William Wenzler’s Daring Mid-Century Modern Hyperbolic Paraboloid Churches

{"version":"0.3.0","atoms":[],"cards":[],"markups":[["strong"]],"sections":[[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Join us for Docomomo Wisconsin\u2019s \u201cFrom the Archive\u201d Lecture Series in partnership with the AIA, the Milwaukee Public Library and the Wisconsin Architectural Archive."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[0,0,0,0],4,"Exhibition Opens at 5:30pm; Lecture at 6:00pm; Archive Drawing Demo at 7pm."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"William P. Wenzler, FAIA was only 27 years old in 1957 when he designed the first church in Wisconsin with a thin-shelled concrete roof in the form of a hyperbolic paraboloid. St. Edmund\u2019s Episcopal Church in Elm Grove, WI was so innovative, so unconventional in form and structurally untested that Wenzler flew to Mexico City to consult with Felix Candela, one of the leading engineer-architects of the day, about his design and structural calculations. In the decade to follow, building on the success of St. Edmunds, Wenzler would design three more churches, each uniquely designed around a hypar roof, the last made from wood. This lecture and pop-up exhibition will examine the origins of these unique hyperbolic paraboloid structures, the first churches of their kind in the United States, and will reveal the academic sources, engineering expertise and global inspiration behind these cutting-edge Wisconsin buildings. Concept sketches by Wenzler and construction drawings by his chief draftsman, Michael Johnson, and his in-house structural engineer, David Brandt, held at the Wisconsin Architectural Archive, will be made available for this one-time event both before and after the lecture so attendees can get a hands-on look at the beauty of the construction details and the complexity of the structural geometries required to realize these amazing churches. This is a unique opportunity to look more closely at Wisconsin\u2019s mid-century modern architectural history. A \u201cnot-to-be-missed event\u0022 for architects, engineers, preservationists, and MCM enthusiasts alike."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Learning Objectives:"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"1. Learn the basics about hyperbolic paraboloid structures and their relevance to both architectural history and the design of contemporary buildings."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"2. Learn how to read historic construction documents and better understand their details to support current preservation initiatives related to mid-century modern buildings."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"3. Better engage with clients regarding their historic buildings with a newly refined understanding of the social, cultural and economic conditions under which the historic buildings were produced."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"4. Apply that refined understanding to suggest adaptive reuse solutions to their clients that are more sympathetic to the original historic designs and details of their subject mid-century modern buildings."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"5. Gain knowledge of the Milwaukee Public Library resource of Architectural Archives of Milwaukee buildings."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"No refunds day of event."]]]]}