Kathryn Clarke Albright Architectural Papers

Access and use

Location of collection:
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Special Collections, University Libraries (0434)
Newman Library
Virginia Tech
P.O. Box 90001
560 Drillfield Drive
Blacksburg, VA 24062-9001
Contact for questions and access:
Phone: (540) 231-6308
Fax: (540) 231-3694
Restrictions:

The collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

Copyright restrictions may apply. Contact Special Collections and University Archives for assistance in determining the use of these materials.

Reproduction or digitization of materials for personal or research use can be requested using our reproduction/digitization form: http://bit.ly/scuareproduction.

Reproduction or digitization of materials for publication or exhibit use can be requested using our publication/exhibition form: http://bit.ly/scuapublication.

Please contact Special Collections and University Archives (specref@vt.edu or 540-231-6308) if you need assistance with forms or to submit a completed form.

Preferred citation:

Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: [Describe item], Kathryn Clarke Albright Architectural Papers, Ms2025-021, Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.

Summary

Extent:
0.84 Cubic Feet 1 document box and 1 oversized flat box
Abstract:
The Kathryn Clarke Albright (1960- ) Architectural Papers include design projects she developed while she was an undergraduate student at Virginia Polytechnic Insitute and State University (1978-1982), professional projects from her career at Daniel Solomon & Associates (1986-1993), including project descriptions, drawings, and progress photographs, professionial recognitions & awards. Papers also include travel sketches, and her personal statement and other application materials for Harvard's Graduate School of Design.
Language:
English .
Preferred citation:

Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: [Describe item], Kathryn Clarke Albright Architectural Papers, Ms2025-021, Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.

Background

Scope and content:

The Kathryn Clarke Albright Architectural Papers include design projects Albright developed during her years as an undergraduate student at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Additionally, the collection contains 67 pen-and-ink travel sketches drawn during her 1982 trip to Europe.

Albright's papers also include a mixture of professional work and project records spanning her years working at private firms, like Skidmore, Owings, & Merrill and Solomon, Inc., and in academia. Project records primarily consist of bound project notebooks that are either portfolios (built projects) or meant for the evaluation of urban planning bodies. These early projects are all located throughout California.

Albright's later academic work centers on community planning and urban design.

Photographs of undergraduate design work:

  • Brick competition, plaster cast into sand
  • Chess set, edge detail
  • Chess set
  • Sketches, Pembroked School
  • Bowls, slab-built clay
  • Staggered wall

Two folders containing 67 original pen-and-ink sketches, organized alphabetically by location:

