Mabel McDowell Adult Education Center

The Mabel McDowell Adult Education Center (formerly the Mabel McDowell Elementary School) is an adult education center of the Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation occupying a historic building in Columbus, Indiana. The building, built in 1960, is a major early work of architect John Carl Warnecke. It was converted to an adult education center in 1982.

Mabel McDowell Elementary School
Mabel McDowell Adult Education Center is located in Bartholomew County, Indiana
Mabel McDowell Adult Education Center
Mabel McDowell Adult Education Center is located in Indiana
Mabel McDowell Adult Education Center
Mabel McDowell Adult Education Center is located in the United States
Mabel McDowell Adult Education Center
Location2700 McKinley Ave.,
Columbus, Indiana
Coordinates39°12′7″N 85°53′31″W
Architectural styleModern
NRHP reference No.01000068[1]
Significant dates
Added to NRHPJanuary 3, 2001
Designated NHLJanuary 3, 2003[2]
Detail showing detached pod

In 2001, the building was designated by the National Park Service as a National Historic Landmark because of its architecture. In its application to the National Park Service for protected status, the building is described as "significant as an early example of modern architecture in Columbus, and as an important example of the contextual work of John Carl Warnecke, a leading architect of the twentieth century."[3] The building is designed as a series of pods, connected by covered and trellised walkways. The major spaces in each pod (classrooms and other common spaces) are covered by individual pyramidal roof sections. The construction is steel framing on concrete slabs, with the walls finished in steel-clad glass and brick.[3]

Warnecke's design for McDowell attempted to combine functionality with open space reminiscent of an Indiana farm landscape. In his concept for McDowell, Warnecke said a "dominant characteristic of southern Indiana is the flat terrain, a horizontal theme accentuated by tall Victorian houses, barns, and silos, with picturesque groves of trees. The school design is based on the creation of similar grouping of masses and spaces in a scheme which focuses the school group into its own controlled environment, yet extends it outward to the community." Warnecke also designed the John F. Kennedy grave at Arlington National Cemetery and the Hawaii State Capitol building.

References

  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
  2. "McDowell, Mabel, Elementary School". National Historic Landmarks Program. National Park Service. Archived from the original on October 10, 2012. Retrieved June 5, 2009.
  3. Thayer, Laura. "National Historic Landmark Nomination: Mabel McDowell Elementary School". National Park Service. and Accompanying six photos from 1999
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