PocketSights

1

National Bureau of Standards/ National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)

National Bureau of Standards/ 325 Broadway/ Pereira & Luckman (Los Angeles) with J.E. Stanton (Los Angeles), and Robert Ditzen (Boulder) architects/ International Style/ built 1954N.I.S.T., the National Institute of Standards and Technology, was known as the National Bureau of Standards prior to 1989. It is a federal lab that develops and supplies measurement tools, test methods, and scientific data that businesses need to invent, innovate, and produce high-quality products for electronics, communications, optics, nanotechnology, public safety, biosciences, forensics, defense, and environmental applications. The Boulder campus sits on 206 acres.The Department of Commerce Boulder Laboratories Building 1, also known as the Central Radio Propagation Laboratory (CRPL), was designed in a regional variant of the modern architecture International Style. It was constructed in 1953 to 54. The opening was on September 14, 1954 with a ribbon cutting by then President Dwight D. Eisenhower.This is the first of many scientific research buildings, all designed with an innovative sensibility. The CRPL building was ‘cutting edge’ for its day with a rational and unornamented design, a central ‘spine’, and flanking wings of laboratories. The exterior calls to mind an aircraft carrier in appearance due to its gray concrete walls, flat roofs, linear window shades, and control tower on top.Pereira & Luckman Associates was founded in 1950 by college classmates Charles Luckman and William Pereira in Los Angeles. Over their 10 years in business they employed 300 people and had 56 buildings constructed from their designs, primarily in California. Their company's notable buildings include the Theme Building at Los Angeles International Airport, CBS Television City, and the First National Bank in Denver. They teamed with two other architecture companies on the design for the Federal Bureau of Standards in Boulder, J.E. Stanton and Robert Ditzen.About historic preservation interest for this building: https://www.nist.gov/ofpm/historic-preservation-nist/boulder-laboratories

2

St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church

3300 Table Mesa Dr./ Keith Ames architect / Prairie Style/ built 1970The building exterior and interior design is inspired by the architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright with its low sloping roofs, broad overhanging roof eaves, circular sanctuary space, exposed beams, and large ‘picture’ windows.The church is named for the patron saint of social justice.Keith Ames was a graduate of CU Boulder and is an architect whose office was in Longmont where many of his designs were built, including the Longmont Civic Center, First Bank, and Westview Presbyterian Church.

3

Southern Hills Junior High School

1500 Knox Dr/ Hobart D. Wagener architect/ International Style/ built 1963The original design for this International Style building had three interconnected building blocks. Two contained classrooms and administrative offices while the largest housed the gym and dining area. It has an unusual exterior design with a brick shell and an ‘exoskeleton’ of concrete beams, columns, and window frames.

4

Fairview High School

1515 Greenbriar Blvd/ Hobart D. Wagener architect/ Brutalism style/ built 1971When Fairview High School opened at this location in 1971, it was lauded for its 'avant-garde' design. Hexagonal classroom clusters and ramps were architectural elements that set the five-level school apart. The design followed the 'open-school' model popular in the 1970s. The layout also included a student center and lots of ‘community’ space to allow for independent study time.The building sits on a hilltop overlooking Viele Lake. It steps down the hillside with five floor levels connected by ramps, not stairs. The building walls are cast-in-place concrete with a repetitive, modular geometry. The angular building forms and cascading flat roofs give the building an appearance of a large, crystalline rock outcropping.Hobart Wagener moved from Portland, Oregon to Boulder in the early 1950s and became a lead designer at the office of James Hunter. After a few years, he started his own company which became a prolific Modernist design firm, producing over 200 innovative buildings in Boulder.

5

South Boulder Recreation Center

1360 Gillaspie Dr/ Nixon Brown Brokaw and Bowen architects/ Usonian style/ built 1972The building exterior and interior design is inspired by the architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright with its low sloping roofs, broad overhanging roof eaves, exposed beams, and large areas of ‘picture’ windows. The building is cleverly composed on a hillside with a one-story entry level stepping down to the tall swimming pool and gymnasium wings below. Bill Bowen was the principal design architect.

6

1780 Deer Valley Rd.

unknown architect/ A-Frame style/ built 1966Like the house across the street, this building is a variant of the A-Frame style with two building blocks. One has a dramatic A-shaped roof, and the other is a wing with a flat roof.

