Alden B. Dow

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Alden B. Dow (April 10, 1904 – August 20, 1983) was an architect from Midland, Michigan. He was born to Herbert Henry Dow (founder of the Dow Chemical Company) and Grace A. Dow in Midland, Michigan.

Dow is known for his prolific architectural design. His personal house in Midland, the Midland Center for the Arts, as well as the current building for the Grace A. Dow Library (named in honor for his mother) are examples of his work based in his hometown.

1 Early life
2 Completed Works
3 Awards
4 External links

[edit] Early life

Alden B. Dow attended the Midland Public Schools district, and following the custom of the day was sent to the University of Michigan to study engineering in preparation to enter his father's company. After three years, Dow became a student of architecture at Columbia University, and graduated in 1931.

Dow was married to Vada Bennett in 1931. Bennett, a daughter of Earl Bennett (an employee at the Dow Chemical Company), had three children with Dow: Michael Lloyd Dow, Mary Lloyd Dow, and Barbara Alden Dow.

After a year and a half of working with the architectural firm of Frantz and Spence in nearby Saginaw, Michigan, Alden and Vada studied with Frank Lloyd Wright at Taliesin in Spring Green, Wisconsin in 1933.

[edit] Completed Works

Midland Center for the Arts

Note: "Midland" refers to Midland, Michigan.

A partial listing below:

Alden B. Dow Home & Studio (Midland)
Ann Arbor City Hall (Ann Arbor, Michigan)
Ann Arbor Library (Ann Arbor, Michigan)
Ann Arbor Community Center (Ann Arbor, Michigan)
Chemical Bank and Trust Company (Midland)
Dow Chemical Company Administrative Building (1937, Midland)
Dow Center Complex (Midland)
Grace A. Dow Memorial Library (Midland)
Henry McMorran Auditorium and Sports Arena (Port Huron, Michigan)
Kalamazoo Nature Center (Kalamazoo, Michigan)
Midland Center for the Arts (Midland)
MidMichigan Medical Center (Midland Hospital), built in 1943 around a courtyard garden. (Midland)
Phoenix Civic Center and Art Museum (Phoenix, Arizona)
University Microfilms Building (Ann Arbor, Michigan)

[edit] Awards

Received honorary degrees from Albion College, Hillsdale College, Michigan State University, Northwood University and the University of Michigan.
In 1957 became a Fellow in the American Institute of Architects (AIA).
Awarded The Michigan Society of Architects Gold Medal for 1960.
The Northwood University Alden B. Dow Creativity Center was founded in 1978 to honor and perpetuate his commitment to quality and innovation.
First recipient of the Frank Lloyd Wright Creativity Award in 1982.
In 1983 named Architect Laureate of his home state of Michigan.