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The Jacksonville Chapter of the American Institute of Architects and DOCOMOMO Florida sponsored a one-day symposium highlighting the achievements of architecture’s Modern movement in Northeast Florida. 

The event was held at the Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens (829 Riverside Ave., Jacksonville) on March 1, 2008.  The morning session with presentations by North Florida’s most well-know architects and by nationally recognized architectural scholars was attended by a sold-out crowd of over 200 people. Local architectural historian and preservationist Dr. Wayne Wood moderated the symposium.

Following the morning symposium, there was a bus tour of some of Jacksonville’s most important Modernist works.  The three-hour tour included commentary by the architects whose buildings were featured on the tour.

The symposium and bus tour paid tribute to the 50th anniversary of an exhibit from 1958 called “50 Years of Significant Architecture in Jacksonville.”  That exhibit from a half century ago focused on outstanding contributions to Jacksonville’s post-1901-fire built landscape. 

The 1958 exhibit was organized by a group which included several architects who contributed mightily to defining the city’s character.  In addition to highlighting wonderful old buildings from the early 20th century, designed by architects such as Henry J. Klutho, that exhibit also spotlighted achievements of Jacksonville’s post-WW II architects. 

Three of the original architect/organizers – Robert Broward AIA, Taylor Hardwick AIA, and George Fisher AIA – were honored at the March 1 event and shared their experiences. Legendary Jacksonville architect William Morgan, FAIA also participated, as well as the Dean of Florida architects, 92-year-old Alfred Browning Parker, FAIA and Gene Leedy, AIA, one of the founders of the of the Sarasota School of Architecture. 

The University of Miami’s Jan Hochstim AIA (author of Florida Modern) provided an overview of Modernism in Florida and the need to preserve outstanding examples.  Miami architect and preservationist Alan Shulman FAIA, author of the upcoming book Miami Modern Metropolis: Mid-Century Architecture and Urbanism in the Tropics, also attended.

Just as Victorian architecture in the U.S. was widely obliterated 50 years ago and Miami Beach’s Art Deco architecture was underappreciated and barely escaped obliteration 30 years ago, outstanding architecture of the 1950s through early 1970s has become increasingly imperiled by redevelopment and an appetite for newer – but not necessarily better – buildings.

Northeast Florida is home to exemplary works of modern architecture from the post-war era (sometimes referred to as “Mid-Century Modern” or the “Recent Past”) by esteemed architects such as Welton Becket FAIA, Paul Rudolph FAIA, Robert Broward, AIA, George Fisher, AIA, William Marshall, AIA, William Morgan, FAIA, and Taylor Hardwick, AIA.

For 150 years, AIA has been the voice of American architects. The Jacksonville chapter has 365 members working together and with their communities to create more valuable, healthy, secure, and sustainable buildings and cityscapes.

DOCOMOMO is the international working party for the DOcumentation and COnservation of buildings, sites and neighborhoods of the MOdern MOvement. DOCOMOMO Florida was organized in 2007 and has already sponsored numerous educational events in the State.