Techwood Dormitory is a contributing building in the Techwood Homes Historic District, nominated to the National Register of Historic Places in Techwood Dormitory differs from the majority of Techwood Homes buildings in terms of use, interior layout, and ownership; however, the dormitory was constructed in the same style and time period as the remainder of buildings in the district and shares the significant historical associations of Techwood Homes. Techwood Homes was the first federally funded public housing in the United States to reach the construction stage.
Supported and funded by Roosevelt's Federal Administration of Public Works (later, the Public Works Administration, or PWA), the project represents the federal and local governments' first attempts to eradicate slum housing on a grand scale and in a social humanitarian way.1 The project was developed in and on the former site of one of the worst slums in Atlanta. Techwood Homes, including Techwood Dormitory, is associated with people and events significant to the histories of public housing, the city of Atlanta, and the Georgia Institute of Technology (hereafter, "Georgia Tech"). Development in Atlanta of this landmark project reflects the direct efforts of active Atlanta citizens and architects, some of whom were affiliated with Georgia Tech.
These associations are described further in Section LB. 1 Techwood Homes Historic District, National Register nomination question 8. TECHWOOD HOMES, MCDANIEL DORMITORY (Techwood Dorm) HABS No. GA-2257-F (Page 2) Techwood Homes, including Techwood Dormitory, is also significant in the areas of architecture and planning. According to the National Register nomination, Techwood served as a proving ground in the planning and technical specifications for public housing and is often cited as one of the "best" public housing projects in the U.S. because of the humane design of its architecture and site plan.2 Distinguishing architectural and planning characteristics are described further in Sections I.A.3 and II.A. Techwood Dormitory is unusual among the Techwood buildings in several ways.
The dormitory was the first building to be completed and occupied; students moved into the building in September of Though financed and built by the PWA, the building was always intended for use by Georgia Tech; details of this relationship are described in Section LB. The dormitory resembles the other Techwood buildings in terms of exterior massing, details and materials but is the only one to feature dormitory-style accommodations. Though altered by modernizations over the years, the Techwood Dormitory has been in continuous, unchanged use since its completion and retains a fair degree of physical integrity. Ibid. TECHWOOD HOMES, MCDANIEL DORMITORY (Techwood Dorm) HABS No. GA-2257-F (Page 3) PARTI. HISTORICAL INFORMATION A. Physical History 1.
Date of Erection: Groundbreaking ceremonies for Techwood Homes were held on September 29, with Secretary of the Interior Harold L. Ickes initiating the dynamiting of wooden shacks at the site. Construction of the Techwood Homes buildings, including Techwood Dormitory, started in October of and went on throughout The first building to be completed, Techwood Dormitory was ready for occupancy by mid-September of The Techwood Homes housing project was dedicated on November 29, and officially opened for occupancy on August 15, These and other events of project construction are chronicled in newspaper accounts from the time period (see Sections III.3 and 2.
Architect: The Atlanta architectural firm of Burge and Stevens (now Stevens and Wilkinson) designed the Techwood Homes project, including Techwood Dormitory. Both Flippen Burge and Preston Stevens were graduates of the Georgia Tech architecture program and respectively), and Georgia Tech President Brittain worked directly with them in designing Techwood Dormitory.3 According to the original drawings prepared by Burge and Stevens, the landscape architect was Norman C. Butts.4 A graduate of Cornell University, Mr. Butts was a horticulturalist who worked as a landscape architect and later designed landscaping for major highway projects in Georgia.5 3.
Original and subsequent owners: The original owner of the Techwood Dormitory (as well as the rest of Techwood Homes) was the PWA's Federal Emergency Housing Corporation. The dormitory was leased to Georgia Tech. Georgia Tech President Brittain noted in The Story of Georgia Tech that the Techwood Homes project included "a fine dormitory . . . [that] cost and was built without expense to the school."6 During the Brittain tried, unsuccessfully, to have ownership of the property transferred to Georgia Tech; M, L. Brittain, The Story of Georgia Tech 4 Drawing of "Techwood Project [Techwood Dormitory] by Burge and Stevens sheet 5 Edith Henderson, interviewed by Kit Sutherland on 22 June 6 Brittain, Story of Georgia Tech, TECHWOOD HOMES, MCDANIEL DORMITORY (Techwood Dorm) HABS No.
