Roland Clinton Colliander

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.LifetimeCelebrationsByWashelli.com for the Colliander family.

In the early planning for Expo ’74, all the railroad structures, bridges and tracks were planned to be removed to open up the island and river to the city. This included the Great Northern Clocktower.

Architect Roland Colliander, who was part of the team preparing design and drawings for the fair, asked if we could save the clocktower. Maybe due to the difficulty required to restore it and the pressure to have the fair open on time, he didn’t have support from other members in our planning group. Roland persisted and drew a perspective of what the structure would look like restored. His drawing and his vision of how it could be saved drew everyone in to supporting him. Roland assumed responsibility for the design and working drawings required to adapt it to the honored place it now enjoys. He designed the clocktower entry on the North Side and created a new brick skin needed after the adjoining buildings were removed on the east and west sides. His work blended into the existing exposed tower so well it appears to have been built as a free-standing structure.

Roland was co-author of the “Spokane Sketchbook,” a book about Spokane’s architectural history, and he also worked to save Expo ’74 after the bond issue failed. Roland lives in the Seattle area, but due to medical issues will not be able to attend next year’s Expo ’74 50-year celebration. Thank you, Roland.