J. W. Chorley Elementary School was a modernist architecture school building in
Middletown,
New York
New York most commonly refers to:
* New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York
* New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States
New York may also refer to:
Film and television
* '' ...
designed by American architect
Paul Rudolph while he was serving as Dean of the
Yale School of Architecture
The Yale School of Architecture (YSOA) is one of the constituent professional schools of Yale University, and is generally considered to be one of the best architecture schools in the United States. The School awards the degrees of Master of Arc ...
. The school was torn down in November 2012.
The school was built from 1964 - 1969 and included an open floor plan. It featured a "progressive" design and was built on a 27-acre campus. It was the only building he designed to serve children.
The weblog ''
inhabitat Inhabitat is a blog focused on green design and lifestyle topics. The website covers the future of design as well as technology and architectural projects that emphasize energy efficiency, sustainability, and connection to the surrounding environme ...
'' ran a feature on the destruction of Rudolph's work including Chorley Elementary and Rudolph's
Sarasota High School building. In 2010, the Preservation League in New York named John W. Chorley Elementary School to its 2010 Seven to Save list of threatened properties. In 2010 the
Center for Architecture held an event examining the school and plans to replace it with a parking lot. The
Library of Congress has an architectural drawing of the school in its collection.
The building included
clerestory
In architecture, a clerestory ( ; , also clearstory, clearstorey, or overstorey) is a high section of wall that contains windows above eye level. Its purpose is to admit light, fresh air, or both.
Historically, ''clerestory'' denoted an upper l ...
windows for natural light.
The school was demolished in November, 2012.
Rudolph's oeuvre of work fell out of favor along with many works described as
Brutalist architecture in the 1970s. But in the new millennium interest in his work, conservation, and restoration have brought renewed interest and vigor to preservation efforts seeking to maintain his remaining works.
References
Further reading
Paul Rudolph Foundation statement on the school and demolitionRenderings of Rudolph buildings
including Chorley Elementary (last image) Atlas of Places
Photo gallery of Chorley Elementary and related artifacts
Middletown School District
{{Coord, 41, 27, 35.1, N, 74, 25, 19.9, W, display=title
Middletown, Orange County, New York
1964 establishments in New York (state)
School buildings completed in 1969
Brutalist architecture in New York (state)
Demolished school buildings and structures in the United States
2013 disestablishments in New York (state)
Paul Rudolph buildings