Over the course of a six-decade career, Hoosier architect Evans Woollen transformed the city's architectural profile, injecting startling new ideas about what a building could be to this notoriously conservative city and state. Visit Indianapolis today, and you would be hard pressed not to encounter a building designed Woollen-however, ubiquity never exactly led to popularity in Woollen's case.
Lauded by the national press yet rarely embraced at home, Woollen's legacy has been often overshadowed by the polarized reception of his work. What A Building Does illuminates the full story of this important Midwestern practitioner for the first time, from his years as a student of Philip Johnson and Louis Khan; to his decision to open his practice in Indianapolis; to his initial professional successes in Indianapolis and beyond; to his later turn toward a philosophy of "situational architecture" and a practice of empathetic, human-centered design conducted long before such ideas were mainstream. Though Woolen is usually known for introducing concrete Brutalism to Indianapolis, his practice was in fact surprisingly wide-ranging, from significant public structures that are today some of Indianapolis's most recognizable buildings to humble churches, single-family homes, and historic renovations.
Featuring nearly 150 new full-color photos and drawing on never-before-seen archival material and dozens of interviews with former colleagues, clients, and friends, What A Building Does adds a new and fascinating chapter to the history of modern architecture and its trajectory in the American Midwest.
