Save the Summit!
A Mid-Modern gem is on the chopping block
The Summit Construction Building is in the wrong place at the wrong time…after being in the right place at the right time for so long…
It’s impossible to have known 62 years ago when the Summit Construction building was created, that Albuquerque in 1964 — then with a population of only 264,000 residents — would become the current MetroABQ, housing almost one million New Mexicans today. The city has progressed much since then…Unfortunately, the Summit Construction building is in the way of that progress. Read on…
What makes The Summit stand out?
Erik Mease, principle architect with SMPC Architects, is spearheading an effort to Save The Summit. In his comprehensive Save The Summit brochure, he describes it this way:
Completed in 1964, the Mid-Century modernist structure is a testament to the vision of architect Don Stevens of Ferguson, Stevens, Malory & Pearl (later SMPC) & craftsmanship of builder George A. Rutherford, Jr.
This three-level building features a striking blend of brick, stone, glass, & a unique custom gold-painted screen made from asbestos drainage pipes of various diameters. A 20-foot quartzite façade showcases a natural turquoise, green, red & grey palette, further enhanced by a colorful inlaid tile column.
Inside, the ground floor houses office suites & a spacious studio, while the upper level boasts a conference area & a well-preserved 1960’s era apartment. Originally serving as Rutherford’s construction company headquarters, now Summit Construction, the building stands as an enduring example of mid-century modern architecture, & its continued relevance in the architectural landscape of New Mexico.
Below, the different-sized drainage pipes are aesthetically interesting & functionally allow light to diffuse into the 1st & 2nd floors. If you were asked to design a wall using stones & drainage pipes, would you create the artwork just below?
On the map above, it almost looks as if the currently controversial S-curve had been created to skirt around The Summit. Unfortunately, the exquisite mid-mod is located on the eastern edge of the curve, directly in the path of the proposed highway, seen below.
Below, in the 1960’s apartment, is a pristine one-piece kitchen unit, a light blue/green color used regularly over 50 years ago.
Exterior, one of the mid-mod design elements the architects utilized was wood, in this case to create shade for the employees & clients in the courtyard, above. The wood slat screens are probably not original, having been added in the subsequent years. Below, brick is another building element, used for a wall of clerestory windows, the mid-mod way…
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Further below is an exquisite xeriscaped garden on the west side of the building, created using exclusively southwestern desert plantings. The bright red flowers of the Ocotillo used to be a rare site as far north as the Metro — descriptions of them mention being found in Texas, Arizona, California & Mexico, without naming the great state of New Mexico. As the planet warms, the spikey ocotillo plant has found its way further north & is thriving.
What can be done?
I heard about the Save The Summit project, the 1st stop on the 3rd ABQ Mid-Mod Home Tour, which has been absolutely amazing every year! The ABQ Mid-Mod folks are three-for-three so far, producing their (every-other-year?) tours that let folks explore stunning Mid-Mod homes & Mid-Mod clusters, in locations perhaps heretofore unknown (by me) in the city.
Getting the word out…Atomic Ranch magazine recently featured the building with this headline: The George A. Rutherford General Contractors Office Building Needs Your Help.
Directly to the NM Department of Transportation:
- NMDOT study@i25scurve.com,
- 505–600–2232
During our conversation, Erik Mease mentioned NM Modernism, which deserves a special shoutout.
From Erik: NM Modernism is the Parent organization of the ABQ Mid-Mod Home Tour. NM Mexico Modernism maintains a registry of significant residential/commercial properties & public works of art built or created during the modern era. Our goal is to preserve their historical legacies & educate the public about their importance. We accomplish this goal through political activism, outreach, & public events. Eric can be reached here.
About me
Extraordinary architects live & create in Albuquerque; beautiful & profound art installations abound; Greenspaces & Parklands define whole areas of the city; extras like Growers’ Markets & cultural events add to our quality of life. I’m a Realtor & write about it all in the MetroABQ Newsletter.
Below is a link to the full MetroABQ Newsletter Archive…
<<Check me out at my site: ChrisLucasABQ.com.>> Thx again!
About me
Extraordinary architects live & create in Albuquerque; beautiful & profound art installations abound; Greenspaces & Parklands define whole areas of the city; extras like Growers’ Markets & cultural events add to our quality of life. I’m a Realtor & write about it all in the MetroABQ Newsletter.
Below is a link to the full MetroABQ Newsletter Archive…
<<Check me out at my site: ChrisLucasABQ.com.>> Thx again!