GA-2257-F (Page 4) informal discussions during the planning of the project apparently led him to believe the dormitory would ultimately be given to Georgia Tech.7 In the Atlanta Housing Authority, which was created in took over operation of Techwood Homes through a lease agreement with the U.S. Housing Authority, although the Public Housing Administration still owned the buildings. On December 20, the Public Housing Administration sold Techwood Dormitory to the Board of Regents, University System of Georgia for Georgia Institute of Technology for the price of $105,50O.8 4. Builder, contractor, suppliers: J. A. Jones Construction Company was awarded the contract for construction of the Techwood Dormitory. Thorne Flagler was the building manager and D. A.
Calhoun was the district supervisor.9 Original drawings prepared by Burge and Stevens for the Techwood Dormitory indicate that the structural engineer was Robert G. Lose and the electrical engineer was L. R. Bush.10 5. Original plans and construction: Techwood Dormitory was built at a reported cost of At the time the building was completed, a newspaper article provided the following description: The Techwood dormitory will provide comfortable and adequate but not elaborate living quarters for 309 Georgia Tech students. .. . Built in the shape of a "U" the dormitory is a three-story, fireproof, reinforced concrete structure with brick veneer trimmed in limestone. Walls and ceilings are cement, painted; all interior trim except the doors are metal.
Furnishings include a bed, chair and study desk for each man. There are two general club rooms for the students' use.12 Additional information is provided by another article: 7 M. L. Brittain to Federal Housing Authority Director Nathan Straus, 9 July Georgia Tech Archives, Atlanta, Georgia. 8 From the property transfer title and correspondence related to the sale of Techwood Dormitory, from the period November of to January of Supplied by the Office of Facilities, Georgia Tech. 9 Brittain, Story of Georgia Tech, 10 Burge and Stevens drawings, sheets A-45 and 11 Brittain, Story of Georgia Tech, 12 "Techwood Ready for Tenants Soon," The Atlanta Constitution, 26 August TECHWOOD HOMES, MCDANIEL DORMITORY (Techwood Dorm) HABS No.
GA-2257-F (Page 5) There is a private room and bath on each floor for professors in charge. . . . The heat is controlled thermostatically throughout the building, and the hot water in the showers is regulated by a mixing valve. . . . Drinking fountains are conveniently placed in the hallways, and there are four large combination lavatories and showers, all tile, on each floor.'3 Original plans and schedules (prepared by Burge and Stevens) for Techwood Dormitory are available at the Engineering and Capital Improvements department of the Atlanta Housing Authority.
The maintenance department at Georgia Tech has another set of undated historic drawings (also prepared by Burge and Stevens), but these drawings depict preliminary concepts that were never executed and should not be confused with the original plans and schedules. Photographic reproductions of selected sheets accompany this submittal. 6. Alterations and additions; The Techwood Dormitory has been modernized with the addition of communal kitchens and renovations to major systems (e. g., plumbing, wiring, fire safety, HVAC).
Records in the maintenance department at Georgia Tech document the following chronology of improvements; Fire hazard corrections; building updated for fire safety (joints, beams, alarms, doors, hardware, etc.) Trunk storage racks (opposite rooms and Shower room renovations New rear entrance door installed (next to room Re-roofing Security fence added to south side of property (277-foot chain-linked fence with barbed wire) Branch-circuit rewiring Installation of new phone conduit Fluorescent lighting installed in all rooms Installation of phone conduit Eight lights installed in interior courtyard General renovations (windows, doors, toilets, partitions, handicap bathing/shower, handicap ramp) Security fence addition along North Avenue (150-feet of barbed-wire added to top of existing fence) Compact kitchen rooms added (one on each floor) Electrical and plumbing alterations (entire building) Bathroom, kitchen, electrical and plumbing renovations New HVAC system (located 50 feet behind building) Resident apartment and lounge renovations 13 Tech Students Begin Moving into New PWA Dormitory," The Atlanta Journal, 17 September, TECHWOOD HOMES, MCDANIEL DORMITORY (Techwood Dorm) HABS No.
GA-2257-F (Page 6) Visual inspection reveals other obvious alterations. Historic photographs in newspaper accounts and the original window schedule14 confirm that the building originally had vertical casement windows that opened outward and had light-colored metal frames. The building now has sash windows and a few hopper-style windows, all with bronze-toned metal frames.
