Thursday, February 25, 2010

Shutze's High Schools Part 1: Grady (1924)

It just looks so "from another country."

Grady is the most "seen" Shutze building. It's across the street from Piedmont Park after all. Generations of students, teachers, and parents lived some memorable years here. I'm sure folks don't pay much attention though.


My 3 children went to school here. We were active parents. This place is part of our life.

It started as Boys High. Hentz Reid and Alder designed it while Philip Trammell Shutze worked there. It has his touch. It became Henry W. Grady High School in 1947. Shtuze did a renovation in 1950. It was the first desegregated High School in Atlanta.
P1000468-2010-01-31-Shutze-Grady-HS-West-Facade-SW-Corner-Detail

The original building remains. But it's only about 1/5 of the campus now. So this is what most folks see and it's not very inviting. The "new" gym was of a certain era. You can just spot a Shutze urn over the roof.
P1000524-2010-02-02-Shutze-Grady-New-Gym-North-Facade-10th-Entrance

You might have caught a glimpse from the Charles Allen park gate when you saw Paul McCartney, ran the Peachtree, or did the Dogwood Festival.
2010-02-02-Grady-Hdr_pregamma_1_mantiuk06_contrast_equalization_0.76_saturation_factor_1.68_detail_factor_82.7

More likely you've seen it peeking from behind Grady Stadium. The grandstands are "Jetson Brutalist" and getting a renovation right now.
P1000463-2010-01-31-Shutze-Grady-HS-East-Facade-Over-Stadium

The Woody's Famous Philadelphia Cheesesteaks view from the Virginia Avenue hill is one of the best.
P1000511-2010-02-02-Shutze-Grady-View-From-East-Over-Woodys-Detail

It's no wonder you haven't noticed this elegant neoclassic school house.
P1000491-2010-01-31-Shutze-Grady-HS-West-Facade

It's on a beautiful green with mature trees. And right now, no trailers.
P1000468-2010-01-31-Shutze-Grady-HS-West-Facade-SW-Corner

You'll never notice the old gym. The architecture is a bit severe but I prefer it to the new gym (see above).
P1000483-2010-01-31-Shutze-Grady-HS-North-FacadeOld-Gym-3-Part

Even the breezeway can't hide Grady's high style.
P1000478-2010-01-31-Shutze-Grady-HS-East-Facade-NE-Corner

The south end is elegant and quiet.
P1000469-2010-01-31-Shutze-Grady-HS-South-Facade

The north end housed the offices on the first, the library on the the second.
P1000486-2010-01-31-Shutze-Grady-HS-North-Facade-North-East-Corner

Central cities aren't emptying out any more so Grady is hanging in there, even growing as schools consolidate. Always, there is building and renovation. Here is where the very oldest meets the very newest.
P1000472-2010-01-31-Shutze-Grady-HS-South-Facade-SE-Corner

I like this addition. It has some very fine detailing. It replaced several less sophisticated buildings.
P1000474-2010-01-31-Shutze-Grady-HS-East-Facade-SE-Corner-Over-8th-Street-Addition-Detail-

But always the urns.
P1000477-2010-01-31-Shutze-Grady-HS-West-Facade-2-Urns-Top-Broken

This is Midtown. Across the street we have this curvy, tile roofed older condo and green gabled bungalow...
P1000484-2010-01-31-Shutze-Grady-HS-Across-Charles-Allen-Curve-Gables

...and this hill top modern with a Virginia Tech flag.
P1000490-2010-01-31-Shutze-Grady-HS-Across-Charles-Allen-Modern

I hope you'll give Grady a closer look next time you are by.
P1000489-2010-01-31-Shutze-Grady-HS-West-Facade-Pop-Pencil

See my post about Grady's Shiny Brick.

Thanks so much,
Terry
terry @ surf303.com

P.S. Here are even more pictures.

3 comments:

  1. I actually often admire Grady's architecture when I'm near that area of the park, but I never noticed the pencil sculpture. What's that say about me as an artist? Maybe I've just never stood where you were standing.
    Thanks for bring it to my attention as well as the rest of the campus.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I've noticed the newer "good" addition but never paid too much attention to the original structure...will have to look next time I'm in town. That brutalist gym is a doozie!

    ReplyDelete
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