Al Beadle

Alfred N. Beadle V (1927–1998) was an American modernist architect active in Phoenix, Arizona.

During his lifetime Beadle was best known for designing Case Study Apartment #1, a three-unit apartment development known as the Triad in Phoenix, AZ, which was part of the Case Study House program of Arts & Architecture magazine. More recently Beadle has been rediscovered for his stylish mid-century residential housing stock and for his influence on desert modernism. All of Beadle's output reflects a rigorous, rectilinear modernist idiom consistent with the work of Mies van der Rohe, Richard Neutra and the postwar steel-frame houses typified by the Case Study experiments.

Trained in construction during World War II as a Seabee, Beadle moved to Phoenix in the early 1950s and built a variety of commercial and residential projects, including an entire housing development called Paradise Gardens (though he disassociated himself from the project before it was completed), and the local landmark of the Safari Resort in Scottsdale (demolished).

His lack of an architectural license led to professional difficulties and, at one point, he was charged with practicing without a license. The state of Arizona wanted to "grandfather" him in by giving him a license, but he refused to accept it and went on to take the state's test and passed. As part of his defense, Beadle's lawyer pointed out that another local architect, one Frank Lloyd Wright, was also practicing without the proper credentials.

Al Beadle won numerous awards from the A.I.A., American Steel Institute - three awards, Valley Beautiful Award, AZ Aggregate Association, Architectural Record Magazine, Institutions Magazine. His work has been featured in many National and International(Italy, Germany and UK) Architectural Publications of note. Architectural Record House Award, selected one of the best 50 houses in the last 25 years. Featured in hard cover book entitled "The Best Record Houses of the Last 25 Years". Major works in Phoenix, Chicago, Salt Lake City, Los Angeles, San Diego and Albuquerque. Bio-Sketch included in "Who's Who in America, 1978" and in "Who's Who in the World, 1982".

He designed and supervised the construction of the 21-story Executive Towers in 1964, then the tallest high rise in Phoenix, when he was only 37.

In 1993, A.S.U. College of Architecture and Environmental Design had a month-long exhibit on "Constructions: Buildings in Arizona by Alfred Newman Beadle". The Architecture College presented a distinguished service award to Beadle.

Selected Projects