Name: ‘Leaders and Revolutionaries’: Two Works by Robert Traynham Coles.
Start: 2025-11-12T18:30:00-05:00
End: 2025-11-12T19:30:00-05:00
Location: Bethlehem Public Library

$\u2018Leaders and Revolutionaries\u2019: Two Works by Robert Traynham Coles.$

Free Event
Jennifer Walkowski will present a talk on African American architect Robert Traynham Coles (1929-2020), a renowned Buffalo architect who had a long career in architecture, social activism, and political involvement.
Coles was rooted in the African American community, with experience and knowledge of the people and the neighborhood. He was in the rare position to be a conduit between the African American community and the largely white city leadership. Some of his projects reflected differing strategies for responding to common urban renewal plans, such as sweeping redevelopment and highway construction within existing neighborhoods.
He viewed architecture as a tool for advocacy and activism. His most famous design was that of his own residence and studio in 1961. The building used prefabricated and pre-cut components drawn from Coles’s experience working for the Techbuilt Company. Coles customized the design to meet his personal needs and respond to the specific site.
Located close to a multi-lane urban highway, the private family residence turned away from the street, facing into a tranquil rear garden, while the public studio was oriented to the highway, providing easy access for business functions.