The Washakie Dining Center was built in 1967. Designed by Corbett/Dehnert of Lander and J.T. Banner & Associates of Laramie, the new ‘food service-recreation building’ was part of a big construction endeavor on campus of the University of Wyoming during the mid-1960s, adding not only the new dining center but also three new dormitories to the campus. Those additions were necessary in order to meet rising numbers in enrollments. One very smart feature of the new dining center was underground tunnels that connected it to the dorms.
The Washakie Dining Center has many characteristics that are typical for mid-century modern architecture. One of the most prominent trademarks is the flat roofline. As can be seen in pictures 6-9, flat and overhanging roofs were often featured in buildings designed and constructed in the 1960s. Moreover, a typical feature of the mid-century modern style is having a low base contrasting with a tall tower. In the case of the Washakie Dining Center it is a separate building, as can be seen in picture 5. Nevertheless, the overall impression is dominated by that contrast.
Another interesting detail is the underside of the roof with its ‘egg-carton’ pattern. A similar design is also featured in Edward Durell Stone’s Ponce Museum of Art. The base of the building is recessed, giving the entire structure a lightweight expression, almost as if it is floating above ground. The floor-to-ceiling windows add to that lightness and make the building seem more transparent. Again, installing big window fronts was a popular tool in mid-century modern architecture.Looking at the materials used one can also detect the architectural zeitgeist of the 1950s and 1960s. Next to aluminum framed windows the builders relied on natural stone and concrete aggregate.
In 2003 the dining center was modernized extensively and the part facing Grand Avenue (Picture 5) was added. However, the exterior additions were all designed to accompany the overall mid-century modern style and blend in perfectly with the original structure.
The Washakie Dining Center and the dormitories surrounding it are not only a great example of mid-century modern architecture, they also represent an important decade of growth in the university’s and thus the town’s development.
The Washakie Dining Center has many characteristics that are typical for mid-century modern architecture. One of the most prominent trademarks is the flat roofline. As can be seen in pictures 6-9, flat and overhanging roofs were often featured in buildings designed and constructed in the 1960s. Moreover, a typical feature of the mid-century modern style is having a low base contrasting with a tall tower. In the case of the Washakie Dining Center it is a separate building, as can be seen in picture 5. Nevertheless, the overall impression is dominated by that contrast.
Another interesting detail is the underside of the roof with its ‘egg-carton’ pattern. A similar design is also featured in Edward Durell Stone’s Ponce Museum of Art. The base of the building is recessed, giving the entire structure a lightweight expression, almost as if it is floating above ground. The floor-to-ceiling windows add to that lightness and make the building seem more transparent. Again, installing big window fronts was a popular tool in mid-century modern architecture.Looking at the materials used one can also detect the architectural zeitgeist of the 1950s and 1960s. Next to aluminum framed windows the builders relied on natural stone and concrete aggregate.
In 2003 the dining center was modernized extensively and the part facing Grand Avenue (Picture 5) was added. However, the exterior additions were all designed to accompany the overall mid-century modern style and blend in perfectly with the original structure.
The Washakie Dining Center and the dormitories surrounding it are not only a great example of mid-century modern architecture, they also represent an important decade of growth in the university’s and thus the town’s development.
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