Alden B. Dow was born on April 10, 1904, and died on August 20, 1983. He was an architect from Midland, Michigan, and is well-known for his work in the Michigan Modern style. Starting in the 1930s, he designed over 70 homes and many churches, schools, civic buildings, art centers, and commercial structures during his more than 30-year career. In his hometown of Midland, examples of his work include the Midland Center for the Arts, the Grace A. Dow Memorial Library (built in the 1950s and named after his mother), his contributions to Dow Gardens, and his former home, the Alden Dow House and Studio. Alden B. Dow was the son of Herbert Dow, who founded the Dow Chemical Company, and Grace A. Dow, a philanthropist who started the Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation in 1936 to honor her husband. His architectural designs are recognized for their creativity and modern style. He also served on the board of the Dow Chemical Company for most of his adult life.
Biography
Alden B. Dow attended Midland Public Schools until he finished high school. He went to the University of Michigan to study engineering to prepare for working with his father's chemical manufacturing company. After three years, he moved to Columbia University to study architecture and graduated in 1931.
In 1931, he married Vada Bennett, who was also from Midland. Her father, Earl Bennett, was the chairman of the board of directors at the Dow Chemical Company, a major employer in the city. The couple had three children: Michael Lloyd Dow, Mary Lloyd Dow, and Barbara Alden Dow.
After working for one and a half years with the architectural firm Frantz and Spence in Saginaw, he and Vada studied with architect Frank Lloyd Wright at his Taliesin studio in Spring Green, Wisconsin, during the summer of 1933.
After a short apprenticeship with Frank Lloyd Wright lasting a few months, Dow opened his own studio in Midland in 1934.
Dow described his design philosophy as: "Architecture is more than the front face of the building. It is the location of the building. It is the plan of the building. It is the construction of the building. It is the heating and cooling of the building. It is the furnishing of the building. It is the landscaping of the building. It is, in its entirety, the manifestation of wholesome living."
In 1937, he received the Diplome de Grand Prix at the Paris International Exposition for best residential design in the world, based on the design of his home and the home of John Whitman.
In 1941, Dow officially formed his business as Alden B. Dow, Inc. The next year, he was asked to design a company town in Texas for workers at his father's Dow Chemical Company near Freeport, Texas. With his brother Willard and a company executive named A.P. Beutel, he chose a site west of Freeport that was once the Abner Jackson Plantation. He named the town Lake Jackson, designed to hold 5,000 people. The town's residential layout had no straight streets, and the roads had whimsical names such as "This Way," "That Way," "Circle Way," "Winding Way," and "Any Way." Dow also designed six different house models for the town. The first residents moved in at the end of 1943.
In 1963, he changed the business name to Alden B. Dow Associates, Inc., to reflect the addition of more employees as the company grew. He designed the Fleming Administration Building at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, completed in 1968. The building houses the offices of the university's president. Its narrow windows (all on the upper floors) and fortress-like exterior led to a rumor that it was designed to be riot-proof due to student activism in the 1960s. Dow denied this, stating the small windows were for energy efficiency.
As he aged, Dow designed many commercial and community buildings, especially in and around his hometown of Midland. He gave up the chairmanship of his company in 1974 to Jim Howell.
In 1983, Dow was named the architect laureate of Michigan, a recognition of his 50 years of work. He died shortly after on August 20, 1983. That title has not been given to anyone since.
After his death, the company name changed to Dow, Howell & Gilmore Associates Inc. It is owned by its employees.
In 1989, Dow's home was designated a National Historic Landmark for its architectural significance and for the contributions of his career to American architecture.
Selected works
- Midland Country Club, built in 1930 in Midland, Michigan, was demolished in 2010.
