Table of Contentss

Acknowledgements

Introduction

Dinosaur

Wright Brothers

Gettysburg

Pertified Forest

Rocky Mountain

Cecil Doty

Conclusion

Bibliography

Appendix I

Appendix II

Appendix III

Appendix IV

Mission 66 Visitor Centers Chapter 4

Building the Painted Desert Community (continued)

The Fred Harvey Building: Packer Construction Company

Concrete was poured for the foundation of the Fred Harvey building in early September 1962. Inspector Mott was encouraged by the engineer's initial efforts, but his enthusiasm waned after delivery delays and poor weather slowed progress. The metal roof decking and structural steel framing was not in place until mid-November, and even this work was slowed by "a jurisdictional dispute between the steel workers and the sheet metal workers." The building was about half complete on December 16, 1962, and the "aluminum window walls" were added the next week. Construction was considered on schedule January 5, the last day Inspector Mott reported on the project. The glass and aluminum wall was in place and work had begun on interior plastering.

Figure 48. The Fred Harvey Building and courtyard. (Courtesy National Park Service Technical Information Center, Denver Service Center.)

During the building's design stage, Neutra had urged the Fred Harvey Company to allow a solid concrete front facade, rather than standard shop windows that would make the entire complex "appear like a shopping center, adjacent to a shoppers parking place." [64]Although not overjoyed with the conspicuous location of the gas station, Neutra thought the bare wall, "without any displays or advertisings," a proper approach to the park plaza. This entrance was carefully calculated to give a tantalizing view of the landscaping and reflecting pool, before revealing the services of the Fred Harvey Trading Center, Restaurant, and Lunch Room through a steel and glass wall. From the parking lot, the only decoration on the facade of the concessioner's building was the curving script of "Fred Harvey" above steel letters announcing "Painted Desert Oasis." To enter the building, visitors first walked into the open plaza and then turned left to face the wall of shop windows and the glass double-door entrance. The shop was connected to a lunchroom with counter, which could also be entered from the other end of the plaza. A series of evenly spaced tile-covered columns ran the length of the window wall. The small yellow and white tiles resembled those used on the Gettysburg Cyclorama ramp in size and texture.

CONTINUED

 

http://www.cr.nps.gov/history/online_books/allaback/vc4d.htm