Ralph Arnold Edwards
American Institute of Architects
« Back to Last Page
« Go to Search Page
Ralph Edwards discussing new building plans.1
-
Table of Contents
-
Birth Date and Place
(Scroll to Top)b. December 28th, 1925
Salt Lake City, Utah, USA -
Death Date and Place
(Scroll to Top)d. December 31st, 1995
Salt Lake City, Utah, USA -
Obituaries
(Scroll to Top)http://www.deseretnews.com/article/464406/DEATH--RALPH-A-EDWARDS---MASTER-UTAH-ARCHITECT.html
-
Universities Attended
(Scroll to Top)University of California, Berkeley, Bachelor of Arts in Architecture, 1950
-
Architectural License
(Scroll to Top)Licensed in 1950s
-
Professional Career
(Scroll to Top)EDA Architects—1990s
Edwards & Daniels Architects—1959
-
Additional Career Information
(Scroll to Top)Ralph Edwards worked for the architect John Reid in San Francisco until 1953 (start date unknown, but presumably around the time of his studies at University of California, Berkeley).
-
Awards and Certificates
(Scroll to Top) -
Significant Contributions
(Scroll to Top)- Secretary of the Utah Chapter of the American Institute of Architecture (AIA), 1966.
- Vice president of the AIA, 1967.
- President of the Utah Chapter of the AIA, 1968.6
-
Significant Buildings w/ Location
(Scroll to Top)
Governor’s Plaza Condominiums
560 East South Temple, Salt Lake City, Utah 84102
1983
Building Type: Residential
Click here for more information »
Art and Architecture Complex, University of Utah
375 South 1530 East, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112
1970
Building Type: University
Click here for more information »
Cottonwood High School
5715 South 1300 East, Murray, Utah 84121
1970
Building Type: Educational - Elementary/Secondary
Click here for more information »
Robert Frost Elementary School
3444 West 4400 South, West Valley City, Utah 84119
1969
Building Type: Educational - Elementary/Secondary
Click here for more information »
Sally Mauro Elementary School
20 Second Avenue, Helper, Utah 84526
1966
Building Type: Educational - Elementary/Secondary
Click here for more information »
The Leonardo Museum (formerly Salt Lake City Library)
209 East 500 South, Salt Lake City, Utah 84111
1964
Building Type: Art Center/Museums
Click here for more information »
Ashley Elementary School
350 North 1150 West, Vernal, Utah 84078
1961
Building Type: Educational - Elementary/Secondary
Click here for more information »
Carbon High School
750 East 400 North, Price, Utah 84501
1959
Building Type: Educational - Elementary/Secondary
Click here for more information »
Anderson Residence
Salt Lake City, Utah
1956
Building Type: Residential
Click here for more information »
-
Biography
(Scroll to Top)Ralph Arnold Edwards was born in Salt Lake City, Utah on December 28th, 1925 to David S. and Bertha Pearson Edwards.7 In the early 1940s, Mr. Edwards began attending the University of Utah. However, in 1944 he was enlisted in the army during World War II and returned home in 1946.8 After the army, Mr. Edwards attended the University of California, Berkeley and graduated in 1950 with his Bachelor of Arts degree in architecture.9 After graduating, Mr. Edwards moved to San Francisco and stayed in California for a while. There he worked with a prominent architect named John Reid, who was a “pioneer of contemporary design.”10 In 1953, Mr. Edwards moved back to Utah. Soon after his return, Mr. Edwards, along with his good friend and colleague Mr. George (Judd) Daniels, founded the Edwards and Daniels Architect firm in 1957.11 Mr. Edwards remained president of the firm until 1988. Additionally, Mr. Edwards consulted for the Babcock & Pace firm until he retired in 1988.12
Shortly after Mr. Edwards moved back to Utah in 1953, he became acquainted with a couple, Mr. Waldo Andersen and his wife, Mrs. Lucy Andersen.13 In 1956, the couple asked him to design a house for them on Northcrest Drive in Salt Lake City, near the neighborhood where Mr. Edwards himself was raised and down the street from where he lived during this time.14 Mr. and Mrs. Anderson remained in this home until 1984 when their in-laws, D’Ann and her now-late husband John Andersen, moved in. D’Ann is still the current owner of the home and when the home was nominated in March of 2015 for the “Utah Heritage Award,” the committee sought out this home specifically due to the fact that the “Andersen’s home flaunts several interior architectural elements typical of modern homes of this era.”15 Additionally, the Andersen’s, both D’Ann and John as well as their in-laws, kept the house and landscape mainly unaltered in the 58 years they have owned the home including, but not limited to, the original Formica countertops, mahogany cabinets, and original woodwork in the living room.16
