and lack of traditional ornament — all hallmarks of the era. The local architect was Slack Winburn. Modernism evolved constantly during the period. There are styles, substyles and variations created specifically for this area. For instance, Bob Browning designed the Steiner American Building at 505 East South Temple, with brick and concrete to fit into the South Temple aesthetic and pressed it into the hillside so it would not have an overbearing presence with its neighbors. Some buildings were embellished with stonework that reflects a Salt Lake‑specific regionalism and that developed independently. The authors noted that there is a transient nature to most buildings, and this seems particularly true of the commercial and institutional buildings that were constructed during this 30year period in Salt Lake City. Many have been demolished. The iconic Fisher Brew House only lasted until the 1970s. A lot of the buildings at the University of Utah were designed and built quickly. As a result, sometimes the materials didn’t hold up very well. “They were not sustainable in the truest sense of the word,” Ewanowski said. Renovating and upgrading Modern buildings to meet contemporary seismic and building codes is expensive, as it is for buildings built previous to this era, and often owners do not see the value in preserving these structures even though most have reached the 50-year point where they can be listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Nonetheless, iconic buildings like First Security Bank and the Steiner American have been placed on the National Register and seismically upgraded in recognition of the contributions they have made to Salt Lake City’s built environment and have been renovated to meet contemporary commercial needs. Salt Lake architects that they recognize as having contributed to the modernist movement include Slack Winburn, John Sugden, Lloyd Snedeker and many of the early grads of the University of Utah’s Architecture School, which was founded by Roger Baily. This includes architects whose work spans both the mid-century period and the later 20th century, like Jim Christopher and Jud Daniels. The road to publication was dogged but not altogether smooth. In addition to the disruptive effect of the pandemic, on March 18, 2020, Salt Lake City had a 5.7 magnitude earthquake. The earthquake significantly damaged the Rio Grande Depot that houses the Utah State Historical Society’s Reading Room, interrupting their research. The materials had to be relocated to safeguard them during the reconstruction. After the new facility was opened, Cornell and Ewanowski worked diligently with the Historical Society’s staff to identify, access, select and gain permission to use over 180 photographs that were published in “Salt Lake City’s Modern Architecture.” Arcadia, the same publisher that produced Allen Roberts’s “Salt Lake City’s Historic Architecture,” published Cornell and Ewanowski’s book. The three architects/ preservationists worked together at CRSA — an architecture firm with a specialty in historic and existing buildings. Since then, Roberts has retired, and Cornell and Ewanowski have moved to other firms. Cornell said, “Although we didn’t work with Allen on this effort, this book might be considered a continuation of his work. The format of Roberts’s ‘Historic Architecture’ matched what we wanted to do. It’s a follow-up.” Cornell and Ewanowski focused on commercial and institutional architecture from the period. Although there are some multi-unit residences in the book, single-family mid-century homes are so ubiquitous and currently fashionable that it would “require another book.” Copies of “Salt Lake City’s Modern Architecture” can be purchased online or at local booksellers such as The King’s English Bookshop (www.kingsenglish.com) and Weller Book Works (www.wellerbookworks.com). 19
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