Design Profession: Architect
Building Types: Commercial, Religious, Residential
Born in Big Run, Pennsylvania, Red Warner worked as a field engineer in the construction of power houses and naval shipyards before receiving his architecture degree from Pennsylvania State University in 1951. At the suggestion of his father-in-law, a mechanical contractor in Bay City, Michigan, Warner applied to work with the Alden B. Dow architectural firm in Midland. He worked with Dow until 1957 when he started his own practice. His work continued the organic tradition of Frank Lloyd Wright and Alden Dow. Warner designed over fifty residences in Midland. He also designed the former Holiday Inn building, now the Midland Resort and Convention Center, and county and commercial buildings around this state. His favorite work was designing churches; the Poseyville United Methodist Church in Midland is an outstanding example.
During his career, Warner served as director of the Michigan Society of Architects and president of the American Institute of Architects-Saginaw Valley Chapter.