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LOST ARCHITECTURE

Recent Losses.

Since the publication of the Mid-Century Modern Architectural Resources survey, several buildings that were included on it have been demolished.

Com - former Bank of America motor bank - 7201 Menaul NE - E elev. - 2.JPG

PHOTO: William Dodge

Albuquerque National Motor Bank

ARCHITECT: Kruger, Lake & Associates

CONTRACTOR: Unknown

YEAR: 1973

DEMOLISHED: 2021

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Originally identified as a Flatow, Moore... project, Modern Albuquerque reevaluated this building's provenance in 2018. Thanks to plans on file, it was determined to be a Kruger, Lake & Associates design. At the time of construction, "New Mexico's largest motor bank" had eight drive-up lanes and two walk-up windows. Between the 2013 survey of the city's architectural resources and our start in 2018, the facade changed significantly, stuccoed and refaced with new stone cladding for use as a U.S. Eagle Federal Credit Union branch.

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The walls of the structure appear to be made of cast-in-place concrete, while the roof beams appear pre-cast. Glazing may have been placed between the beams near the roofline, though glass was not extant at that level at the time of demolition.

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RESOURCES

Pre 2013 Losses.

Some modernist properties were demolished before they could be evaluated as historic. Whether abandoned, sold to redevelopers, or torn down for replacement, these properties are much missed.

PHOTO: Nancy Tucker Postcard Collection

Albuquerque Civic Auditorium

ARCHITECT: Ferguson, Stevens & Associates

CONTRACTOR: Lembe, Clough, King

YEAR: 1957

DEMOLISHED: 1986

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RESOURCES

Trade Winds Motor Hotel

ARCHITECT: Irving Coryell

CONTRACTOR: K.L. House Construction Co.

YEAR: 1958

DEMOLISHED: 2009

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This Googie motel, opened just in time for the 1958 New Mexico State Fair, was the height of Route 66 luxury. The entrance to the 83-room motor hotel's lobby featured steel beam supports forming a modernist porte-cochère. It was declared a nuisance property and demolished by the Safe City Strike Force in 2009.

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RESOURCES

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White Winrock Hotel

ARCHITECT: Victor Gruen & Associates

CONTRACTOR: Pickens & Bond

YEAR: 1962

DEMOLISHED: 2012

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The hotel was named for its owner, the J.L. White Corporation, though it was managed by and operated by Winrock Enterprises. At the time of its closing, it was known as the Winrock Inn. The hotel makes a brief appearance in American International Pictures' 1971 release, Bunny O'Hare.

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RESOURCES

Five Points Bank

ARCHITECT: Flatow, Moore, Bryan & Fairburn

CONTRACTOR: Unknown

YEAR: 1960

DEMOLISHED: Unknown

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This 'ultra-modern' bank branch was operated by the Bank of New Mexico. Little is known about the building, which appears in photos to have been a triangular edifice set on a triangular site. With windows facing south and east, the interior space may have been flooded with natural light. Nothing remains on the site today. This footage was found in the Albuquerque Museum's collection of b-roll footage from the KRQE television station.

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RESOURCES

Office of Flatow & Moore, Architects

Albuquerque Museum Flatow Office PA.1980

ARCHITECT: Max Flatow

CONTRACTOR: Lembke Construction Co.

YEAR: 1949

DEMOLISHED: Unknown

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This butterfly-roofed office building once stood near the southwest corner of Lomas and Yale. Considered by Edna Heatherington-Bergman as 'an advertisement for an architect' and George Pearl as, "the best thing (Flatow and Moore) have done," all that is left of the 'old Flatow office' are some steps leading where it once stood. The architectural firm relocated to the 16th floor of the First National Bank Tower East upon its opening in 1963.

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