If you could bring one building back from the wrecking balls of the past, what would it be?
Kevin D. Murphy, Carol Willis, Daniel Bluestone, Kerry Traynor, and Sally Levine—five architecture professors from around the country—share their feelings about the most regrettable losses of architectural history.
The introduction of the article explains the premise:
Unfortunately, all cannot be salvaged. Preservation efforts must be galvanized; they require mobilization, time and resources. We reached out to five architecture professors and posed the following question: What’s one American structure you wish had been saved?
Each professor provides more background on how their choice came to be destroyed, and what the loss means to architectural history. The choices are as follows:
- The Mecca Flats on the South Side of Chicago (Selected by Daniel Bluestone)
- The Original Waldorf Astoria, located on Fifth Avenue in New York City (Selected by Carol A. Willis)
- The Rachel Raymond House, located in the Boston suburb of Belmont (Selected by Kevin D. Murphy)
- The Humboldt Parkway, designed by Frederick Law Olmsted as part of the Park and Parkway System in Buffalo (Selected by Kerry Traynor)
- The Chicago Stock Exchange (Selected by Sally Levine)
FULL STORY: Remembering America’s lost buildings
The Mystique of the 13th Floor: Superstitions, Sustainability, and the Future of Electrical Building Design
How engineers adapt a common superstition to maximize the utility of a stigmatized space.
New Book Examines Public Housing as a Locus of Political Power
A new book, "Diverging Space for Deviants," connects public housing with political power.
Surprising New Research on Gentrification in Houston
Affluent areas face more demolitions than gentrifying areas in Houston and Harris County, according to the findings of a new report from the Kinder Institute of Urban research.
Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking
Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?
King County Supportive Housing Program Offers Hope for Unhoused Residents
The county is taking a ‘Housing First’ approach that prioritizes getting people into housing, then offering wraparound supportive services.
Researchers Use AI to Get Clearer Picture of US Housing
Analysts are using artificial intelligence to supercharge their research by allowing them to comb through data faster. Though these AI tools can be error prone, they save time and housing researchers are optimistic about the future.
Making Shared Micromobility More Inclusive
Cities and shared mobility system operators can do more to include people with disabilities in planning and operations, per a new report.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
planning NEXT
Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners
Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie