SOM helps WLS protect the Wells College arts complex

Google Maps view of Long Library and the Wells College arts complex

Walter Netsch, the architect of Long Library and the Wells College arts complex (Barler and Campbell) worked many years for the internationally acclaimed firm of Skidmore, Owings and Merrill (SOM) in Chicago.

Last Monday, SOM unexpectedly contacted the Wells Legacy Society.

They’d heard about our national preservation advocacy for the Wells campus and wanted to know if they could help us somehow!

Yes, they could and they did — on very short notice!

WLS supporters in the community were putting forth a nomination for Barler and Campbell to be designated as individual historic Local Landmarks. The deadline was Wednesday at 7pm. 

Without access to the college archives to campus for photos, documentation was difficult. But in the nick of time, SOM reached out and provided materials and support for the application!

With the reality of new ownership on the horizon, these landmark protections will help preserve our Wells campus for its next chapter.

(PS - The application was approved by the Community Preservation Panel, which will hold Public Hearings on the proposed designation and then make a recommendation to Aurora's Village Board of Trustees.)

NOMINATION LETTER to Aurora’s Community Preservation Panel is here

SUPPORT from SOM (below) and PACNY

Sent: Wednesday, December 4, 2024 5:33 PM

Dear Town Clerk, 

We at SOM understand that there is a discussion happening tonight in Aurora about the Campbell Art and Barlor Music Building designations as Local Landmarks in village law. We consider these buildings significant works of architecture within our practice, but more broadly, they are widely regarded within our profession as exemplars of the brutalist academic work in the profession as a whole. Like the Louis Jefferson Long Library, they were designed by our pioneering architect Walter Netsch in collaboration with Structural Engineer Stanton Korista, SOM's work at Wells College was cited by Netsch as his best, and we agree! SOM wholeheartedly supports the landmark designation for these important structures and will be providing supplementary materials about the importance of the design from our archive in support of the public hearing on this matter, if accepted at tonight's meeting. 

 Thank you, 

Colin Koop

COLIN KOOP, AIA
DESIGN PARTNER

SKIDMORE, OWINGS & MERRILL
7 WORLD TRADE CENTER
250 GREENWICH STREET
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10007