University To Demolish Frank Gehry Building

"This decision has troubled some fans of Gehry, who is best known for designing the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles and the Guggenheim Museum in Spain. They say that since Gehry is such a notable architect, to destroy an early example of his work will hurt UCI’s reputation as an academic institution.

However, Richard Demerjian, UCI director of campus planning, said that the Gehry building is no longer suitable for use.

'The buildings were constructed of wood frame and stucco that are not considered a permanent building type in an institutional setting such as the UCI Academic Core,' Demerjian said.

The Gehry building suffers from problems including leaking roofs, failing ventilation and dry rot, according to Demerjian.

The buildings, constructed in 1986, were relatively inexpensive at just under $2 million. The cheapness of their construction is one of the factors that has led to the deterioration of the buildings."