Cecil Alexander
Encyclopedia
Cecil Alexander is an American architect
, principally a designer of commercial architecture, whose work was often "naturalistic". He worked with the firm FABRAP
, which, in 1985, became Rosser FABRAP International and is now Rosser International
. Together with other architects of the firm, he "shaped the skyline of Atlanta".
Alexander attended Marist School and graduated from Boy's High in Atlanta. He enrolled in 1936 at the Georgia Institute of Technology
, where he spent one year before transferring to Yale University
in New Haven, Connecticut, where he received a bachelor's degree in architecture in 1940. He continued graduate studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Massachusetts. In 1946, following his military service in World War II, he enrolled in the graduate architecture program and earned his Masters Degree at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he studied with Walter Gropius, the founder of the Bauhaus school, which was a major influence on the development of modern architecture.
buildings, a building for the Rich's Store for Homes.
He designed just eight houses, including one "Florida modern
"-styled one, and one other modern one being his own, the Cecil and Hermione Alexander House
, one of the first modernist style houses in Atlanta. His home was listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places
in March, 2010.
He is also a civic leader of Atlanta, Georgia
.
He was active in civil rights and this sometimes caused disruption. After FABRAP had won a major commission, for a 40 story commercial tower slated to be the largest building in the Southeast of the United States, an executive of the firm asked for Alexander to be removed from the project.
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He proposed an alternative version of the Georgia state flag, greatly reducing its emphasis on the controversial Confederate battle flag, which had been included into the state's flag in 1956. Alexander's proposal, which included an image of just a small version of the previous flag along with other previous state flags, was rejected at first. Under a later governor, Roy Barnes
, after a slight modification accepted by Alexander the design was accepted. The new flag was itself very controversial. The flag served as the official state flag from 2001 to 2003, when it was replaced by another version that completely omitted the rebel flag.
He received the Whitney M. Young, Jr.
, award from the AIA for his work in civil rights. He also received the Ivan Allen Award for community service, and the Yale Medal in 1982 for distinguished alumni.
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
, principally a designer of commercial architecture, whose work was often "naturalistic". He worked with the firm FABRAP
FABRAP
FABRAP, or Finch, Alexander, Barnes, Rothschild and Paschal, was an architectural firm founded in Atlanta, Georgia in 1958. They specialized in sports stadiums, and developed the headquarters for several major Atlanta businesses.-History:...
, which, in 1985, became Rosser FABRAP International and is now Rosser International
Rosser International
Rosser International is an architectural firm formed from the merger of FABRAP and another Atlanta firm, Rosser White Hobbs Davidson McClellan Kelly.-Buildings:* AT&T Midtown Center* Turner Field* Arena at Gwinnett Center* Petersen Events Center...
. Together with other architects of the firm, he "shaped the skyline of Atlanta".
Early life and training
Named Henry Alexander, at birth, he was named after an uncle who was unmarried at the time. When he was five years old, his "Uncle Harry" had married and the couple gave birth to a son. It was decided that young Henry would relinquish his name to his younger cousin and would, instead, be named after his own father, Cecil Alexander, Sr.Alexander attended Marist School and graduated from Boy's High in Atlanta. He enrolled in 1936 at the Georgia Institute of Technology
Georgia Institute of Technology
The Georgia Institute of Technology is a public research university in Atlanta, Georgia, in the United States...
, where he spent one year before transferring to Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
in New Haven, Connecticut, where he received a bachelor's degree in architecture in 1940. He continued graduate studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Massachusetts. In 1946, following his military service in World War II, he enrolled in the graduate architecture program and earned his Masters Degree at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he studied with Walter Gropius, the founder of the Bauhaus school, which was a major influence on the development of modern architecture.
Architecture and civic leadership
Alexander's architectural work includes many commercial structures. He helped design one of Atlanta's first International styleInternational style (architecture)
The International style is a major architectural style that emerged in the 1920s and 1930s, the formative decades of Modern architecture. The term originated from the name of a book by Henry-Russell Hitchcock and Philip Johnson, The International Style...
buildings, a building for the Rich's Store for Homes.
He designed just eight houses, including one "Florida modern
Florida modern
Florida modern is an architectural style.According to professor Jan Hochstim, Florida modern reflects wider development than the Sarasota modern school.Architect Cecil Alexander designed one house in this style.-External links:*...
"-styled one, and one other modern one being his own, the Cecil and Hermione Alexander House
Cecil and Hermione Alexander House
The Cecil and Hermione Alexander House, also known as Shenandoah, in Atlanta, Georgia is a modern, circular plan house designed by, and home for, Atlanta architect Cecil Alexander. The home was featured in Progressive Architecture in 1959 and in Life in 1959 and 1961...
, one of the first modernist style houses in Atlanta. His home was listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in March, 2010.
He is also a civic leader of Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
.
He was active in civil rights and this sometimes caused disruption. After FABRAP had won a major commission, for a 40 story commercial tower slated to be the largest building in the Southeast of the United States, an executive of the firm asked for Alexander to be removed from the project.
Georgia state flag
Roy Barnes
Roy Eugene Barnes served as the 80th Governor of Georgia from January 1999 until January 2003. Barnes was also a candidate for Governor of Georgia in the 2010 election....
, after a slight modification accepted by Alexander the design was accepted. The new flag was itself very controversial. The flag served as the official state flag from 2001 to 2003, when it was replaced by another version that completely omitted the rebel flag.
Recent years
Alexander retired in 1985 but collaborated in various projects, including one or more associated with the 1996 Olympics games in Atlanta.He received the Whitney M. Young, Jr.
Whitney Young
Whitney Moore Young Jr. was an American civil rights leader.He spent most of his career working to end employment discrimination in the United States and turning the National Urban League from a relatively passive civil rights organization into one that aggressively fought for equitable access to...
, award from the AIA for his work in civil rights. He also received the Ivan Allen Award for community service, and the Yale Medal in 1982 for distinguished alumni.
External links
- Cecil Alexander article at New Georgia encyclopedia
- http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/28/garden/28atlanta.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1 article in New York Times