|
Lost San Diego: Mayan Modernist Gym Demolished
March/April 2018
By Allen Hazard and A. Hayes
 Southwestern College's iconic Mayan Modernist gymnasium was demolished in January. Photo by Sandé Lollis |
 The college wasted no time in constructing a new building next to rubble from the razed gym. Photo by Allen Hazard |
 Salvaged building remnants with Mayan-inspired motifs. Photo by Allen Hazard |
Despite an outcry from the preservation community, Southwestern College demolished its 1966 gymnasium, an iconic and rare example of Mayan Modernism, over the recent winter break. To raise public awareness about plans to raze this significant building, SOHO had placed it on its 2017 Most Endangered List.
SOHO's Executive Director Bruce Coons wrote a letter to SWC President Kindred Murillo last fall, emphasizing the importance to San Diego of the gym and other campus buildings designed in this style by architect George D. Foster. Another of these original buildings, the 1000 Physical Education Building, a large single-story structure, was lost in 2017.
Kistner, Curtis and Foster, Architects designed the college's clusters of small buildings in south San Diego in 1961, with Foster as the lead designer. He served as the campus architect until 1973.
Foster is credited with developing the Mayan Modernism style, which can be traced to buildings created for the 1935 California Pacific International Exposition in Balboa Park's Palisades. Foster wanted to pay homage to California's pre-European history with these Modernist buildings that incorporate Mayan motifs and building forms. He also devised the stylized design for the building rooflines.
SOHO asked the Southwestern College administration and board to consider adapting the gym for its new Math and Science building, instead of replacing it. The letter urged them to look to their own history: About 15 years ago, the college successfully converted the 1966 library into the Cesar Chavez Student Services Building. Unfortunately, Dr. Murillo failed to respond to the SOHO letter.
Four new campus buildings pay lip service to the 1960s Mayan Modernist theme, with vague and unsatisfactory interpretations by various architects. Now, the new Math and Science Building, which is already under construction, joins them. All of these buildings ultimately fail to convey anything more than an abstract nod to Mayan Modernism and are simply bland designs. An important architectural and cultural legacy for the San Diego region is being lost, building by building.
SOHO deeply regrets the loss of a key Modernist building that once anchored the progressive vision of Southwestern College.
Allen Hazard graduated from Southwestern College and has taught at his alma mater as an adjunct professor since 1994. He has been a very active SOHO member since 1999. A. Hayes is SOHO's historic resources specialist.
|
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
|