  • A flower analysis
  • Amsterdam, Berlage, Stock Exchange
  • Amsterdam, DeKlerk, Eigen Haard housing
  • Amsterdam, railings
  • Andorra, Spain, Bofill, Sanctuary of Mexitell
  • Apeldoorn, Netherlands, Hertzberger, Centraal Beheer
  • Arc-et-Senans, France, Ledoux, salt works column
  • Arles, France, Arena, passages
  • Assisi, Italy, pathway with steps
  • Assisi, Italy, street
  • Barcelona, Bofill, Walden-7 housing, cement factory-RBTA office
  • Barcelona, Bofill, Walden-7 housing, cement factory
  • Barcelona, Bohigas & MacKay, Garbi school
  • Barcelona, Gaudi, Casa Mila, Casa Barilto
  • Barcelona, Gaudi, Casa Mila, rooftop stairs
  • Barcelona, Gaudi, chapel ceiling
  • Barcelona, Gaudi, Parc Guell, passage
  • Barcelona, Gaudi, Parc Guell, steeple
  • Barcelona, Gaudi, Sagrada Famalia, Parc Guell, Gothic cathedral
  • Barcelona, Sert, Foundacio Juan Miro
  • Bellinzona, Switzerland, Campi, Museo Civico nel Castello di Montebello
  • Bern, Switzerland, arcade
  • Bern, Switzerland, Rathasgrasse
  • Bern, Switzerland, Rathasgrasse
  • Boswill, Switzerland, stone steps
  • Bre, Switzerland, steps
  • Carcasonne, France, inside fort walls
  • Carcasonne, France, turrets
  • Carona, Switzerland, passages
  • Carona, Switzerland, portals, passages
  • Corippo, Switzerland, streets
  • Dole, France, Commune turret
  • Eveux, France, Corbusier, La Tourette Convent, chapel
  • Eveux, France, Corbusier, La Tourette, entrance view of courtyard
  • Eveux, France, Corbusier, La Tourette, exterior
  • Florence, Italy, passages
  • Florence, Italy, street
  • Le Thoronet, France, Cistercian Abbey
  • Les Baux, France, ruins
  • Les Baux, France, stairs
  • Lucciagnano, Italy, church
  • Lugano, Switzerland, Mont Bre
  • Lugano, Switzerland, street with steps
  • Luzern, Switzerland, Jesuit church
  • Milano, Italy, Santa Maria Della Gracie
  • Montebello
  • Morbio Inferiore, Switzerland, Secondary School
  • Narbonne, France, cathedral nave
  • Nimes, France, Arena, portals
  • Nimes, France, paving, railing
  • Nimes. France, Aux Heroes Et Matyrs
  • Orvieto & Assisi, Italy, portals
  • Paul Klee, painting analysis
  • Rome, Italy, Bernini, colonnade
  • Rome, Italy, Bernini, Piazza Narvonna
  • Ronchamp, France, Corbusier, Chapelle Notre Dame du Haut
  • Sarnen, Switzerland, windows
  • Schaffhausen, Germany, arches
  • Schaffhausen, Germany, rooftops
  • Siena, Italy, Piazza Della Campo
  • Siena, Italy, Via Della Galluza
  • St Martin's Kirsche
  • Stein AmRhein, Germany, street
  • Stein AmRhein, Germany, windows
  • Tivoli, Italy, Hadrian's Villa, portals
  • Turin, Italy, arcade
  • Turin, Italy, shopping arcade
  • unknown location
  • Zurich, Switzerland, arcade

