Architects

Glenn M. Beach 1916- 1999
Glenn M. Beach (Red), was born in Medina, New York on January 20, 1916. As a youth, Red played around the Erie Barge Canal and swam in abandoned stone quarries in and near Medina. Beach’s artistic and skillful use of stone in his architectural work is traceable to his youthful experiences around the stone quarries.
His father, who became a building contractor, taught Red how to lay stone. He also taught him carpentry and house painting. From a young age, Red worked on his father’s job sites performing a wide range of jobs that constantly increased in difficulty and skills. He graduated high school in 1933 and was one of only eight people from his class to continue onto college. Beach went on to earn a degree in Architecture from Syracuse University in 1940, a five year program at the time.
Right after graduation, he worked as an Architectural Sales Representative for the Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company. His work brought him to Midland, Michigan to work on a project designed by Alden B. Dow. Dow was completing the house addition to his already- completed architectural studio. Beach worked on the project until its completion in 1941. Beach became an admirer of Dow’s work. Beach would later state that some of the purity of lines and use of planes in his own work came from Dow’s influence. He continue to work for Pittsburgh Glass until 1943 when he joined the Navy as an Ensign. By the end of his military service in 1946, he reached the rank of Lieutenant.
After the war, Glenn returned to mid-Michigan to briefly work in the architectural offices of Frantz and Spence in Saginaw, before joining Alden B. Dow, Architect, Mr. Dow’s architectural firm, in Midland. Beach would continue to work for Dow’s firm until he opened his own firm in Saginaw in 1948. Throughout his career, he designed numerous homes, businesses and schools in Bay City, Saginaw, Midland, Frankenmuth and across the state of Michigan. When asked what his favorite project was he stated, “If you put any faith in the credo that the thing that brings the most joy to the most people makes the winner, I’ll have to say the Saginaw Children’s Zoo is it.” Another favorite project was the remodeling of the Bavaria Inn in Frankenmuth in early 1970s’. Mr. Beach also served as president of the local chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA). He passed away on August 1, 1999.

Clark E. Swayze (1938-2008)

Clark E. Swayze was born on Nov. 22, 1938 in Saginaw, MI. At a young age he moved to Midland, MI where he attended school and graduated from Midland High in 1957. Swayze earned both a Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Design and a Master’s Degree in Fine Arts from Michigan State University.

Swayze’s career began as a designer for the Dow Chemical Company where he worked as a packaging designer and engineer for several years before moving to Dow Corning as a supervisor of Corporate Design. In April of 1969, architect Alden B. Dow and artist Charles Breed approached Clark with the seed of a plan for an exhibit hall of ideas at the new Midland Center for the Arts.

Seizing the opportunity, Clark formed a partnership with Albert Theriault of Auburn and formed Exhibit Craftsmen. The new firm offered exhibit design and construction service to business and institutional clients providing complete planning, design, production and maintenance for trade show and museum installations. Within a few months, Clark and Al were joined by industrial designer Bruce Riley, who became a principal partner in the firm which eventually became Design Craftsmen, Inc.

Design Craftsmen specialized in the recreation of historical spaces and interactive exhibits. Key examples of his company's work are the Michigan State Historical Museum in Lansing; the Herbert H. Dow Historical Museum in Midland; Schembechler Hall in Ann Arbor; the Science and Technology Center in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; the First Division Cantigny Museum in Wheaton, Ill.; the National Park Service Visitor Centers in Fairbanks, Anchorage, and Glacier Bay, Alaska; the Walter P. Chrysler Museum in Auburn Hills; the Texas State History Museum; Fantasy of Flight in Polk City, Fl.; the National Cowboy Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City; and many, many more.
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From a three-man operation, Design Craftsmen Inc., with Swayze as President and Chief Executive Officer, grew to employ over 100 people in a multi-million dollar company. In 1990, Clark Swayze was named Master Entrepreneur of the Year by the Saginaw Valley Entrepreneurs Club. In his 33 years with Design Craftsmen, Swayze oversaw the design and production of installations throughout the United States and abroad.

1921-2006

Francis E. (Red) Warner was born in Big Run, Pennsylvania in 1921. He loved the outdoors. Every chance he got he would be out playing, biking and jumping off the railroad bridges in the Susquehanna river! He attended Penn State where he was active in many clubs and organizations including Lions Paw Honor Society and Concert Choir. During World War ll he worked as a field engineer in the construction of naval shipyards and power houses. He received his architectural degree from Pennsylvania State College in 1951. From 1951 through 1957 he considered himself fortunate to be able to work under the tutelage of Alden B. Dow. He often commented that he couldn’t believe he was being paid to work in such an amazing and creative environment!

In 1957 he started his own architectural firm in Midland the year his second child was born, so you might say he was a risk taker! He continued working in the tradition of Mr. Dow and Frank Lloyd Wright and was known for designing affordable, creative structures. Warner designed over fifty residences in an area extending to Barrington, Illinois. He loved designing churches which included Chapel Lane Presbyterian, Poseyville Methodist, Our Saviour Lutheran in Gladwin, First Missionary in Flint and Saint John Lutheran in Rogers City.

Red was called on to design more than thirty-four commercial buildings that included the original brick-faced Holiday Inn in Midland, Bay City Yacht Club, Gladwin Country Club, Midland Road Commission (now a Northwood northern entrance), and many more commercial and school buildings around the state.

Red was inspired by the natural beauty of nature and to achieve that he used wood extensively. He especially liked the grain and warmth of edge grain fir and Douglas fir beams which he incorporated in his designs. His works were designed for those who appreciated beauty without extravagance. He always felt you didn’t have to have a lot of money to live artistically, all you needed was an appreciation for a home filled by light and views of nature. It was in the small details and practicality of his designs that he excelled. Contractors commented that they could tell it was a Red Warner home the moment they saw the front door. He designed passive solar energy homes when that term was rarely used. The placement and style of each building had to be most carefully considered to achieve that important feature. Many of his homeowners became an extended family because they became so close during the home design process, with Red stopping in every day to oversee the build and to be sure the contractors were measuring up to his exacting standards. His success can be measured by the extent to which his clients became his best friends and admirers.

His works were honored in a gallery exhibition at the Midland Center for the Arts in 2001 along with those of Mr. Dow and Red’s very good friend, Jack Hallett.

During his career, Warner served as Director of the Michigan Society of Architects, and President of the The American Institute of Architects-Saginaw Valley Chapter. He was also an active community leader as a member of the Exchange Club, the Boy Scouts, the school district PTA, and as President of the Tri-City All-Breeds Horse Association.

After a long, active and joyful life of painting watercolors, sailing, fishing, tennis, snow skiing and caring for and feeding his beloved horses, dogs and garden, Red passed away in 2006 and his ashes now repose amongst those of his dear friends on Dahlia Hill.