In addition to the Andersen home, Mr. Edwards’ many other designs became well-known and renowned. He designed the University of Utah’s Art and Architecture Complex in 1970, and soon thereafter it became one of the best visual art centers in the country.17 The most interesting aspect of this building is that Mr. Edwards designed it in the “Brutalist Style,” a style of architecture that was very popular during this time but rarely found in Utah in particular. This complex won the Utah Chapter of the American Institute of Architecture’s 25 Year Award in 2006.18
Furthermore, the Edwards & Daniels Architects Firm won a citation and national recognition for their design of the Ashley Elementary School in 1962. In February of that year, plans and pictures for the school along with the citation were exhibited in Atlantic City, New Jersey during the American Association of School Administrators convention. Dr. Shirley Cooper, who, at the time, was the AASA’s associate secretary noted about the design for Ashley Elementary as one of “Sensitive handling of details throughout the entire building in crisp, clean-cut architecture. Daylighting of classrooms through recessed windows is a feature well adapted to the control of sun glare. Modest use of glass areas increases wall space available for instructional purposes. Growing plans in the window laboratories add pleasing touches to the learning environment.”19 This buildings’ design was much admired, so much that the citation for the Ashley Elementary School was only one out of two awards given within the entire state of Utah. In light of that significance, Mr. Edwards stated, “This recognition vindicates our belief that the Vernal school is one of the best, most modern new schools for small districts in the nation.”20
In September of 1966, the Dr. James Warenski Residence was included on a tour along with six other prominent Utah homes. The homes, including the Warenski Residence, were included in the tour precisely for the reason of defining “the role of the architect in designing a home to fit the individual needs and activities of a family.”21 This tour was guided under the direction of the Women’s Architectural League of Utah, to which the tour’s proceeds went to the Architectural Scholarship Fund. In that same year, the Edwards & Daniels Architects Firm received a top honor award for the Salt Lake City Public Library from the Utah Chapter of the American Institute of Architecture for the “bold the bold and compact design.”2223 This award aimed at honoring designs that “advocated and brought to fruition plans for overhaul and beautification of large chunks of the American urban community.”24 The firm also received a citation and national recognition for the Helper Elementary School (now Sally Mauro Elementary School) in 1967.25
Mr. Edwards was also involved in the field of architecture outside of his own work. In 1966, he became secretary of the Utah Chapter of the American Institute of Architecture (AIA). In 1967, he became the vice president of the Utah Chapter of the AIA. In 1968, he became president of the Utah Chapter of the AIA.26
Mr. Edwards was actively involved in several community affairs outside of work. He served on the Board of the Utah Opera, the Assistance League of Salt Lake City, the Boys and Girls Club, and the YMCA.27 Mr. Edwards was also an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He enjoyed bowling on a team with his friends which they had named the “Dirty Shirts,”28 and he was also an avid golfer, skier, and hiker. On December 31st, 1995 Ralph Arnold Edwards passed away.29
-
Sources
(Scroll to Top)1. The image was taken in 1960, #6574 Copyright 2008 Uintah County Library.
2. “S.L. Architects Receive National Citation,” The Salt Lake Tribune, January 28th, 1962; The American Institute of Architects, American Architects Directory (New York, New York: R.R. Bowker Company, 1970), pg. 248, http://public.aia.org/sites/hdoaa/wiki/Wiki%20Pages/ahd1012323.aspx.
3. Associated Press, “Awards End Architect Gem Parley,” The Salt Lake Tribune, September 30th, 1962.
4. Robert H. Woody, “Architect Prizes Focus on Communal Values,” Salt Lake Tribune, January 21st, 1966.
5. The American Institute of Architects, American Architects Directory (New York, New York: R.R. Bowker Company, 1970), pg. 248, http://public.aia.org/sites/hdoaa/wiki/Wiki%20Pages/ahd1012323.aspx.
6. (For all contributions listed) The American Institute of Architects, American Architects Directory (New York, New York: R.R. Bowker Company, 1970), pg. 248, http://public.aia.org/sites/hdoaa/wiki/Wiki%20Pages/ahd1012323.aspx.
