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.
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
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The Architectural Story of the Albuquerque Civic Auditorium (YouTube)
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
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
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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RESOURCES