David W. Smouse Opportunity School

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David W. Smouse Opportunity School
Smouse School Des Moines IA.jpg
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Location2820 Center St.
Des Moines, Iowa
Coordinates 41°35′28″N93°39′19″W / 41.5911°N 93.6552°W / 41.5911; -93.6552 Coordinates: 41°35′28″N93°39′19″W / 41.5911°N 93.6552°W / 41.5911; -93.6552
Area4 acres (1.6 ha)
Built1931
Architect Proudfoot, Rawson, Souers & Thomas
Architectural style Tudor Revival
MPS Public Schools for Iowa: Growth and Change MPS
NRHP reference # 02001251 [1]
Added to NRHPOctober 24, 2002

The David W. Smouse Opportunity School is a historical building located in Des Moines, Iowa, United States. The building was designed by the Des Moines architectural firm of Proudfoot, Rawson, Souers & Thomas in the Tudor Revival style. The school opened in 1931 and served the educational needs of 165 students with physical disabilities that were unable to attend a regular public school. [2] It was the only school in Iowa that was built to desegregate handicapped children, who were generally institutionalized in isolation. [3] The facility was designed for their individual needs. The blackboards were tilted to prevent glare for the visually impaired, rooms were designed to carry sound vibrations for the hearing impaired students. Large windows and three courtyards provided fresh air. One of the courtyards had a fountain. The restrooms were adapted, temperature controls in each classroom, and a rooftop playground was included in the building's design. A swimming pool was added in 1955. Financial gifts were used to purchase works of art throughout the building. Imported ceramic tiles, wrought iron signs, working fireplaces and decorative light fixtures also adorned the facility. The school was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2002. [1]

Des Moines, Iowa Capital of Iowa

Des Moines is the capital and the most populous city in the U.S. state of Iowa. It is also the county seat of Polk County. A small part of the city extends into Warren County. It was incorporated on September 22, 1851, as Fort Des Moines, which was shortened to "Des Moines" in 1857. It is on and named after the Des Moines River, which likely was adapted from the early French name, Rivière des Moines, meaning "River of the Monks". The city's population was 216,853 as of the 2018 population estimate. The five-county metropolitan area is ranked 89th in terms of population in the United States with 655,409 residents according to the 2018 estimate by the United States Census Bureau, and is the largest metropolitan area fully located within the state. A portion of the larger Omaha, Nebraska metropolitan area extends into three counties of southwest Iowa.

Proudfoot & Bird former American architectural firm or partnership

Proudfoot & Bird et al. was an American architectural firm or partnership that designed many buildings in the U.S. Midwest. Partners included Willis Thomas Proudfoot (1860–1928) and George Washington Bird (1854–1953) and Harry Dustan Rawson (1872–1934). At times it was known as Proudfoot, Bird and Rawson, Proudfoot, Rawson & Souers, Proudfoot, Rawson, Souers & Thomas or Monheim, Bird & Proudfoot.

Tudor Revival architecture architectural style

Tudor Revival architecture first manifested itself in domestic architecture in the United Kingdom in the latter half of the 19th century. Based on revival of aspects that were perceived as Tudor architecture, in reality it usually took the style of English vernacular architecture of the Middle Ages that had survived into the Tudor period. The style later became an influence elsewhere, especially the British colonies. For example, in New Zealand, the architect Francis Petre adapted the style for the local climate. In Singapore, then a British colony, architects such as R. A. J. Bidwell pioneered what became known as the Black and White House. The earliest examples of the style originate with the works of such eminent architects as Norman Shaw and George Devey, in what at the time was thought Neo-Tudor design.

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References

  1. 1 2 "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
  2. "The Rich History Of Smouse School". Des Moines Public Schools. Archived from the original on 2014-11-07. Retrieved 2012-03-11.
  3. Camilla Deiber. "David W. Smouse Opportunity School". National Park Service . Retrieved 2017-10-11. with photo(s)