A Desert Quonset Hut

July 15, 2021 in Architecture

In a recent project I photographed a 20-acre property in Searchlight, NV. The property included several structures, including a Quonset hut.

According to Wikipedia [1], a Quonset hut is a semi-cylindrical prefabricated structure made of corrugated steel.

Over 150,000 Quonset huts were manufactured during World War II. The huts are named for the place where they were first manufactured, Quonset Point at the Davisville Naval Construction Battalion Center in Davisville, RI. [Building the Navy's Bases in World War II: History of the Bureau of Yards and Docks and the Civil Engineer Corps, 1940–1946, volume 1, Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C., 1947 (referenced in Wikipedia article referenced above)].

The Quonset hut is a variation and improvement of the British Nissen hut, which was designed in World War I. Quonset huts are strong, quick and easy to construct, can be disassembled and transported easily, and require no internal structural support. For all these reasons, the US Navy made great use of them during World War II [2].

Aerial view of a Quonset hut outside Searchlight, NV

The Quonset hut in these photographs is located in Searchlight, NV. It sits on a 20-acre plot of land that was originally a mining claim, one of three adjacent 20-acre mining claims. All the surrounding area is now federally owned and managed by the Bureau of Land Management.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quonset_hut

[2] [https://www.steelmasterusa.com/quonset-huts/history/

The Steel Building

February 06, 2020 in Architecture

Architecture is often part of a company’s branding, and in the case of Pittsburgh’s tallest building, that was the original intent.

The US Steel Building (now the UPMC Building) was built by the US Steel Company in 1970 and dedicated in 1971. It is 64 stories (841 feet) tall and was designed by architecture firm Harrison & Abramovitz [1].

Before continuing, let’s get the names straight. Originally, the skyscraper was called the US Steel Building, and that’s how I’m going to refer to it. Its name was changed to USX Tower in the 1980s. In the early 2000s it was changed to US Steel Tower. The building is currently known as the UPMC Building.

With all that name changing, the building has seemingly changed identities often, but to me it remains the US Steel Building. It is a three-sided triangular building having an indentation at each corner. Its triangular shape matches the shape of downtown Pittsburgh--think of the Point where the three rivers meet. For over 30 years, the top floor was home to the Top of the Triangle, a restaurant that was the highest restaurant in Pittsburgh until it was closed in 2001.

When driving or walking by the tower, you immediately notice one of its prominent features--the exterior steel columns supporting the structure. When I see those structural elements, I think of the strength of steel, and it reminds me why this building’s design was appropriate for the US Steel Company. The entire building appears to be a testament to the strength of steel, and indeed it was meant to be a symbol of the strength of the steel company housed inside.

Detail of the UPMC Tower, Pittsburgh, PA

The 18 steel columns were made from US Steel’s new product at the time, Cor-ten steel, and the building was intended by US Steel to be essentially a huge demonstration of the product. Cor-ten steel is now a common construction material, and one of its features is the way it weathers. The surface of Cor-ten oxidizes in the weather and forms a dark brown coating over the steel. The coating protects the steel from deeper weathering and eliminates the need for cleaning, painting, or other means of preventing rust [2].

Main entrance to UPMC Tower, Pittsburgh, PA

The largest tenant currently in the Steel Building is the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC). As a result, the building is currently called the UPMC Building--and huge signs at the top of the building declare that title--but the US Steel Building remains a symbol of Pittsburgh’s steel town past. As the city’s tallest building, it serves as a reminder of where the city came from. May its strength and endurance guide Pittsburgh into its future as well.

Sources

1 https://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/top-lists/u-s-steel-tower-visitors-guide/

2 http://www.fieldtripper.com/c/UVDCp-bPkLA/u-s-steel-tower

Geodesic Dome House, Palm Springs, CA

July 19, 2017 in Architecture

One of my most recent projects brought me to a unique home in a spectacular location. This house is in Palm Springs, CA. The house features a geodesic dome invented by Buckminster Fuller and is sited in the large wind farm at the north end of Palm Springs.

Geodesic dome house in Palm Springs, CA. Re-designed by California architect Pavlina Williams, AIA.

This house has an interesting history. It was originally built in the 1950s as a weekend family vacation home for a chemical engineer from Torrance, CA. The house was built without an architect and was pieced together by neighbors and local residents.

Palm Springs, CA. Architect: Pavlina Williams, AIA.

In the 1970s, the owner bought a commercially available kit to add the geodesic dome. The primary dome of the house originally had very few windows, which is surprising considering the broad mountain views available at the site. The house remained unchanged until only a few years ago, when California architect Pavlina Williams, AIA and her husband discovered the house and recognized it as a diamond in the rough.

Pavlina redesigned the dome, adding the triangular and other geometric windows which now provide panoramic views of the area. She completely renovated and remodeled the interior as well, introducing a treasure of mid-century modern furniture and design.

The house is now the perfect desert retreat, and it’s a great place to escape for a weekend. Thanks to the efforts of Pavlina, the house has become an architectural gem in the desert.

A Desert Quonset Hut

The Steel Building

Geodesic Dome House, Palm Springs, CA

Blog

Recent Posts