The following is submitted by Solomon Atta (see profile at bottom) who was a student at the School of Architecture, in the college of design at the University of Minnesota in May 2010. Solomon currently lives in Minneapolis and is devoting his life to researching grain silos in hopes that someday they will be appreciated for their majestic architecture and inherent reuse qualities. Solomon recently reached out to Buffalo Rising to see where our city stood on the heated issue of demolition vs. reuse. He asked if we would share some of his ideas with readers, in hopes that more people might see these architectural giants as future city attractions rather than eyesores waiting for the wrecking ball. If we could somehow manage to reuse just one of the silos in a way that would pay tribute to the behemoth’s soaring scale, then we would certainly have a world renowned destination on our hands. To not only walk among giants, but to be free to experience a totally unique perspective that a select few can only dream of…
From Solomon Atta:
I graduated from the school of Architecture at the University of Minnesota in may of 2010. I graduated with an award-winning project on grain elevator reuse, with the local “Delmar 4 or United Crushers” grain elevators as my case study. I have recently begun to include abandoned elevators in Buffalo and Brooklyn in my research, hoping to get the owners to allow me to put together a design proposal for an “other life” for their property. The title of my thesis is “The other life of Silos”.
My research explores the historic significance of the grain elevator structure to both the grain storage industry and architecture.
The modern re-enforced concrete silo, developed by Peavey and Haglin in Minneapolis at the dawn of the 20th century, transformed the way architects think about building, both form and technology. Sadly, not only is this information unknown to many, the structures themselves have become a nuisance sitting often in prominent real estate. It seems the best way to honor these wonderful relics is to turn them into apartments, hotels… the more common fate if these wonderful structures is demolition.
My work argues that not only are grain silos far from a nuisance, they are one of America’s most precious architectural icons. The modern elevator as we know it, was born in America.
1. My research argues that because grain elevators are inherently large, and solid, the best way to reuse them is to carve them out. They are a series of strong cylinders that are arranged geometrically with extra supporting walls. By carving into them, one can free up the volume inside them, which can then be retrofitted if one chooses to do so. Basically, I performed as kind of special archeology, as my instructor calls it.
2. What is remarkable is that the power of the volumes which are revealed when these structures are carved are unmistakable. They evoke cathedral-esque spaces with massive structural arches and strong special presence. It is impossible to find a reason to build structures in this current era, which evoke the quality that carved grain elevators do. For this reason, they are like diamonds in the dirt.
3. Because they are so strong, they can be carved in many different ways, depending on the unintended use and design. Though their structural integrity when carved can be argued, there is very little doubt that they will hold up. They are more difficult to take down as they age.
4. The subject of my research is the United Crusher’s elevator in Delmar 4 near the University of Minnesota. The address to the property is unclear to me but 458 29th Ave SE is very close. My work is mostly design research, and a very loose reuse proposal as concert hall and gathering space.
About me: I graduated with a Masters of Architecture degree from the School of Architecture, in the college of design at the University of Minnesota in May 2010. I currently live in Minneapolis, MN. My thesis project won the Richard Morril Masters Final project award in 2010. I have spent the past two years presenting my work to developers and parties who show interest in grain elevator properties. My personal goal is to see a grain elevator re-use that applies some of the strategies I have researched and do so successfully. It is important that a successful grain elevator re-use development happens soon, if these amazing structures are to have hope of being saved. For me they are simply, hidden cathedrals.
Also, see Roger Schroeder’s creative adaptive reuse for the silos
An artistic look at “What could be”…
What an alternate reuse might look like…
Deconstruction of a grain elevator
Silo City is boomin’
Submit your own proposals