Selmer Alfred Solheim (1912-1979), Architect
Selmer Alfred Solheim was born April 12, 1912, in Fairfax, Minnesota to Emma G. and Oscar C. Solheim. He attended public schools in Watertown, South Dakota then went to the South Dakota School of Mines, which he left to join the Architecture department of the University of Nebraska. In 1938, three years after graduating from college, he married Ruth M. Bley, with whom he went on to have four children, John, Frederick, Cheryl, and Robert. During World War II, Solheim was an architect on war housing projects in Sidney, Grand Island, Bellevue, Lincoln, Fremont, and Kearney, Nebraska. He later expanded his scope to the point where he was licensed to practice architecture in 16 states, leading him to be involved in at least thirty-four projects spread across Nebraska, Iowa, Colorado, and Texas. He focused on residential single family and multiple family units, and was known for using the modern ranch style: single-story; part basements; lots of glass; sliding partitions; technology such as air condition, dishwasher disposals, intercommunication systems; and designing the layout to maximize sunlight.[2][4][5][6]
Solheim received four national recognitions for his work in architecture, including the National Building Honor for Neighborhood Building Design Development and the National Association of Home Builders Merit Award in 1948 for designing the Colonial Terrace apartments. In 1946, he won the award for Meritous Design in Home Building, given by the National Association of Home Builders at Chicago, then, in 1962, he won the Interiors Award for outstanding achievement in interior design. On a state level, Solheim won the Nebraska Architects Association Award for his design of the Nebraska Center. He and the Nebraska Center for Continuing Education jointly won an Institutions Magazine. Solheim also wrote ten articles that were published in building trade magazines such as the American Builder (in 1948, 1950-1951) and the National Real Estate Journal.[2][4][5]
Solheim continued his civic engagement into his leisure time, joining several organizations. He was on the Board of Directors for the Union Load an Savings Bank, and, for two years, he served as secretary of the Nebraska Architects Association. Solheim wanted tried to join the Lincoln Airport Authority, in 1967, and the Lincoln City Council, in 1969. He was unsuccessful on both counts. Nevertheless, Solheim had much community engagement: he was a member of the Lincoln Chamber of commerce, the Nebraska Art Association, the Triangle Engineer Fraternity, the Elks Club, the Norden Club the American Institute of Architects, the National Association of Home Builders, the Nebraska Club, the University of Nebraska Alumni Association, the Nebraska Architects Association, and the Christ Lutheran Church.[2][5][6]
Solheim died December 4, 1979.[1][5][6]
This page is a contribution to the publication, Place Makers of Nebraska: The Architects. See the format and contents page for more information on the compilation and page organization.
Contents
Compiled Nebraska Directory Listings
Lincoln, Nebraska, 1939-1976
Educational & Professional Associations
1918-1930: student, public schools, Watertown, South Dakota.[2]
1928-1930: served in National Guard.[2]
1930-1932: student, South Dakota School of Mines.[2]
ca. 1931-1933: attended School of Mines, Rapid City, South Dakota.[4]
1933-1935: Bachelor of Architecture, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska.[2][4][5]
1935-1938: architect, N. B. Hazen, Architect, Lincoln, Nebraska.[2]
1938-1939: architect, Meginnis & Schaumberg, Architects, Lincoln, Nebraska.[2]
1939-____: architect and owner, Selmer A. Solheim & Associates, Architects, Lincoln, Nebraska.[2]
1951: Solheim & Treadway, Architects, Lincoln, Nebraska.[2]
1953-1975: Selmer A. Solheim & Associates, Architects, Lincoln, Nebraska.
Other Associations
____: employed Glen Stippich, as chief draftsman.
1960s: employed J. C. Graver.
Buildings & Projects
Dated
Multi-family dwelling (1946), 2301 South St., Lincoln, Nebraska. (LC13:D05-050)
Italian Village Restaurant (1952), Lincoln, Nebraska.[2]
Wint & Base Headquarters Building (1953), Lincoln, Nebraska.[2]
Air Terminal Building for Commercial Airlines (1954), Lincoln, Nebraska.[2]
Military & Naval Science Building (1955), University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska.[2]
John J Pershing Elementary School (1955), Lincoln, Nebraska.[2]
Lincoln Elementary School, Lincoln proposal (1957), Lincoln, Nebraska.[3][a]
Undated
Governor’s Mansion (n.d.), Lincoln, Nebraska.[5]
Sky Park Manor apartments (n.d.), Lincoln, Nebraska.[5]
Union Loan and Savings Building (n.d.), Lincoln, Nebraska.[5]
Weaver Potato Chip Company Building (n.d.), Lincoln, Nebraska.[5]
Clare McPhee Elementary School (n.d.), Lincoln, Nebraska.[5]
Dawes Junior High School (n.d.), Lincoln, Nebraska.[5]
Pound Junior High School (n.d.), Lincoln, Nebraska.[5]
Colonial Terrace Apartments (n.d.), Lincoln, Nebraska.[5]
Nebraska Center for Continuing Education (n.d.), 33rd & Vine, Lincoln, Nebraska.[5]
Honors & Awards
1946: Meritorious Design in Home Building, National Association of Home Builders.[2]
1948: Merit (for design of Colonial Terrace Apartments), National Association of Home Builders.[2]
____: National Building Honor for Neighborhood Building Design Development.[4]
1962: Interiors Award (for outstanding achievement in interior design).[2]
____: won an Institutions Magazine.[5][b]
____: Nebraska Architects Association Award (for his work on the Nebraska Center).[5]
Notes
a. Introduced new concept in circular schools to the Nebraska State Department of Education.[3]
b. Solheim was co-winner with the Nebraska Center for Continuing Education.[5]
References
1. AIA Historical Directory of American Architects: A Resource Guide to Finding Information About Past Architects, accessed Junly 20, 2010, http://communities.aia.org/sites/hdoaa/wiki/Wiki%20Pages/ahd1042183.aspx
2. American Institute of Architects, comp., American Architects Directory First Ed. (New York: R. R. Bowker Co., 1956), 524, accessed March 3, 2010, http://communities.aia.org/sites/hdoaa/wiki/Wiki%20Pages/1956%20American%20Architects%20Directory.aspx
3. “New School Idea Proposed,” Lincoln Star (July 5, 1957), 18:3.
4. “National Recognition Not New For Young Lincoln Architect,” Lincoln Journal Star (February 26, 1950), 5:13.
5. “Award-winning architect, S. A. Solheim, dead at 67,” Lincoln Journal (December 5, 1979), 49:1.
6. “Solheim,” Lincoln Journal (December 5, 1979), 44:1.
Page Citation
D. Murphy, “Selmer Alfred Solheim (1912-1979), Architect,” in David Murphy, Edward F. Zimmer, and Lynn Meyer, comps. Place Makers of Nebraska: The Architects. Lincoln: Nebraska State Historical Society, March 11, 2015. http://www.e-nebraskahistory.org/index.php?title=Place_Makers_of_Nebraska:_The_Architects Accessed, November 22, 2024.
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