Talks Explore the Origin, Politics and Future of Paul Rudolph's Architectural design of the UMass Dartmouth Campus
Jennifer McGrory, Project Manager of the UMass Dartmouth Claire T. Carney Renovation will give a brief presentation on the architectural renovation of the Claire T. Carney Library. The library, opened in 1972 and designed by Paul Rudolph underwent a $32m renovation to modernize the facility, including the accessibility, mechanical systems, envelope improvements, and interior finishes. In addition to these changes, the building layout was reorganized to accommodate contemporary library functions and technology. The project hopes to be a model for how to renovate and modernize the existing campus of Brutalist buildings.
Professor Timothy Rohan from UMass Amherst will explore the work of early 1960s famed and controversial American modernist architect Paul Rudolph who designed Boston Government Service Center and campus for the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth projects that helped redefine monumentality for the post World War II era. Though often maligned as 'Brutalist,' the projects were attempts to bring citizens together to form community, provide them with better social services, and educate them in order to spark a 'renaissance' for the Commonwealth.
The discussant for the talks will be speakers UMass Dartmouth Professor Anna Dempsey, an Associate Professor of Art History at the University of Massachusetts.
The talks are the final in a series of six titled "Urban Renewal and Creative Economy in Massachusetts Gateway Cities and Beyond" that explores the role of the creative sector, architectural preservation and urban design in revitalizing postindustrial cities. The lecture series is made possible through the 2012 University of Massachusetts President's Creative Economy Initiatives Fund. This presentation is also held in conjunction with Made in the USA: The History and Legacy of Cold War Art & Design, the 2nd Annual Undergraduate Art History Conference at UMass Dartmouth. The symposium, which is organized by the Art History Department of the College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA) at the University of Massachusetts, features papers by UMass Dartmouth students as well as those of students from Syracuse, Utah State, Parsons and Belgrade University.
LINKS:
http://www.umassd.edu/cvpa/undergraduate/arthistory/lectures/
http://www.umass.edu/arthist/rohan.htm
http://archrecord.construction.com/projects/building_types_study/adaptive_reuse/2013/1302-claire-t-carney-library-renovation.asp
http://www.umass.edu/arthist/documents/newsletter08.pdf