The Top Buildings In The U.S.?

"A new poll of Americans' 150 favorite buildings is ridiculously superficial, riddled with questionable choices, but still worth a good hard look.

The poll, released Wednesday by the American Institute of Architects and Harris Interactive, is studded with surprises sure to make architects and architecture critics cringe. The Bellagio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas (No. 22) beats Frank Lloyd Wright's breathtaking Fallingwater house in southwestern Pennsylvania (No. 29). Ouch! The twin towers of the World Trade Center, gone for more than five years, are No. 19. Huh? I thought this was a survey of favorite existing buildings, not favorite destroyed buildings.

Looking over the top 10, which is led by the graceful but powerful Empire State Building and includes such revered national landmarks as the White House and the Golden Gate Bridge, it's hard not to conclude that this was the architectural equivalent of the political name-recognition game, not to mention a fabulous publicity stunt for the institute, a Washington-based trade group celebrating its 150th anniversary.

The survey respondents, who chose from 248 structures nominated by institute members and were shown only a photograph of each structure, had a clear preference for structures that are A) big; B) national symbols often displayed on postcards; C) open to the public and therefore able to build a constituency."