Edward Durrell

Even without Tom Wolfe railing against the proletariat-loving purveyors of International Style, today’s event at the Center for Architecture presented an up close battle of ideas over what to do with Edward Durrell Stone’s iconic structure. Sign-waving, brown-bag protestors paced the sidewalk, while in a sleek, downstairs auditorium, architect Brad Cloepfil gave the first public presentation of the much-debated 2 Columbus Circle design. Rick Bell restated the position of the A.I.A., that the case should not be brought before the Landmarks Commission. And despite a recent appeal, time is running out for Landmarks West, as construction is slated to begin in the next few weeks. “We’re taking something that has been dead, and bringing it back to life,” said Mr. Cloephil who criticized Stone’s design as representing a “moment in style,” but not a pivotal work. Elsewhere inside the Center for Architecture, placards described the building in its current state as "a private, idiosyncratic folly." Outside, the point was raised to preserve the façade, while bringing in light from the back of the building. However, when The Real Estate raised this possibility, Mr. Cloepfil was nonplussed, stating that he could not think of anything that would “show less faith in contemporary architecture.” Of course, you've gotta have faith. -Matthew Grace and Michael Calderone  read more »

City Council member Bill Perkins has taken the 2 Columbus Circle fray to the legislative chamber by introducing a bill that would require the Landmarks Preservation Commission to hold public hearings on alterations to any building the City Council thinks it should hold hearings about. All the council needs to do is get a majority to vote for having the hearings.

Preservationists and activists have been trying to compel the L.P.C. to hold a hearing on the Edward Durrell Stone-designed building for years. To no avail, though; the L.P.C. is standing by its 1996 decision that the building doesn't have enough historical or architectural import for consideration.  read more »

Mr. Perkin's legislation also requires the L.P.C. to hold a hearing to determine whether any building under landmarks consideration should be listed on the state Register of Historic Places.

- Matthew Grace