7. “Death: Ralph A. Edwards – Master Utah Architect,” last modified January 3, 1996, accessed November 2015, http://www.deseretnews.com/article/464406/DEATH--RALPH-A-EDWARDS---MASTER-UTAH-ARCHITECT.html.
8. “Death: Ralph A. Edwards – Master Utah Architect,” last modified January 3, 1996, accessed November 2015, http://www.deseretnews.com/article/464406/DEATH--RALPH-A-EDWARDS---MASTER-UTAH-ARCHITECT.html.
9. The American Institute of Architects, American Architects Directory (New York, New York: R.R. Bowker Company, 1970), pg. 248, http://public.aia.org/sites/hdoaa/wiki/Wiki%20Pages/ahd1012323.aspx.
10. Val Rasmussen, "Awarding Utah's Heritage," Utah Style & Design, February 9th, 2015.
11. “Death: Ralph A. Edwards – Master Utah Architect,” last modified January 3, 1996, accessed November 2015, http://www.deseretnews.com/article/464406/DEATH--RALPH-A-EDWARDS---MASTER-UTAH-ARCHITECT.html.
12. “Death: Ralph A. Edwards – Master Utah Architect,” last modified January 3, 1996, accessed November 2015, http://www.deseretnews.com/article/464406/DEATH--RALPH-A-EDWARDS---MASTER-UTAH-ARCHITECT.html.
13. "770 Northcrest Drive," Utah Heritage Foundation, accessed November 2015, http://www.utahheritagefoundation.com/tours-and-events/heritage-awards/2015ha/item/853-770-northcrest-drive#.VjfBFaIyBTQ.
14. Val Rasmussen, "Awarding Utah's Heritage," Utah Style & Design, February 9th, 2015.
15. Val Rasmussen, "Awarding Utah's Heritage," Utah Style & Design, February 9th, 2015.
16. Val Rasmussen, "Awarding Utah's Heritage," Utah Style & Design, February 9th, 2015.
17. Kirk Huffaker, "Art & Architecture Complex," Salt Lake Modern, las modified December 1, 2011, accessed November 2015, http://www.slmodern.org/2011/12/01/art-architecture-complex-u-of-u/.
18. Kirk Huffaker, "Art & Architecture Complex," Salt Lake Modern, las modified December 1, 2011, accessed November 2015, http://www.slmodern.org/2011/12/01/art-architecture-complex-u-of-u/.
19. “S.L. Architects Receive National Citation,” The Salt Lake Tribune, January 28th, 1962.
20. “S.L. Architects Receive National Citation,” The Salt Lake Tribune, January 28th, 1962.
21. Carolyn Habbeshaw, “Home is Where the Art is,” Salt Lake Tribune, September 18th, 1966.
22. Robert H. Woody, “Architect Prizes Focus on Communal Values,” Salt Lake Tribune, January 21st, 1966.
23. William A. Dunn, “Design for the Future,” Deseret News, January 22nd, 1966.
24. Robert H. Woody, “Architect Prizes Focus on Communal Values,” Salt Lake Tribune, January 21st, 1966.
25. The American Institute of Architects, American Architects Directory (New York, New York: R.R. Bowker Company, 1970), pg. 248, http://public.aia.org/sites/hdoaa/wiki/Wiki%20Pages/ahd1012323.aspx.
26. The American Institute of Architects, American Architects Directory (New York, New York: R.R. Bowker Company, 1970), pg. 248, http://public.aia.org/sites/hdoaa/wiki/Wiki%20Pages/ahd1012323.aspx.
27. “Death: Ralph A. Edwards – Master Utah Architect,” last modified January 3, 1996, accessed November 2015, http://www.deseretnews.com/article/464406/DEATH--RALPH-A-EDWARDS---MASTER-UTAH-ARCHITECT.html.
28. “Death: Ralph A. Edwards – Master Utah Architect,” last modified January 3, 1996, accessed November 2015, http://www.deseretnews.com/article/464406/DEATH--RALPH-A-EDWARDS---MASTER-UTAH-ARCHITECT.html.
29. “Death: Ralph A. Edwards – Master Utah Architect,” last modified January 3, 1996, accessed November 2015, http://www.deseretnews.com/article/464406/DEATH--RALPH-A-EDWARDS---MASTER-UTAH-ARCHITECT.html.
30.