7

1755 Deer Valley Rd.

Tician Papachristou architect/ Usonian style/ built 1966This five-bedroom house was designed in a style inspired by the famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright. The floor plan is laid out in an arc instead of a straight line. Several of the rooms have a circular shape. The roof is flat and extends with overhanging eaves. The exterior walls are clad in narrow, vertical panels that accentuate the cylindrical shapes of the house.Tician Papachristou moved to Boulder in the 1950s from NYC. He worked in the office of James Hunter and then left to start his own company. Besides designing residences and commercial buildings, he worked as a consultant for NCAR as the 'in-house' architect to oversee the design work of the Mesa Lab complex by the I.M.Pei architecture company. Papchristou designed several notable houses, including the Landmarked Sampson-Wood House at 1900 King Street.

8

1740 Deer Valley Rd.

unknown architect/ Modified A-Frame style/ built 1966This house is a variant of the “A-Frame” style. On the right is an asymmetrical A-shape that merges into a roof sloping to the left. The design takes advantage of the steeply sloping road to place a basement-level garage under the main house. The walls are vertical board-and-batten wood siding.

9

1720 Deer Valley Rd.

unknown architect/ Horizon Building Company/ A-Frame style/ built 1965After WWII, the GI Bill and the institutionalization of a five-day work week grew the middle class. For the first time the middle class had disposable income, enough to own vacation homes in addition to their primary residences. With more time and resources many families were able to take vacations and even own vacation homes. The A-Frame vacation house epitomized the social and cultural changes of the time, which included a less formal lifestyle and outdoor recreation. Most were built without architects, by do-it-yourselfers from kits, or purchased from builders who designed and constructed them.Unlike the more typical modern A-Frame cabin, Table Mesa's A-Frames were built as primary residences, larger and with finer finishes. Horizon Building Company was responsible for several of the remaining A-Frames in the West Highland Park subdivision of Table Mesa.Colorado architects known to have designed A-Frames include Frenchie Gratts (of Gratts and Warner, Denver), J.W. Noacker, Hobart D. Wagener, John Thacker, Richard Brown (Brown Brokaw and Bowen), and Wallace Palmer. Architect-designed A-frames in Boulder were often churches or commercial buildings.Learn more about Boulder County's A-Frame architecture.

10

321 Foxtail Ct

unknown architect/ Modified A-Frame style/ built 1970This house is a variant of the A-Frame style. There are two building blocks with angular roofs. The front one is clad in sandstone and the back one is clad in stained, vertical wood siding.

11

1785 Deer Valley Rd

unknown architect/ A-Frame style/ built 1965This house is a variant of the A-Frame style with two building blocks. One has a dramatic A-shaped roof, and the other is a wing with a flat roof.

12

1805 Deer Valley Rd

unknown architect/ California Modern style/ built 1965This house design has elements of both the repetitive rational aspects of the International style, with wall and roof influences of Japanese residential architecture. While we do not know the architect, both Hobart Wagener and Tician Papachristou designed properties with this style.

13

1845 Kohler Dr

unknown architect/ A-frame style/ built 1967

14

1900 Kohler Dr

unknown architect/ A-Frame style/ built 1965At one time West Highland Park had many A-Frame houses. Most have been demolished. In the immediate vicinity of 1900 Kohler Dr. two A-Frame houses, 1865 and 1905 Kohler Dr., were demolished in the last several years. Photos 2 and 3 show 1865 Kohler (built c. 1965) prior to demolition. Photos 4 and 5 are of 1905 Kohler prior to demolition.About Boulder's historic preservation program: Demolition applications for buildings over 50 years old are reviewed by the preservation program for historic interest by Planning staff alone, by the Landmarks Design Review Committee, and/or when greater consideration is deemed appropriate, reviewed in a public hearing setting by the Landmarks Board. Many of the demolished A-Frames in West Highland Park may have been less than 50 years old at the time demolition applications were submitted. Under appreciation of the A-frame style likely also contributed to their demise.Learn more about Boulder County's A-frame architecture.

15

1920 Kohler Dr

unknown architect/ A-frame style/ built 1965Photo 2 depicts 1920 Kohler prior to modifications. Open the image to see it fully.(1900 Kohler can be seen in the background.)

16

1985 Kohler Dr

unknown architect/ A-Frame style/ built 1966This house is a variant of the A-Frame style. There are two building blocks connected by an outside deck. Each has the north exterior wall made by the steeply sloping roof. The south roof plane has a very low slope, opening up the face of the building.