The acoustical-tile ceilings were apparently added after the National Register nomination, which noted that "the ceilings are smooth in all living quarters."15 Interior doors are not original, with the possible exception of a painted panel door in a storage closet in the south wing; the door matches the style of the doors depicted in the original door schedule.16 While the building has been altered in terms of modernizations and replacement of key elements such as windows and doors, the building retains a fair degree of integrity in terms of its overall massing, roof line, materials, site orientation, and facade proportions. B. Historical Context Charles Palmer and Clark Howell, Sr. assembled a group of business leaders (including Georgia Tech President M. L.
Brittain, Reginald Fleet, George Simons, and Herbert Porter) interested in clearing the Tech Flats slum and formed Techwood, Incorporated.17 With support from other concerned community leaders, including Dr. John Hope (president of the Atlanta University Affiliation), Palmer and his associates lobbied the PWA for funding for Techwood Homes, to house more than 600 white families, and also University Homes, to house about 800 black families. In October of the two federally funded housing projects became the first in the nation to be approved. Shortly thereafter ownership of Techwood was transferred to the PWA's Federal Emergency Housing Corporation, and the Techwood, Inc.
trustees reorganized themselves as a nonprofit advisory organization called the Techwood Advisory Board.18 Construction of Techwood Homes, including a dormitory for Georgia Tech, followed in and For more information about Palmer, see Adventures of a Slum Fighter.'9 Construction of Techwood Homes accomplished many goals, including the advancement of public housing efforts in the United States, the creation of jobs and revenues for 14 Burge and Stevens drawing, sheet A-56. 15 Techwood Homes National Register nomination, question 7. 16 Burge and Stevens drawing, sheet A-56. 17 "Major Clark Howell on Techwood Board." The Atlanta Constitution, 1 January 18 Corley, "Atlanta's Techwood and University Homes," 22. 19 Charles F.
Palmer, Adventures of a Slum Fighter TECHWOOD HOMES, MCDANIEL DORMITORY (Techwood Dorm) HABS No. GA-2257-F (Page 7) Atlanta businesses, and the addition of a much-needed dormitory for Georgia Tech. National attention and praise focused on Atlanta as the site of the nation's first federally funded public housing, a project that was lauded for its innovative design and high quality construction.
The architectural firm of Burge and Stevens was selected to design Techwood Homes, an enormous job that Preston Stevens later noted sustained the firm through the Depression and helped to secure the firm's place in Atlanta history.20 Preston Stevens and Flippen Burge, who were both Georgia Tech alumni, worked closely with Georgia Tech President Brittain in designing Techwood Dormitory, the first building completed in the project.21 Though financed and built by the PWA, the building was always intended for use by Georgia Tech, initially under a lease agreement. This arrangement was the result of the early and sustained involvement of Brittain, who served on the Board of Trustees of Techwood, Inc.
(original applicant for the PWA funding) and then as chairman of the Techwood Advisory Committee (a supervisory committee for construction and operation). Brittain and his associates apparently saw the PWA public housing program as an opportunity to eradicate deplorable slums adjacent to the Georgia Tech campus while also securing a dormitory to alleviate a shortage of on-campus housing.22 Numerous newspaper articles from September of when the first students moved into the dormitory-cited the comforts and modern conveniences that the dormitory provided for Georgia Tech students.
The entire Techwood project was dedicated in November of by President Roosevelt, and the first of 604 limited-income white families moved into their apartments in August of In the years that followed, the structure of public housing in the United States underwent several changes. The United States Housing Act of decentralized the federal housing program and established the Federal Housing Administration, which took over control of Techwood Homes. The Atlanta Housing Authority was created in June of and took over operation of Techwood Homes in March of During this time period, President Brittain sought unsuccessfully to have ownership of the Techwood Dormitory transferred to Georgia Tech.
Georgia Tech finally purchased Techwood Dormitory and an adjacent vacant lot in December of for 20 Quoted in Corley, "Atlanta's Techwood and University Homes," 23. 21 Brittain, Story of Georgia Tech, 22 Robert C. McMath, et al, Engineering the New South 23 From the property transfer title and correspondence related to the sale of Techwood Dormitory, from the period November of to January Supplied by the Office of Facilities, Georgia Tech. TECHWOOD HOMES, MCDANIEL DORMITORY (Techwood Dorm) HABS No. GA-2257-F (Page 8) PART II. ARCHITECTURAL INFORMATION A. General Statement 1.
