$2. a copy

NOVEMBER 1951

ARCHITECTURAL FORUM

THE MAGAZINE
OF
BUILDING

DOUBLE ISSUE

I BUILDINGS

Eero Saarinen's masterpiece—

←The G. M. Technical Center (p. 111)

Three pace-setting schools—

An erector-set school (p. 124)

A laboratory school (p. 130)

A school without corridors (p. 134)

New towns for the U. S.—

Where, why and how (p. 136)

Engineering news—(p. 154)

II HOUSES

Architect & Builder

Cutting costs through standard parts (p. 195)

1,650 sq. ft. for $12,000 (p. 200)

Big builders' trade secrets (p. 210)

Architect & Client

Soriano's experimental house—

Steel framed, assembled, demountable (p. 214)

Outstanding houses by Dailey, Belluschi,

Ossipoff, Stubbins and Ervi (p. 220)

Glass—how to detail it against leakage (p. 236)

A color portfolio on the completed Technical Center by Photographer Ezra Stoller

## GM's INDUSTRIAL VERSAILLES

In the fact-sheet describing its magnificent Technical Center outside Detroit, General Motors Corp. makes this nice understatement: "The well-made look . . . is a proud characteristic of America and a source of pleasure to its citizens."

And another statement of simple fact: "In the 22-acre artificial lake, with its four islands of weeping willow trees and the tall, shining water tower, are two fountains. . . . Together these two fountains pump more water than all the great fountains at Versailles. The water is recirculated."

This is GM in its actual factual glory. Finally viewed in completion, the inspired architecture of the 25 buildings is a historic symbol of today's industrial progress, also of tomorrow's ambition. It is immense, yet beautifully precise. On these eight pages, *FORUM* reproduces some of the sensory witchery of the brilliant colors Architect Eero Saarinen inserted into the proud, well-made GM buildings, crowned finally by the serene, glistening dome of the Styling Center auditorium.

*See also AF, July '49, Nov. '51, Nov. '54, Nov. '55.*