17

2015 Kohler Dr

unknown architect/ California Modern style/ built 1966This house design has influences of Japanese residential architecture, especially with the Pagoda-shaped roof.

18

2385 Kohler Dr.

unknown architect/ Prairie Style/ built 1964This house is reminiscent of the work of Frank Lloyd Wright and his Prairie Style period of design. Characteristics include low sloping roofs with large overhanging eaves, a combination of board-and-batten and brick masonry walls, a prominent chimney, and a large balcony that shelters the garage entry.

19

McDonald House

2440 Kohler Drive/ George Norman Wells architect/ Prairie Style/ built 1967/ Historic LandmarkAlice and Don McDonald commissioned George Norman Wells to design their house, which they had landmarked in 2020. The design was inspired by the architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright. It has key characteristics of Wright's Prairie style, including angled building forms, a horizontal orientation of the exterior walls and roof lines, and patterned coursing of the brick masonry. About Boulder's historic preservation program: Reasons vary for property owners to landmark their buildings. They may wish to honor important persons or family members associated with the building, to ensure a valued building is protected from extensive alteration or demolition, or they may want to take advantage of state and federal tax credits available for costs associated with building maintenance. Another way the landmark designation process can kick in is when a demolition application is submitted. If a structure proposed for demolition is more than 50 years old, the demo application is subject to historic preservation review.Read the Landmarks Board meeting memo for this property.

20

2625 Kohler Dr.

unknown architect/ Usonian style/ built 1975This house is reminiscent of the work of Frank Lloyd Wright and his Usonian Style period of design. Characteristics include the almost flat roofs with large overhanging eaves, exposed roof rafter tails, and a combination of board-and-batten and brick masonry walls.

21

2620 Kohler Dr.

unknown architect/ California Modern style/ built 1971

22

Mount Calvary Lutheran Church

3485 Stanford Ct./ Nixon & Jones architects/ Usonian style/ built 1957/ Historic Landmark(At the time of tour release, the site is under redevelopment and the church is not accessible.)The Mount Calvary Church, completed in 1957, was designed by the architecture firm of Tom Nixon and Lincoln Jones. The building has had two additions since then. The original MCM design was a simple and elegant building whose exterior was dominated by its low sloping, single gable roof, with an expansive picture window at the east end, broad overhanging eaves, rectangular brick walls that extended out from the building into the landscape to define the main entry, and an arcade of wood beams that projected from the building to the ground on the south side.Nixon & Jones Architects was the precursor firm to Nixon, Brown, Brokaw and Bowen. Tom Nixon partnered with Lincoln Jones to establish the Boulder-based architecture firm in 1956. Throughout the firm’s portfolio the Usonian style is implemented in a variety of projects, a style popularized and refined by Frank Lloyd Wright. Their Boulder projects include the Mount Calvary church in Table Mesa (1957), the Landmarked First Christian Church (1961) on 28th Street Frontage Rd., Boulder Fire Station #3 (1965), office buildings, and houses. In 1967, the firm disbanded when Nixon joined Brown, Brokaw, and Bowen and Jones opened his own practice in Boulder. About Boulder's historic preservation program: This Historic Landmark resulted from Site Review, a process where development proposals meeting certain criteria are reviewed by the city. Often developers receive an advantage over what is permitted 'by right' when engaging in Site Review. The church property is currently being developed into 60 units of housing while the landmarked church building will be repurposed. Learn more about and see more images of the building from the Planning Staff memo to the Landmarks Board.(The First Christian Church building was also landmarked as part of Site Review. A new apartment building was constructed on the property and the church building was repurposed.)

23

3305, 3355, 3405 Stanford Ave

unknown architect/ Usonian style/ built 1969, 1964, 1964These duplex apartment buildings are reminiscent of the work of Frank Lloyd Wright and his Usonian style period of design. Characteristics include low sloping roofs with large overhanging eaves and large picture windows.

24

3005 Vassar Dr

unknown architect/ California Modern style/ built 1965This house design is inspired by the Eichler houses of California. They feature slow sloping gable roofs, open floor plans, post-and-beam construction, and floor-to-ceiling glass windows that look out onto patios and yards.

25

3050 Vassar Dr

unknown architect/ California Modern style/ built 1964This house design is inspired by the Eichler houses of California. It has an unusual wall cladding with a concrete pebble finish.

26

2995 Vassar Dr

unknown architect/ Modern Mansard style/ built 1965This house has flat roofs angling down to clad the walls of the second floor. It has two building blocks connected by a narrow entry court. The remainder of the exterior walls are clad in a combination of horizontal and vertical wood boards.

