A historic Milwaukee landmark, the University Club's Georgian Revival clubhouse, designed by John Russell Pope, was completed in 1928. Located at the northwest corner E. Wells Street and N. Prospect Avenue in what is called the Yankee Hill neighborhood, the University Club offers heritage to the skyline. The University Club is a five-story-with-penthouse, flat roofed, rectangular, brick Georgian Revival Style building that has been on the local historic registry since 2003. Every afternoon, on my way to Marquette I pass the beautiful, large University Club and always notice the copper penthouse from the road. I have never been inside the University Club but I have met many people that work there and they all rave about how extravagant the interior of the structure is. I imagine the University Club was much more about elite status and glamour than today. The University Club epitomizes the urbanity, luxuriousness and exclusivity that made such clubs popular during the golden age or private clubs. Most importantly, the structure is significant as a design by John Russell Pope, a famed architect who specialized in Classical Revival and Colonial/Georgian Revival design.
The University Club offers beautiful Lake Michigan views making anyone feel like a star. But as I appreciated the structure I felt that there was a large disconnect between the University Club and it's neighborhood. The structure which once used to be surrounded by rich and famous Milwaukee businessmen and company owners is now surrounded by 20th Century apartment buildings and highways. At what point does the neighborhood of the structure affect its preservation and value? Is it possible this structure could become invaluable to preservationists because spectators wouldn't want to appreciate it in its current environment? Time can only tell.
References:
Milwaukee City Directory.
The University Club of Milwaukee. Milwaukee, Wisconsin, no publisher, 1900.
“University Club of Milwaukee, Wis., John Russell Pope.” The American Architect.
I have to agree with you about the disconnect with the community. It is marketed for very high income households and is in the middle of downtown and Marquette's campus. You question if neighborhood affects preservation and value? In some cases I do believe that it does, but in most, such as the club, it does not. The club has gained its own sense of prestige and the architecture seems in pretty good condition. For me it often depends what the original intent of saving the building is. Also it depends if it is well preserved. Historic buildings are often intermingled within cities, sometimes the conjunction looks good and others it is often overlooked. From your picture and what I have seen of this building I do not think the preservation aspect is lost. Since it is well maintained and the aesthetic value is still there.
ReplyDeleteI somewhat disagree about the Univeristy Club's disconnect with its community. The most diconnect I can see is its age in comparison with the buildings that surround it. Beyond that its place along the lake (not in the middle of Marquette campus)is very fitting. That neighborhood still remains a very upscale and business class type of place, and its well kept exterior is a nice contrast to the the metal and steel structues that is stands next to.
ReplyDeleteVisually what do you think about the physical relationship between the University Club and the new University Club Tower? They are an interesting juxtaposition of buildings the new and the old set side-by-side.
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