked in his office and were deeply influenced by his philosophy of design.
The density and urban character of Saginaw’s South Jefferson Avenue presented a unique set of challenges for Dow. Although separated by three decades, his designs for the Mary Dow House and the YWCA provide unique insight into the struggle between maintaining an occupant’s privacy without disengaging her from the community. These two buildings represent imaginative and unique solutions to this problem.
Representative Work:
Saginaw:
Mary Dow House
YWCA [Wolverine Baptist Center]
Private residence on Ardussi
Private residence on Davis Drive
Buildings at Saginaw Valley State University and Delta College
Midland:
Alden B. Dow Home and Studio2 - open for tours
Sources:
1Diane Maddex. Alden B. Dow: Midwestern Modern. New York: Norton. 2007 and Sidney K. Robinson. The Architecture of Alden B. Dow. Detroit: Wayne State UP 1983.
2Alden B. Dow, FAIA Architect. Reflections. Midland: Northwood Institute. 1970.
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