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: 201-309 North Water Street
City: Rockford
State: Illinois
Zip Code: 61107
Nation: United States

STATUS
Type: Culture
Status: Project

TECHNICAL DATA
Date(s): 1970
Site Area:
Floor Area:
Height:
Floors (Above Ground):
Building Cost: $12,247,564.00 USD / $28.80 psf (September 1973 estimate)

PROFESSIONAL TEAM
Client: Rockford Metropolitan Exposition, Auditorium and Office Building Authority in Winnebago County
Architect: Paul Rudolph
Associate Architect: 
Landscape:
Structural:
MEP:
QS/PM:
Traffic: Barton Aschman Associates, Inc.

SUPPLIERS
Contractor:
Subcontractor(s):

Rockford Civic Center

• The project scope is to design a civic center for Rockford, Illinois. The project includes an exhibition hall and related facilities with parking for 924 cars below ground and at grade under the building.

• Plans for a proposed ‘Rockford Civic Center’ in downtown Rockford begin in 1966.

• In late 1967 a $20 million USD civic center is proposed to be built on the east bank of Rock River and include a civic auditorium, theater, exhibition hall and other facilities. The proposal is prepared and presented by members of the Rockford Exhibition Council including Mrs. Pat Sneed, Lou Bachrodt, Warren (Cully) Carlson, Charles Boettcher, Eugene Abegg and Lou Casola. Mr. Boettcher is an architect. The complex is proposed to be constructed in four phases, and will accommodate opera (or concerts or theatrical productions) in a large theater, a smaller theater, a Veterans Memorial Arena for sports events, and an exhibition hall for industrial events. The proposed site is to be on the east bank of Rock River north of State Street. While most of the land (which includes city yards) qualifies for clearance at Federal expense, the construction of the civic center itself will depend for its financing on Rockford taxpayers.

• The slogan for promoting the project is “Get Rockford going, start at the center.”

• The project is a further development of the earlier Rockford Civic Center Site project.

• In 1975, Governor Daniel Walker announces a $4.1 billion USD construction program which includes ‘acceleration of the Rockford Civic Center project’

• In October of 1976, the team of Larson & Darby, Inc. and Orput Architects are selected to design a new city center in downtown Rockford, later named the MetroCentre.

• The main arena in Rockford, known as the MetroCentre, breaks ground on February 07, 1979 and is officially opened in January, 1981.

• The MetroCentre later becomes known as the BMO Center.

• The project remains unbuilt.

DRAWINGS - Design Drawings / Renderings

DRAWINGS - Construction Drawings

DRAWINGS - Shop Drawings

PHOTOS - Project Model

PHOTOS - During Construction

PHOTOS - Completed Project

PHOTOS - Current Conditions

LINKS FOR MORE INFORMATION

RELATED DOWNLOADS

PROJECT BIBLIOGRAPHY
C. Hal Nelson. Sinnissippi Saga: : A History of Rockford and Winnebago County, Illinois. Winnebago County Illinois Sequicentennial Committee, 1968.

“Chronological List of Works by Paul Rudolph, 1946-1974.” Architecture and Urbanism, no. 49, Jan. 1975.

“Drawings and Sketches of Paul Rudolph.” Architecture and Urbanism, no. 49, Jan. 1975.

Janke, Rolf. Architectural Models. Frederick A. Praeger, 1978.

Marlin, William. “Paul Rudolph: Drawings.” Architectural Forum, no. 138, June 1973, pp. 48–49.

“Non Costruito; Rudolph Unbuilt.” Domus, no. 536, July 1974, pp. 15–16.

Paul Rudolph. Paul Rudolph: Dessins D’Architecture. Office du Livre, 1974.

“Rockford Center.” Architecture and Urbanism, no. 80, July 1977, pp. 202–05.