Thanks to our alert reunion director Nancy for pointing me to this story from the Sarasota Herald Tribune.
One of the most important buildings of the “Sarasota school” of architecture, the regional adaptation of mid-century modernism, is Riverview High School. It’s significant as the first public building in Florida by the undisputed leading architect of the Sarasota school, Paul Rudolph. Now, the structure, built in 1958, is slated for demolition.
I can’t say that I ever heard of Paul Rudolph. Now I have though. What do you think? Should they tear it down?
February 11, 2006
Tearing Down The Old School
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Feb 05 Coach Ivey and I hit the gym and it was in pretty bad shape..full of cracks. The main “U” portion of the school was locked-up, but Mrs. Ivey (still teaching there) told me RHS needs it. Didn’t realize RHS was that old.
Comment by Jim Hoffman — February 13, 2006 @ 3:01 am
Riiiight… Coach Ivey. The one who called Amerigo Vespucci, Am-a RI-go Vepu-chi chi. Magellan was “Fernando MAJ-a’lan”. Proof that “coaches” need’nt lead History classes.
Comment by Pat Beardsley — February 20, 2006 @ 2:19 pm
Well of course I am sad to see good old RHS disappear into only our memories. But then again it wasn’t the building that made us friends and give us the memories we have today. I wish they would not tear it down in the name of progress but times have changed (unfortunately) and now they have to think about security?? When I went to RHS I was worried about getting caught smoking never worried that my classmates or someone else might do something to harm us. Wow the 70’s were a good time to go to high school in. But even if they tear down the building nothing can ever take away our memories.
Comment by Kim Lamrouex (Kimble) — February 23, 2006 @ 12:24 am
I have become more interested in architecture in recent years and I have come to belatedly appreciate the unique architecture of the Sarasota Public Schools. A long time ago each of the public schools in Sarasota were written about in an issue of the Architectural Record. A long time ago the school board cared about providing a stimulating environment for students. The architecture of those schools affected all of the children of Sarasota county and is burned into our DNA as surely as the other memories we hold from our youth. It is a shame to not preserve this gift for the future school children in Sarasota.
Comment by Randy Clayton — March 9, 2006 @ 5:40 pm
I will for sure hate to see RHS go. I grew up watching the changes of the campus over the years. I was born the year Riverview opened and I lived in one of the old houses behind the school for a short time. Later on my parents bought one of the new homes that had been built across the steet in front of RHS. For 25 years I had the honor of watching the comings and goings of the students and the growth of Riverview. I cannot remember how many times ,as a child, I had to be run off by the janitors and/or the cops for playing on the grounds when I should not have been. But my most fondest memories will be the years I attended Riverview as a student and the friends I had and made while I was there. I have to agree with Kim, at least we will have the memory of RHS after it is gone.
Comment by John Lipply — March 18, 2006 @ 7:56 pm
I remember the Ringling Hotel, the house next to it –gone! What is there to preserving history when unique structures, such as these are not taken care of and become “not worth saving”; buy the way, who lets it get to this disrepair able state? It is an incredible building….I loved RHS’s architectural “behemoth” as I wondered its halls…
Comment by Elizabeth Pickett — May 15, 2006 @ 8:31 pm
I remember the joy and pride that hit me seeing old Riverview in a college text book assigned to my architecture class at UT Austin. In Riverview, Paul Rudolph created a unique flow of open air, sun light, and people in keeping with the ideals of modern architecture. Nowhere have you seen a public school with hallways that terminate into the greatness of the out of doors with open vistas and fresh air abound.
Riverview should be perserved as an important example of period architecture. I hope it will, but think it won’t for money and priorities. My father noted woefully many years ago that Sarasota will pay for the best ambulance service anywhere (to serve the old)and pay very little towards the quality of its pulic schools. Has that much changed since 1976?
Comment by Richard Myers — May 18, 2006 @ 2:01 pm
[…] ol News — Chuck @ 4:18 pm
Remember my post about the school board decision to tear down the old school? Well, there’s another story in the Sarasota Herald Tribune about it which you c […]
Pingback by » More On The School Demolition Project — June 11, 2006 @ 4:19 pm