Architectural Character: The Techwood Homes National Register nomination describes the architectural style of the housing project as Modified Georgian.24 The Techwood Dormitory lacks some of the detailing found in the other Techwood Homes buildings, particularly at their entryways, and its utilitarian style is characterized in one source as Works Progress Administration Modem.25 The significance of the Techwood Homes project, including the Techwood Dormitory, lies more with its design and layout than its outward architectural style. The PWA Housing Division established standards to insure the provision of ample light and sufficient exterior open space for tenants in public housing.
Burge and Stevens met these standards through the development of two-story rowhouses and three-story garden-style apartment buildings, all featuring a narrow traverse dimension. Landscaped courtyards and open spaces were integrated into the site layout of the rowhouses, apartments, and the Techwood Dormitory, ensuring that the buildings covered only 25 percent of the total project area. The result was a maximum amount of usable public and semi-public open space as well as a human- scaled architecture that was cohesive but not monotonous.26 2. Condition of fabric: The building has suffered recent vandalism, including graffiti, apparently by students who are aware that the building is slated for demolition. Maintenance of the building over the years, however, appears to have been good.
B, Description of Exterior 1. Overall dimensions: Techwood Dormitory features three residential floors and a partially submerged basement. The building's simple, U-shaped layout is symmetrical and forms a westward-facing courtyard. Except for the minimal use of stone and concrete, the building's brick facades are unarticulated; bays are formed by window and door configurations raflier than projections or recesses in the overall building mass. 2. Foundations: The building features poured concrete foundation walls faced with brick veneer. 24 Techwood Homes National Register nomination, question 7. 25 William E.
Drury, III, "The Architectural Development of Georgia Tech" 26 See generally Corley, "Atlanta's Techwood and University Homes"; Techwood Homes National Register nomination; and Atlanta Urban Design Commission, Atlanta's Lasting Landmarks TECHWOOD HOMES, MCDANIEL DORMITORY (Techwood Dorm) HABS No. GA-2257-F (Page 9) 3. Walls: The walls are red brick veneer trimmed in stone. The primary decorative element is a stone string course band that separates the second and third floors and allows the third story to act as an entablature.27 Stone and concrete trim are used around the entries and as lintels and keystones over windows. The bond of the brick features four stretcher rows per Flemish header row. The first floor and basement levels are separated by a soldier row topped by a header row. 4.
Structural systems, framing: The Techwood Homes National Register nomination provides the following description of the structure of the dormitory: It is a concrete skeleton-frame structure with wall columns spaced from 18 to 22 feet and with two lines of interior columns spaced 10 feet apart on either wall of a longitudinal corridor. The outside bays are 12 feet four inches wide, and as in all the other [Techwood Homes] buildings there are no transverse beams; the ceilings are smooth in all living quarters.28 5. Porches, stoops, balconies, bulkheads: None. 6. Chimneys: A brick chimney protrudes from the eastern-most wall of the U- shaped building, near the center of the elevation. 7. Openings: a.
Doorways and doors: Exterior doorways feature stone surrounds; the main entrances (west front) of both the north and south wings are recessed and are more ornate than other entrances. Original panel-style, double doors have all been replaced with a wider flush-style door and sidelight. b. Windows and shutters: Most of the windows are modern sash windows with bronze-toned metal frames; they are replacements of the original vertical, metal-framed casement windows. A few windows are modern, hopper-style replacements. There are no shutters. 8. Roof: a. Shape, covering: The building has a flat, concrete-slab roof. The building was re-roofed in and the roof has probably been repaired and resurfaced at other times as well.
27 Drury, "Architectural Development," 28 Techwood Homes National Register nomination, question 7. TECHWOOD HOMES, MCDANIEL DORMITORY (Techwood Dorm) HABS No. GA-2257-F (Page 10) b. Cornice, eaves: There are no projecting eaves or cornice; the flat roof is edged with a short masonry coping. c. Dormers, cupolas, towers: None. C. Description of Interior 1. Floor plans: Though dimensions and layouts differed slightly by floor, sheet H- 813 of the original Burge and Stevens drawings indicated the following general plan for each floor: 2 janitors' closets; two trunk storage rooms; 2 rooms with private baths for "inspectors" (faculty supervisors); 4 communal baths; 23 double two- person rooms (opening directly into the hall); and 14 suites, consisting of 28 rooms connected by 14 studies.
