Ralph A. Anderson Jr. (January 1, 1923 – February 3, 1990) was an architect, based in Houston, Texas, USA.[1] After completing his B.A. in architecture at Rice University in 1943, he served in the United States Infantry in the European Theatre of Operations.[1] He received a head wound at the Battle of the Bulge, and was consequently awarded both the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star.[2] He became partner in the firm Wilson, Morris, Crain & Anderson in 1952, which had become just Crain and Anderson by 1978.[1] Anderson retired in 1988.[3]
Careeredit
Anderson designed several houses that were built in Houston while still an undergraduate.[4] As a professional, his early residential architecture exhibited the hallmarks of modernism with sleek, contemporary styling and flat roofs, usually in compact settings. To fit all of the client's requirements on a small Miami lot, Anderson designed an upstairs swimming pool for the home of John Turner.[5]
But Anderson would become known for his large-scale commercial designs. Among his most notable projects was the Astrodome, for which he was tasked with growing grass indoors.[6] His early attempt to use artificial turf in the project was rebuffed, though problems with growing grass after the facility's completion eventually led to the installation of AstroTurf.
Anderson was also actively involved in many of Houston's civic organizations and served as president of the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston; the Houston Botanical Society;[1] and Friends of Fondren Library.
^ abcd"Handbook of Texas Online – Anderson, Ralph Alexander Jr". Retrieved 2016-07-07.
^"Ralph Anderson Jr. Papers, 1860–1989". Retrieved 2016-07-07.
^"New York Times – Ralph Anderson, 67, Architect in Southwest". The New York Times. 6 February 1990. Retrieved 2016-07-07.
^"Rice History Corner – Ralph Anderson Jr., '43, '47". 22 January 2014. Retrieved 2016-07-07.
^Dickson, Edward and Max Hunn (1957). ""The Outdoors Comes Indoors," Popular Mechanics, December 1957:126–29". {{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
^Gast, James (2014). The Astrodome: Building an American Spectacle (Boston: Aspinwall, 2014).
May 08, 2024
ralph, anderson, january, 1923, february, 1990, architect, based, houston, texas, after, completing, architecture, rice, university, 1943, served, united, states, infantry, european, theatre, operations, received, head, wound, battle, bulge, consequently, awar. Ralph A Anderson Jr January 1 1923 February 3 1990 was an architect based in Houston Texas USA 1 After completing his B A in architecture at Rice University in 1943 he served in the United States Infantry in the European Theatre of Operations 1 He received a head wound at the Battle of the Bulge and was consequently awarded both the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star 2 He became partner in the firm Wilson Morris Crain amp Anderson in 1952 which had become just Crain and Anderson by 1978 1 Anderson retired in 1988 3 Career editAnderson designed several houses that were built in Houston while still an undergraduate 4 As a professional his early residential architecture exhibited the hallmarks of modernism with sleek contemporary styling and flat roofs usually in compact settings To fit all of the client s requirements on a small Miami lot Anderson designed an upstairs swimming pool for the home of John Turner 5 But Anderson would become known for his large scale commercial designs Among his most notable projects was the Astrodome for which he was tasked with growing grass indoors 6 His early attempt to use artificial turf in the project was rebuffed though problems with growing grass after the facility s completion eventually led to the installation of AstroTurf Anderson was also actively involved in many of Houston s civic organizations and served as president of the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston the Houston Botanical Society 1 and Friends of Fondren Library Partial list of buildings edit nbsp The Astrodome in 1965 nbsp Houston Post Building Trimble House 1947 J Edwin Smith House 1949 Worden House 1955 demolished Turner House 1957 Anderson House 1960 World Trade Center Houston 1962 Kelsey Seybold Clinic 1963 Astrodome 1965 Houston Post Building 1969 Austin American Statesman Building Frank Erwin Center UT Austin 1977 Shepherd House 1978 Notes edit a b c d Handbook of Texas Online Anderson Ralph Alexander Jr Retrieved 2016 07 07 Ralph Anderson Jr Papers 1860 1989 Retrieved 2016 07 07 New York Times Ralph Anderson 67 Architect in Southwest The New York Times 6 February 1990 Retrieved 2016 07 07 Rice History Corner Ralph Anderson Jr 43 47 22 January 2014 Retrieved 2016 07 07 Dickson Edward and Max Hunn 1957 The Outdoors Comes Indoors Popular Mechanics December 1957 126 29 a href Template Cite magazine html title Template Cite magazine cite magazine a Cite magazine requires magazine help Gast James 2014 The Astrodome Building an American Spectacle Boston Aspinwall 2014 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ralph A Anderson Jr amp oldid 1138189404, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