27

2990 Vassar Dr

unknown architect/ California Modern style/ built 1965This house design is inspired by the Eichler homes of California. It has a grand stair leading up to the main entrance which has a series of four large picture windows.

28

2955 Vassar Dr

unknown architect/ California Modern style/ built 1964This house design is inspired by the Eichler homes of California. It has a walkway and stair leading up to the main entrance which has a wall of large picture windows.

29

2905 Vassar Dr

unknown architect/ California Modern style/ built 1964This is one of the best examples on this street of the Eichler California style house. It is a split-level variant with two main building blocks capped by low sloping roofs with large overhanging eaves and exposed rafter tails. The front of the house has floor-to-ceiling windows facing south with views to the foothills. This style of architecture often features open floor plans, post-and-beam construction, and large windows looking out onto patios and gardens.

30

2910 Vassar Dr

unknown architect/ A-frame style/ built 1966

31

2890 Vassar Dr

unknown architect/ California Modern style/ built 1964This house is a beautifully designed example of an Eichler-style California house, with high windows under the gable roof, overhanging eaves, and a carport.

32

2895 Vassar Dr

unknown architect/ Modern Mansard style/ built 1964This house is another example of a modern interpretation of the French mansard style where the roof angles down to become the cladding of the walls. The trapezoidal front face is filled entirely with windows facing south. It has been updated with a dramatic carport with a cantilevered roof.

33

2855 Vassar Dr

unknown architect/ California Modern style/ built 1964An unusual aspect of this house is that it is placed at an angle to the line of the street.

34

2805 Vassar Dr

unknown architect/ California Modern style/ built 1963This is a split-level variant of the Eichler design. The garage and entry is at the mid-level with the vaulted living room above and the garden level below.

35

2795 Vassar Dr

unknown architect/ California Modern style/ built 1963This is another house design inspired by the Eichler houses of California. It has a low sloping gable roof over the main part of the house with high glass windows under the eaves that look out to the views to the south. A wing to the west has a flat roof over the garage and the front door.

36

2750 Vassar Dr

unknown architect/ Rustic California Modern style/ built 1964This house is a Colorado variant of the Eichler California style. Instead of wood siding, the walls are clad in local sandstone. An unusual characteristic repeated in a few instances along Vassar Dr. is the angled orientation of the house to the street. The garage is at yet another angle to the street.

37

2705 Vassar Dr.

unknown architect/ George H. Holdrege builder/ A-frame style/ built 1963The original house built by George Holdrege is the A-frame portion. The two-story wing was added later.

38

2710 Vassar Dr

unknown architect/ Rustic California Modern style/ built 1964This house design is inspired by the Eichler homes of California. The roof has a double gable form with overhanging eaves. The walls are clad iwith a notable variation of the use of local sandstone with dark stained wood siding, similar to a ski lodge.

39

2690 Vassar Dr

unknown architect/ Rustic California Modern style/ built 1964This is another house design inspired by the Eichler homes of California. The roof has a double gable form with overhanging eaves. The walls are clad in dark wood siding and local sandstone.

40

2695 Vassar Dr

unknown architect/ C.E. (Bud) Kentz (likely) builder/ California Modern style/ built 1963This is another house design inspired by the Eichler houses of California. It has two low sloping ‘shed’ roofs connected in the middle with a gable roof. The roof has a double gable form with overhanging eaves. The walls are clad in wood siding and brick. The entrance has a walled plaza in front. Photo 3: Mr. Kentz is pictured on the left in the photo with 2605 Vassar in the foreground and 2695 Vassar in the background.

41

2650 Vassar Dr

unknown architect/ California Modern style/ built 1963Inspired by the Eichler houses of California, the roof has a single gable form with overhanging eaves, a flat-roofed garage, and a single low-sloping roof at the back. The walls are clad in wood siding and brick. The entrance has a walled plaza in front.

42

2605 Vassar Dr.

unknown architect/ C.E. (Bud) Kentz builder/ California Modern style/ built 1963"Trademarks of a Kentz home are the private entry courts, with waterfall and planting; the wide but sheltered expanse of glass to take advantage of the view, and the cathedral ceilings with exposed structural beams." Boulder Daily Camera article "Kentz Homes Will Open Table Mesa Show Houses" July 8, 1963The walls are clad in wood siding and brick with very large areas of windows. The entrance has a walled plaza in front.(Kentz is pictured on the left in photo 2.)