This combination would have accommodated a total of 306 students and 6 faculty residents; historical descriptions of original occupancy levels vary and differ slightly from this estimate. The use and configuration of some rooms on each floor have been altered over time, including the conversion of some rooms on each floor into kitchens in 2. Stairways; Standard return stairs provide access between floors at building entrances. 3. Flooring: Floors are of poured slab cement covered with linoleum. 4. Wall and ceiling finish: Walls and ceilings were originally painted cement designed to provide maximum sound-proofing; the acoustical-tile ceilings have been added. 5. Openings: a.
Doorways and doors: Doors were originally wooden panel-style doors with metal frames; the existing flush-style doors are replacements. Closets in the rooms do not have doors; this is an original feature rather than a later alternation. b. Windows: Refer to Section Description of Exterior. 6. Decorative features and trim: Interior decorative features and trim are minimal. 7. Hardware: Metal stair railings appear to match original drawing details29 and may be original. Other interior hardware appears to be of modern manufacture. 8. Mechanical equipment: 29 Burge and Stevens drawing, sheet A-20. TECHWOOD HOMES, MCDANIEL DORMITORY (Techwood Dorm) HABS No. GA-2257-F (Page 11) a.
Heating, air conditioning, ventilation: The building's original coal-fired heating system and radiators have been replaced; the current HVAC system dates from b. Lighting: Contemporary accounts lauded the new Techwood Dormitory for its "indirect lighting system";30 fluorescent lighting was added in c. Plumbing: The building's plumbing has been extensively renovated, including renovations in and again in and the addition of kitchens on each floor in d. Other (elevators, etc.): The building has no elevators or other special equipment. 9. Original furnishings: Techwood Dormitory was originally completely furnished with desks, chairs, single beds, armoires, etc. constructed primarily of wood (based on historic snapshots and repair descriptions).
The simple metal furnishings currently in use are of modern manufacture. D. Site: 1. General setting and orientation: The U-shaped building forms a courtyard that faces Techwood Drive to the west. Student parking immediately surrounds the building on the north and east sides. The south side of the building abuts a steep grade next to the public housing units. A sidewalk and steps that originally linked the southeast corner of the site with the rest of the Techwood project now end abruptly at a perimeter security fence. An open, landscaped area north of the dormitory has been replaced with a parking lot. 2. Historic landscape design: The original plant list31 for Techwood Dormitory included traditional Atlanta-area plants such as dogwoods, crape myrtles, water oaks, privet, and English ivy.
Much of this original scheme appears to have been lost to parking encroachments or landscape renovations. 3. Outbuildings: None, except for HVAC units (added located in a fenced area in the rear (east) parking lot. 30 "Techwood Dormitory is Well Liked for Varied Reasons by Tech Boys," The Atlanta Constitution, 13 October 31 Burge and Stevens drawing, sheet TECHWOOD HOMES, MCDANIEL DORMITORY (Techwood Dorm) HABS No. GA-2257-F (Page 12) PART III. SOURCES OF INFORMATION A. Architectural drawings: Original architectural drawings for "Techwood Project No. [Techwood Dormitory] prepared by Burge and Stevens - Architects, Atlanta, for the Housing Division of the Public Works Administration.
Drawing sheets reviewed for this project are as follows: A-45 through A-51 A-55 and A-56 through and Reductions of selected examples of these drawings are included in this submittal as photographs 34 through 40. The original drawings are kept at the Engineering and Capital Improvements department of the Atlanta Housing Authority, Atlanta, Georgia. Preliminary concept drawings (never executed) for "Techwood Project # [Techwood Dormitory] prepared by Burge and Stevens - Architects, Atlanta, for the Housing Division of the Public Works Administration. Drawing sheets are unnumbered. The original drawings are kept at the maintenance department of Georgia Tech. B. Historic views: Photos accompany many of the historic newspaper articles listed under Section III.D. C.
Interviews: An interview with landscape architect Edith Henderson was conducted by Kit Sutherland in Atlanta, Georgia on June 22, Henderson was one of several landscape architects who designed landscaping for the original Techwood Homes site in the mid-1930s. She stated that she did not design the landscaping around Techwood Dormitory but was able to provide information about Norman C. Butts, the landscape architect whose name appears on sheet of the Burge and Stevens drawings. D.
Block