- Residential Architecture of Alden B. Dow in Midland, Michigan (Multiple Property Submission), a National Register of Historic Places listing that includes 13 houses built in Midland, Michigan, from 1933 to 1938:
- Earl Stein House (1933), 209 Revere, Midland, Michigan
- F.W. Lewis House (1934), 2913 Manor, Midland, Michigan
- Joseph A. Cavanagh House (1934), 415 W. Main, Midland, Michigan
- Sheldon Heath House (1934), 1505 W. St. Andrews, Midland, Michigan
- Alden Hanson House (1935), 1605 W. St. Andrews, Midland, Michigan
- John S. Whitman House (1935), 2407 Manor, Midland, Michigan
- Alden Dow House and Studio (1936), 315 Post St., Midland, Michigan, a National Historic Landmark
- Charles MacCallum House (1936), 1227 W. Sugnet, Midland, Michigan
- Howard Ball House (1935), 1411 W. St. Andrews, Midland, Michigan
- Oscar C. Diehl House (1935), 919 E. Park, Midland, Michigan
- George Greene House (1936), 1115 W. Sugnet, Midland, Michigan
- Donald L. Conner House (1936), 2705 Manor, Midland, Michigan
- James T. Pardee House (1936), 812 W. Main St., Midland, Michigan
- Dow Chemical Company Administrative Building (1937), also known as Dow Chemical Main Office, Midland, Michigan
- Midland Central Park Bandshell (1938), Midland, Michigan
- Midland Central Park Pool and Bathhouse (1938), Midland, Michigan (demolished 2008)
- Parents' and Children's Schoolhouse (1938), 1505 Crane Ct., Midland, Michigan, NRHP-listed
- Calvin A. and Alta Koch Campbell House (1939), 1210 W. Park Dr., Midland, Michigan, NRHP-listed
- Mr. and Mrs. Robert C. Reinke House (1941), 33 Lexington Court, Midland, Michigan, NRHP-listed
- Mr. and Mrs. Frank Boonstra House (1941), 1401 Helen St., Midland, Michigan, NRHP-listed
- Donald and Louise Clark Irish House (1941), 1801 W. Sugnet Rd., Midland, Michigan, NRHP-listed
- Mr. and Mrs. Louis P. Butenschoen House (1941), 1212 Helen St., Midland, Michigan, NRHP-listed
- Charles and Mary Kempf Penhaligen House (1941), 1203 W. Sugnet Rd., Midland, Michigan, NRHP-listed
- Midland Hospital (1943), later known as MidMichigan Medical Center-Midland, built around a courtyard garden, Midland, Michigan
- Grace A. Dow Memorial Library (1953), Midland, Michigan (renovated 2013)
- Herbert Henry Dow II Residence (1953)
- Midland Community Center (1953), Midland, Michigan (demolished 2024)
- Midland Skating Rink (1954), Midland, Michigan (demolished 2006)
- Fire Station No. 1 (1955), Midland, Michigan
- Midland County Courthouse Jail and Office addition (1955), 301 West Main Street, Midland, Michigan
- St. John's Lutheran Church (1955), 505 East Carpenter Street, Midland, Michigan
- Smith's Flowers & Gifts (1955), 2909 Ashman Street, Midland, Michigan
- King's Daughters Home (1956), Midland, Michigan
- Northwood University (1960s), Midland
- Plymouth Park Pool (1967), Midland, Michigan
- Midland Center for the Arts (1968), Midland, Michigan
- Cleveland Manor I (1968), 2200 Cleveland Avenue, Senior/Low-Income 105-Unit Housing Complex
- Downtown Farmers Market (1973), Midland, Michigan
- Midland City Hall (1976), Midland, Michigan
- Phoenix Civic Center and Art Museum (1954), Phoenix, Arizona, with Blaine Drake
- Elkhart, Indiana, William and Helen
Foundation
The Alden and Vada Dow Family Foundations were created in 1960 to help people in Midland and nearby areas. They support programs in the arts, education, the environment, youth activities, and health and human services. Grants are only given to non-profit organizations in Central Michigan and the Northern Lower Peninsula, with a focus on Bay, Saginaw, and Midland Counties. The organization is tax-exempt under 501(c)(3) and has its office in Midland. As of 2023, the foundations had about $6 million in assets, spent $1.15 million each year, and earned $1.7 million in revenue. The trustees are all descendants of Alden and Vada.
The Alden and Vada Dow Creativity Foundation was started in 1986 after Alden’s death by Vada and her children. Its mission is to "preserve, share, and encourage exploration of the philosophies of Alden B. Dow." This is done through educational programs, research in Alden Dow’s archives, and tours of his home and studio.
Two groups give grants: the Vada B. Dow Charitable Unitrust supports the Creativity Foundation, and the Alden and Vada Dow Fund covers most of the foundation’s activities.
Awards
- Received a Grand Prix diploma at the 1937 Paris Exposition for best residential design in the world, based on his own home, design studio, and the John Whitman residence.
- Received honorary degrees from Albion College, Hillsdale College, Michigan State University, Northwood University, and the University of Michigan.
- In 1957, was named a Fellow in the American Institute of Architects (AIA).
- Awarded the Michigan Society of Architects Gold Medal in 1960.
- The Northwood University Alden B. Dow Creativity Center was established in 1978 to honor and continue his work in promoting quality and innovation.
- Was the first recipient of the Frank Lloyd Wright Creativity Award in 1982.
- In 1983, was named Architect Laureate of Michigan.
- The Alden B. Dow Museum of Science & Art in Midland, Michigan, is named after him.