43

2610 Vassar Dr

unknown architect/ California Modern style/ built 1964Another Eichler-style house design. The main roof has a single gable form with overhanging eaves. The ‘shed’ roofed garage is placed to create a private entry courtyard behind.

44

2590 Vassar Dr

unknown architect/ Rustic California Modern style/ built 1963This is another Eichler-style house design. The exterior walls are primarily clad with local sandstone. There is a private courtyard behind the garage that serves as the entry to the house. An unusual feature is that the garage is a separate wing that is rotated at an angle from the main house. Neither building block is perpendicular to the street.

45

2455 Vassar Dr

unknown architect/ California Modern style/ built 1965This is another house design inspired by the Eichler houses of California. The exterior walls are clad mostly with vertical board-and-batten siding with an accent of local sandstone. There is a central entry courtyard shaded by an open gable roof.

46

2425 Vassar Dr.

unknown architect/ George H. Holdrege builder/ California Modern style/ built 1963"Although the Table Mesa subdivision of Boulder is one of the newer additions to the city, its growth as a community within the community has been striking. …""A house which takes advantage of the special beauty of the area is one on Vassar Drive, one of several designed by George H. Holdrege. Built on a ridge, one of the highest points in the subdivision, it overlooks a valley and beyond that another ridge with houses along the top - all against the backdrop of the mountain range. Because of the steep descent behind the house, basement rooms open onto a terrace below the level of the front of the house. Here, where the hill falls away to the valley, the ground has been reinforced with retaining walls of rock."(Photos and excerpt above are from the article "Table Mesa House Takes Advantage of Views" written by Ellen Bull, Boulder Daily Camera, July 8, 1963.)

47

2190 Vassar Dr.

unknown architect/ Modern Mansard style/ built 1970This house is an example of a modern interpretation of the French mansard style where the roof angles down to become the cladding of the walls. The trapezoidal front face is split in the middle at the front door.

48

2130 Vassar Dr.

unknown architect/ Usonian style/ built 1967Like its neighbor to the east, this house design references the ‘Usonian’ style of Frank Lloyd Wright. It has a flat roof over the entire house with overhanging eaves and rafter ‘tails’. The wall materials are brick below with vertical wood panel siding above. A grand stair leads up to the ‘glassy’ main entrance.

49

2090 Vassar Dr.

unknown architect/ Modern Mansard style/ built 1966This house is an example of a modern interpretation of the French mansard style where the roof angles down to become the cladding of the walls. The trapezoidal front face is split in the middle at the front door.

50

2030 Vassar Dr.

unknown architect/ Usonian style/ built 1967Like its neighbors a few houses to the east this house design references the ‘Usonian’ style of Frank Lloyd Wright. It has a high flat roof on the main part of the house and a lower flat roof on the garage wing. The wall materials are sandstone below with horizontal wood siding above.

51

National Center for Atmospheric Research

1850 Table Mesa Drive/ I. M. Pei Associates architect/ Brutalism style/ built 1966The National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR)has been instrumental in developing lidar, or laser beam radar, now a key archaeological tool, as well as providing a broad array of tools and technologies to the scientific community for studying climate, weather, climate change, pollutions, air chemistry, space weather, and the water cycle. The design of the building was inspired by the Anasazi cliff dwellings of Mesa Verde. The architect, I. M. Pei, used techniques such as corduroy textured concrete, laying out geometric shapes for the buildings, and using a local sandstone aggregate in the concrete so the complex blended in with the surrounding flatirons and hills. Pei also laid out the building in a maze-like fashion to encourage greater interaction among the scientists.The campus is comprised of a series of three, five-story towers arranged around a terrace and interconnected by a plaza at ground level, a two-story core building, and a basement linking the above grade pieces. The core building houses communal spaces, including the lobby, a small science museum, meeting rooms, cafeteria, and library. The towers have laboratories and offices. The machine shops and heavy floor-load laboratories, including computers, are in a two-level basement. On the top floors of the towers Pei designed “crows’ nests” with full glass fronts and tiny perches for a breath of fresh air surrounded by inspiring views.I.M.Pei is the most famous architect to have designed a building in Boulder. Born in China, he attended college in Boston and set up his architecture office in NYC. His company's notable buildings include an addition to the Louvre Museum in Paris, the Kennedy library in Boston, the East Building of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., and the Rock and Roll Museum in Cleveland.