Walter Douglas Elementary School
aka Flowing Wells Elementary School
3302 N Flowing Wells Dr, Tucson, Arizona
32-16-02 N, 110-59-40 W
Structural Engineer: Jim Foulds
Architect: John Shaver for Shaver and Company of Salina KS, with Reid and Hazard of Tucson
Builder: Mann Construction Company
Configuration: Barrel vault dome
Measurements: unknown
Purpose: School
Year: 1963, partially demolished 2018-20
This school was frequently called "Flowing Wells" in newspapers even after the name "Walter Douglas" was announced. The tapered barrel vaults form a circular roof. The school was built with five of these shell-roofed buildings; unfortunately, three of them were demolished between 2018 and 2020.
The author visited in April 2024.
References
"A New Look In School Design." Arizona Daily Star (Tucson), August 10, 1962. Beard, Bob. "Kan. Architect Hired By District 6 Board." Greeley Daily Tribune, November 2, 1961. Beard, Bob. "New School Ideas Are Similar Here." Greeley Daily Tribune, April 11, 1962. "Bids May 15 For Flowing Wells School." Tucson Daily Citizen, April 7, 1961. "Demand For Schools Keeps Builders Busy." Tucson Daily Citizen, August 9, 1962. Evans, Chris and R. Brooks Jeffery. "Architecture of the Modern Movement in Tucson, Arizona 1945-1975." (Draft copy). Modern Architecture Preservation Project-Tucson Case Study. 2005: 18, 23, 38, 45. Evans, Chris; R. Brooks Jeffery, Sarah Tomme and Matan Mayer. "Catalina American Baptist Church," National Register of Historic Places Registration Form (Washington, DC: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, April 8, 2008). "Flowing Wells Board OK's Design Of Elementary School." Tucson Daily Citizen, January 27, 1961. "Flowing Wells Board Seeking Bids On Its Proposed 12-Sided School." Arizona Daily Star (Tucson), April 9, 1961. "Grade School Gets A Lid." Tucson Daily Citizen, December 16, 1960. Pasternak, Helen. "Team Teaching At Flowing Wells Faces Test In New Douglas School." Tucson Daily Citizen, March 9, 1963.Updated November 30, 2024