Tag Archives: Noland Blass

June 4 Architeaser: Justice Building Rotunda

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IMG_5749Today’s photo features the rotunda of the 1976 annex of the Justice Building on the State Capitol grounds. This section was dedicated in January 1976 and was designed by Noland Blass. The circular building houses the Supreme Court chambers. It is surrounded by a hallway which wraps around the chamber and is sheathed by panels of glass .  Notice how the glass reflects the surroundings but also allows for a clear view through to the sculpture on the interior wall.

The original portion of the Justice Building was dedicated on June 10, 1958.  Before the Court Room was built, the Supreme Court held court in a temporary (for nearly 18 years) court room in the south end of the Justice Building.

On a personal note, it was in this building in 1986 that I served as Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals at Arkansas Boys State.  I don’t remember the “case” we heard or how we ruled.  But I do remember getting to wear a black judge robe over by Boys State T-shirt.

Architeaser June 13

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Yesterday’s Architeaser was a section of the rotunda of the 1976 annex of the Justice Building. Thais section was completed in 1976 and was designed by Noland Blass. The circular building houses the Supreme Court chambers. It is surrounded by a hallway which wraps around the chamber and is sheathed by panels of glass .

Here is today’s Architeaser.

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Architeaser June 2

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June’s first Architeaser was one of the dozens of persons sculpted into the wall of the Justice Building on the State Capitol grounds.  The wall surrounds the court chambers in an addition which was completed in 1976 and designed by Noland Blass Jr.

Here is today’s Architeaser.

Architeaser – May 23

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Yesterday’s Architeaser was a flower on the side of the KATV building. With yesterday being primary election day in Arkansas, that building had even more than its usual amount of activity as races were being covered.  The building was designed by George Mann and opened in 1929 as the Worthen Bank Building.  In 1970, KATV moved in after the bank had moved into its new Noland Blass-designed skyscraper.

Today’s Architeaser is a flower which sits atop a column.

Sculpture Sunday: Holidays – Bank of America Christmas Tree

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Since the Worthen Bank days in the 1970s, this building in downtown Little Rock designed by Noland Blass has been lit in December to resemble a Christmas tree on three sides. Though it has gone through two Worthen logos, Boatmen’s Bank, NationsBank and finally(?) Bank of America, this holiday lighting has remained. It is a beacon in downtown that is visible throughout the county at times.

In recent years the building has lit up for other things, most notably a pink ribbon in October for Race for the Cure.  But for 25+ years the only time it deviated from the usual white lighting was during the Christmas tree.  Because of its use of light and architecture it is a temporary public art installation of sorts.