  • Dunay + Albright Architects
    • Building & Learning, pamphlet.pdf
    • Community & Learning, pamphlet.pdf
    • Sixteen Squares, aerial illustrative.pdf
  • Consultant Work
    • New Schools for Chicago, booklet.pdf
  • Undergraduate Studies, Virginia Tech
    • 2nd year competition, plaster cast into sand.pdf
    • 5th year thesis, elevation.pdf
    • Bowls, slab-built clay, 4th year.pdf
    • Chess set, 3rd year.pdf
    • Chess set, edge detail, 3rd year.pdf
    • Drawing, staggered wall, 2nd year.pdf
    • Sketches, Pembroke school, 5th year.pdf
    • Tea Pot, porcelain slip cast, 5th year.pdf
    • Travel Sketch, Bernini and Doge's Palace.pdf
  • Professional Work, Solomon Inc, San Francisco
    • Solomon, Inc. portfolio.pdf
    • Milpitas, California, Lee's Orchard
      • Lee's Orchard, aerial illustrative drawing.pdf
      • Lee's Orchard, portfolio pages.pdf
    • Montecito, California
      • Hoyne Residence, Rendered Elevation, Floor Plan.pdf
    • Pasadena, California
      • A City of Gardens by Phoebe Wall, illustrations by Kathryn Clarke (Albright).pdf
      • A City of Gardens, Alternative Courtyard configurations illustrative.pdf
      • A City of Gardens, Citation Award, Progressive Architecture magazine.pdf
      • A City of Gardens, Pasadena Design Ordinance for Multi-Family Housing, 8.5x11 booklet.pdf
    • San Francisco, California
      • Mission Bay Housing Types & Illustrative Blocks, 8.5x11 booklet.pdf
      • Mission Bay, Alternative Multi-family Housing Block Configurations, axonometric drawings.pdf
      • Mission Bay, Citation Award, Progressive Architecture magazine.pdf
    • San Jose, California, Communications Hill
      • Communicastions Hill, Specific Plan, 8.5x11 booklet.pdf
      • Communication Hill, Citation Award, Progressive Architecture magazine.pdf
      • Communications Hill, aerial illustrative drawing.pdf
      • Communications Hill, Kathryn Albright Design, portfolio pages, v1.pdf
      • Communications Hill, Kathryn Albright Design, portfolio pages, v2.pdf
      • Communications Hill, mid-block stair, illustrative drawings.pdf
      • Curtner Neighborhood, illustrative drawing.pdf
    • Vallejo, California
      • Glen Cove, 8.5 x 11 booklet.pdf
    • Yountville, California
      • Yountville Design Document, 8.5x11 booklet.pdf
      • Yountville Design Document, View Corridor illustrative drawings.pdf
      • Yountville Design Guidelines, Building Envelope versus FAR, diagrams.pdf
      • Yountville General Plan, 8.5x11 booklet.pdf
      • Yountville General Plan, Town Map, illustrative drawing.pdf
      • Yountville Zoning Ordinance, 8.5x11 booklet.pdf
  • 1981 Europe travel sketches - 67 total
    • 00 Albright archive Europe Travel Sketches.png
    • a flower analysis.pdf
    • Amsterdam, Berlage, Stock Exchange.pdf
    • Amsterdam, DeKlerk, Eigen Haard housing.pdf
    • Amsterdam, railings.pdf
    • Andorra, Spain, Bofill, Sanctuary of Mexitell.pdf
    • Apeldoorn, Netherlands, Hertzberger, Centraal Beheer.pdf
    • Arc-et-Senans, France, Ledoux, salt works column.pdf
    • Arles, France, Arena, passages.pdf
    • Assisi, Italy, pathway with steps.pdf
    • Assisi, Italy, street.pdf
    • Barcelona, Bofill, Walden-7 housing, cement factory-RBTA office.pdf
    • Barcelona, Bofill, Walden-7 housing, cement factory.pdf
    • Barcelona, Bohigas & MacKay, Garbi school.pdf
    • Barcelona, Gaudi, Casa Mila, Casa Barilto.pdf
    • Barcelona, Gaudi, Casa Mila, rooftop stairs.pdf
    • Barcelona, Gaudi, chapel ceiling.pdf
    • Barcelona, Gaudi, Parc Guell, passage.pdf
    • Barcelona, Gaudi, Parc Guell, steeple.pdf
    • Barcelona, Gaudi, Sagrada Famalia, Parc Guell, Gothic cathedral.pdf
    • Barcelona, Sert, Foundatcio Juan Miro.pdf
    • Bellinzona, Switzerland, Campi, Museo Civico nel Castello di Montebello.pdf
    • Bern, Switzerland, arcade.pdf
    • Bern, Switzerland, Rathasgrasse.pdf
    • Boswill, Switzerland, stone steps.pdf
    • Bre, Switzerland, steps.pdf
    • Carcasonne, France, inside fort walls.pdf
    • Carcasonne, France, turrets.pdf
    • Carona, Switzerland, passages.pdf
    • Carona, Switzerland, portals, passages.pdf
    • Corippo, Switzerland, streets.pdf
    • Dole, France, Commune turret.pdf
    • Eveux, France, Corbusier, La Tourette Convent, chapel.pdf
    • Eveux, France, Corbusier, La Tourette, entrance view of courtyard.pdf
    • Eveux, France, Corbusier, La Tourette, exterior.pdf
    • Florence, Italy, passages.pdf
    • Florence, Italy, street.pdf
    • Le Thoronet, France, Cistercian Abbey.pdf
    • Les Baux, France, ruins.pdf
    • Les Baux, France, stairs.pdf
    • Lucciagnano, Italy, church.pdf
    • Lugano, Switzerland, Mont Bre.pdf
    • Lugano, Switzerland, street with steps.pdf
    • Luzern, Switzerland, Jesuit church.pdf
    • Milano, Italy, Santa Maria Della Gracie.pdf
    • Morbio Inferiore, Switzerland, Secondary School.pdf
    • Narbonne, France, cathedral nave.pdf
    • Nimes, France, Arena, portals.pdf
    • Nimes, France, paving, railing.pdf
    • Nimes. France, Aux Heroes Et Matyrs.pdf
    • Orvieto & Assisi, Italy, portals.pdf
    • Paul Klee, painting analysis.pdf
    • Rome, Italy, Bernini, colonnade.pdf
    • Rome, Italy, Bernini, Piazza Narvonna.pdf
    • Ronchamp, France, Corbusier, Chapelle Notre Dame du Haut.pdf
    • Sarnen, Switzerland, windows.pdf
    • Schaffhausen, Germany, arches.pdf
    • Schaffhausen, Germany, rooftops.pdf
    • Siena, Italy, Piazza Della Campo.pdf
    • Siena, Italy, Via Della Galluza.pdf
    • St Martin's Kirsche.pdf
    • Stein AmRhein, Germany, street.pdf
    • Stein AmRhein, Germany, windows.pdf
    • Tivoli, Italy, Hadrian's Villa, portals.pdf
    • Turin, Italy, arcade.pdf
    • Turin, Italy, shopping arcade.pdf
    • unknown location.pdf
    • Zurich, Switzerland, arcade.pdf
Biographical / historical:

