A Case of the Human Condition: Birmingham High School Updated

A couple dozen of us took a tour of Birmingham High School, aka Seaholm High, during our reunion weekend in October.

It looks like quite of few additions have been made to the building. I thought the designers did quite a good job of being faithful to the Fifties architecture. And… I think the original design has held up beautifully. Does anyone know the name of the architect? I hear he also designed the First Presbyterian Church in Birmingham, which is also looking pretty good these days.

The only jarring element — those crazy block floor tiles. The building is attractive and lively enough without the hokey sprucing up.

Here are a bunch of pix I took. Enjoy.

(And thanks for your patience, all you non-Birmingham folks out there. I’ll be getting on with other topics soon . . . )

Seaholm High School, Birmingham, Michigan

Seaholm High School, Birmingham, Michigan

On the right -- an addition to the front of the building.

On the right -- an addition to the front of the building.

 

seaholm-campus-new-courtyard

 

A tree now grows in front of what used to be the art room.

A tree now grows in front of what used to be the art room.

The old math wing is now used by a Japanese cultural school.

The old math wing is now used by a school for Japanese culture.

I like the new windowed hall, but not the hodge-podge tile on the floor.

I like the new windowed hall, but not the hodge-podge tile on the floor.

The little theater looked different. Did they do something to the walls?

The little theater looked different. Did they do something to the walls?

 

high-school-reunion
high-school-hall
1950-midcentury-modern-architecture
The best part was being there with so many people I remember so fondly from BHS. Go Maples!

The best part was being there with so many people I remember so fondly from BHS. Go Maples! Photos c 2009 B.F. Newhall

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4 Comments

  1. Deb Martens
    Posted January 19, 2012 at 9:58 am | Permalink

    Thanks for posting the pictures. It is nice to see the buildings updated although essentially as when we were there.

    • admin
      Posted January 19, 2012 at 3:05 pm | Permalink

      You’re welcome, Deb. But which Deb are you? Deb Hutchings? Or …..?

  2. Diane Erwin
    Posted January 18, 2012 at 3:02 pm | Permalink

    Thanks for posting this Barb. By the way, who are all those old people in the pictures (ha, ha). Oldies, but goodies, I’d say. Thanks again.

    • admin
      Posted January 18, 2012 at 7:20 pm | Permalink

      That’s us! It’s nice to know that all the really cool people in the world are actually exactly as old as I am.

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