Evans Woollen III

Evans Woollen III
Born(1927-08-10)August 10, 1927[2]
DiedMay 17, 2016(2016-05-17) (aged 88)[2]
NationalityAmerican
OccupationArchitect
Parent(s)Lydia (Jameson) and Evans Woollen Jr.[1][2]
AwardsAIA Indiana's Gold Medal Award[3]
BuildingsClowes Memorial Hall
Minton-Capehart Federal Building
Cushwa-Leighton Library
Indiana University's Musical Arts Center
Indianapolis Central Library addition
ProjectsOver-the-Rhine Pilot Center

Evans Woollen III (August 10, 1927 – May 17, 2016) was an American architect who is credited for introducing the Modern and the Brutalist architecture styles to his hometown of Indianapolis, Indiana. Woollen, a fellow of the American Institute of Architects (FAIA) and a graduate of the Yale School of Architecture, was active in the field from the mid-1950s to the early 2000s. He established his own architecture firm in Indianapolis in 1955 that became known as Woollen, Molzan and Partners; it dissolved in 2011. As a pacesetter among architects in the Midwest, Woollen, dubbed the dean of Indiana architects, was noted for his use of bold materials and provocative, modern designs.

Some of Woollen's most iconic projects were built in Indianapolis: Clowes Memorial Hall, the Minton-Capehart Federal Building, John J. Barton Tower, Hilbert Conservatory at White River Gardens, and major additions to the Indianapolis Central Library and The Children's Museum of Indianapolis. Woollen also designed several of the city's notable mid-century modern homes. In addition, Woollen and his firm planned and managed the renovation of several of the city's historic structures, including the Indiana Theatre, the Majestic Building, and Indianapolis Union Station, among others. Major projects outside of Indianapolis included the Over-the-Rhine Pilot Center in Cincinnati, Ohio; Indiana University's Musical Arts Center in Bloomington, Indiana; and the Moody Music Center in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Woollen was especially known for his churches and college libraries, such as Saint Andrew's Abbey Church in Cleveland, Ohio; the Cushwa-Leighton Library at Saint Mary's College in Notre Dame, Indiana; and the Grainger Engineering Library at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

  1. ^ "Biographical Sketch" in Evans Woollen III Oral History Transcript, 2012 (PDF). Indianapolis: Indiana Historical Society. 2017.
  2. ^ a b c d Megan Fernandez (June 2010). "The Pillar: Evans Woollen". Indianapolis Monthly. Indianapolis, Indiana: 71. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
  3. ^ "2016 AIA Indiana Service Award Winners". AIA Indiana. Retrieved December 18, 2016.