Born in 1960, Kathryn Clarke Albright was educated in Virginia. Albright began studying architecture at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in 1978, and graduated with her Bachelor of Architecture in 1982. Shortly after her graduation in 1982, Albright joined San Francisco-based architecture firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM). During the time she spent at the firm she worked on a number of commercial and urban planning projects until 1986, when she was hired as a Senior Designer at another San Francisco firm, Daniel Solomon & Associates (later Solomon, In.c). After three years of working at the firm she rose to the level of principal in 1989, and she would remain at the firm as a Principal Architect until 1993. In early 1993, she applied and was accepted at Harvard Unniversity's Graduate School of Design. Following her M. Arch., she returned to Virginia to work at Virginia Tech.

In 1995, Albright became licensed in the State of Virginia and started working as a Principal Architect alongside her academic and architecture colleague Donna Dunay at Dunay + Albright Architects. The firm focused on commercial, retail, planning, education, and single-family residential projects in southern Virginia. Albright would work with Dunay until 2001 when she started her own practice, Kathryn Albright Design.

Over the past 20 years, Kathryn Clarke Albright has continued to teach at the Virginia Tech School of Architecture, and still serves as a consultant for several Chicago-based firms, including DeStefano + Partners and Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. Her research interests include urban design and community planning, communal gathering places, and locally-grown food.

Throughout her career Albright has been a member of the national professional organization American Institute of Architects (AIA) and she is a current member of the Blue Ridge Chapter of the Virginia Society. She has also served as a chair for many professional and public committees including for the Town of Blacksburg, the AIA, Harvard Alumni Council, Norwich University Steering Committee, and many Virginia Tech committees.

She has written two books on farmers markets, including Blacksburg Farmers Market: An Archive (2010), and Exploring the Architecture of Place in America's Farmers Markets (2020).

Acquisition information:
The Kathryn Clarke-Albright Architectural Papers were donated to the International Archive of Women in Architecture by the creator in July 2024.
Processing information:

The processing, arrangement, and description of the Kathryn Clarke Albright Papers was completed in July 2025.

Arrangement:

The collection is divided into four series:

Series I: Student Work

Series II: Professional Papers

Series III: Project and Office Records

Series IV: Digital Files

Accruals:

Additional material is expected.