Sessions at the ACI Fall 2014 Convention, October 26-30, in Washington D.C., will highlight the legacy and distinctive work of John J. Earley, who was the Institute’s first contractor president and served on the Architectural Concrete of the Exposed Aggregate Type Committee during his 28 years of membership.
A pioneer in exposed aggregate concrete practice, Earley was the contractor for Meridian Hill Park and plied his trade on other District of Columbia-area projects, including U.S. Department of Justice Building and Shrine of the Sacred Heart mosaic ceilings. Mastery of exposed aggregate methods led to his establishment of the Mo-Sai Institute, a licensor of proprietary architectural precast production.
Photo: Ben Schumin |
Built in the 1920s with exposed aggregate methods John Earley perfected for cast-in-place and precast concrete, Meridian Hill Park was designated America’s first National Historic Landmark in the Designed Landscape category during the 1994 Earth Day Ceremony by President Bill Clinton. |
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“Celebrating 100 Years of John Joseph Earley and the Earley Studio Work Sessions,” October 27-28, will enable convention attendees to appreciate concrete aesthetics, recognize Earley’s work, and understand restoration of his projects. Presentation themes will include Masterwork in Exposed Aggregate: Who Gets Credit?; John Earley’s Mosaic Art – Saints, Dinosaurs and Battle Ships; “Everyone is Seeking Security” John Earley and Basil Taylor’s Polychrome Houses; The Development of the “Earley Process;” Restoration of the Edison Memorial Tower; and, Secrets of John Earley’s Mosaic Concrete in the Baha’i Temple.
The prior day will feature a walking tour of Meridian Hill, one of the first projects to use exposed aggregate concrete for architectural expression. An October 29 bus tour will cap off the program, with Earley expert Bryan Blundell spotlighting the practitioner’s key District works. The convention will take place at the Washington Hilton. Registration and additional convention details can be obtained by visiting www.aciconvention.org.