Welcome to the Archives of The Paul Rudolph Institute for Modern Architecture. The purpose of this online collection is to function as a tool for scholars, students, architects, preservationists, journalists and other interested parties. The archive consists of photographs, slides, articles and publications from Rudolph’s lifetime; physical drawings and models; personal photos and memorabilia; and contemporary photographs and articles.

Some of the materials are in the public domain, some are offered under Creative Commons, and some are owned by others, including the Paul Rudolph Estate. Please speak with a representative of The Paul Rudolph Institute for Modern Architecture before using any drawings or photos in the Archives. In all cases, the researcher shall determine how to appropriately publish or otherwise distribute the materials found in this collection, while maintaining appropriate protection of the applicable intellectual property rights.

In his will, Paul Rudolph gave his Architectural Archives (including drawings, plans, renderings, blueprints, models and other materials prepared in connection with his professional practice of architecture) to the Library of Congress Trust Fund following his death in 1997. A Stipulation of Settlement, signed on June 6, 2001 between the Paul Rudolph Estate and the Library of Congress Trust Fund, resulted in the transfer of those items to the Library of Congress among the Architectural Archives, that the Library of Congress determined suitable for its collections. The intellectual property rights of items transferred to the Library of Congress are in the public domain. The usage of the Paul M. Rudolph Archive at the Library of Congress and any intellectual property rights are governed by the Library of Congress Rights and Permissions.

However, the Library of Congress has not received the entirety of the Paul Rudolph architectural works, and therefore ownership and intellectual property rights of any materials that were not selected by the Library of Congress may not be in the public domain and may belong to the Paul Rudolph Estate.

LOCATION
Address:
City: Miami
State: Florida
Zip Code:
Nation: United States

STATUS
Type: Residence
Status: Project

TECHNICAL DATA
Date(s): 1952
Site Area:
Floor Area:
Height:
Floors (Above Ground): 2
Building Cost:

PROFESSIONAL TEAM
Client: Oscar Miller, President of the Florida Alpha Corporation, Sigma Alpha Epsilon
Architect: Paul M. Rudolph
Associate Architect: James Deen, S.A.E. Architectural Consultant
Landscape:
Structural:
MEP:
QS/PM:

SUPPLIERS
Contractor:
Subcontractor(s):

S.A.E. Fraternity House

The project brief is to design a fraternity house for the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity chapter at the University of Miami in Miami, Florida
The design is divided into two distinct and separate wings, both of which are two-stories. One contains bedrooms and the other contains the living area.
The bedroom wing has study-and-sleeping cubicles arranged around small living rooms, each serving four cubicles and one double bedroom. The plan contains four small group-living units on each floor, each serving six members.
A two-story living room has 18’-0” high areas alternating with more intimate spaces with low ceilings. A circular upholstered seating area around the fireplace is described by Rudolph as a “cave opening out upon a goldfish bowl”
Between the wings is a courtyard and a cylindrical building which contains a glassed-in dining room on the ground level and a chapter room on the upper level. The chapter room is meant, according to Rudolph, to recall a ‘Druid Circle’ and has louvered walls which can be closed to provide privacy for secret meetings. The cylindrical structure appears to float on a rectangular swimming pool and will be reflected in it.
The building features screened breezeways and various shading and screening devices to create patterns and textures. Rudolph believes that modern architecture with its simple forms requires careful detailing to hold the spectator’s interest when up close.
The structural columns have flared column capitals made of steel welded to the tops of lally columns to resist shearing stress.
Free-hanging louvered screens are suspended in front of glass walls to provide shade.