Projects
Duke University President’s House by Alden B. Dow
In 1963 the president of Duke University, Douglas M. Knight, approached Alden B. Dow with a request for a home. Completed in 1966, the low-slung home is nestled into the edge of a beautiful forest on 436 acres. Project documents indicate a house of 10,655 square...
The Dr. Joe Morris Residence by Alden B. Dow
In June of 1962 Dr. Joe Morris, an Ann Arbor physician, wrote a letter to Alden B. Dow to ask if he would design a house for his family. He was encouraged to write that letter by Dr. Harry Towsley, the architect’s brother-in-law and from whom he had received his...
Roscommon Congregational Church by Alden B. Dow
Alden B. Dow began the drawings for the Roscommon Congregational Church in February 1961. A contract was signed with a local building contractor, Bernard Streff, on July 17, 1961, with construction to be completed within 200 calendar days for $86,500. The final...
The Midland Community Center by Alden B. Dow
Alden B. Dow completed the drawings for the Midland Community Center in March of 1954. The specifications for the project were sent out for bids and one month later, the general construction contract was awarded to Spence Brothers of Saginaw for its bid of...
The Color Block Wall of the Dow Chemical Company 2040 Plastics Building
Alden B. Dow began the design of the Dow Chemical Company’s Abbott Road Center in 1963. The design phase continued over the next several years, during which time it came to be called the 2040 Plastics Building. A purely functional brick and glass exterior housed...
The S. Gordon Saunders Residence by Alden B. Dow
S. Gordon Saunders was an executive in the Dodge division of the Chrysler Corporation. He owned a lot on a small pond near Cranbrook Academy that was quite similar to the natural setting of Alden B. Dow’s studio. The architect began the design of the Saunders...
The E. G. MacMartin Residence by Alden B. Dow
The plans for the E. G. MacMartin residence were drawn in late 1940 and early 1941. The Alden Dow Building Company received the contract to build this $7,500 house. Work began in February 1941, with construction to be completed by July. The MacMartin residence is...
The Robbie Robinson Residence by Alden B. Dow
The Robbie Robinson residence is one of the 13 unit block houses designed by Alden B. Dow and built during the 1930s and early 1940s. Mr. Robinson owned the Robbie Robinson Company, a Detroit firm that supplied a number of building products used by Mr. Dow over...
Holiday Tours of The Alden B. Dow Home and Studio begin November 27th
Holiday Tours November 27th to December 31st of this Mid-Century Modern Masterpiece *Closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day* Original Dow Family decorations! shimmering lights captivating bright colors beautiful ornaments scale trains playful toys Sugar cookies and...
The Domed Structures of Alden B. Dow
On Display in the Second Drafting Room While many of Alden B. Dow’s structures, especially his Unit Block houses, have flat roofs, he nevertheless designed some beautiful and engaging domed buildings during the 1960’s and early 1970’s. Domes are one of the most...
