#RazeAndRebuild
LightNews LightNews
tedgrunewald.bsky.social
Trump made his intention to demolish and rebuild the Kennedy Center clear from the start.*

"I'll be using the steel. So we're using the structure. We're using some of the marble."

*Press conference of February 2, 2026
bsky.app/profile/atru...

#RazeAndRebuild
atrupar.com Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · Feb 2
Q: Do you plan on tearing the Kennedy Center down and how much will all of the renovations cost?

TRUMP: Probably around $200 million. I'm not ripping it down. I'll be using the steel. So we're using the structure. We're using some of the marble.
September 23, 2026 at 5:16 PM
tedgrunewald.bsky.social
"Lamster won the accolade for his ongoing series about saving Dallas City Hall by I. M. Pei."
www.archpaper.com/2026/05/mark...

#HistoricPreservation #preservation #DemolitionAlert #LateModern #Brutalism #RazeAndRebuild #UrgentDemolitionAlert #Modernism #ModernPreservation #Dallas #CulturalHeritage
www.archpaper.com
May 5, 2026 at 12:19 PM
tedgrunewald.bsky.social
And a couple of more recent examples of glass block: LACMA (1983-86), and Best Products Corporate Headquarters (1978-80)—both by the same architects: Hardy Holzman Pfeiffer Associates—and both victims of the now-antiquated, 20th c. notion of #RazeAndRebuild.

bsky.app/profile/tedg...

#RetroFirst
May 1, 2026 at 1:26 PM
tedgrunewald.bsky.social
Separate and apart from the ignominy of its architect, the #HistoricPreservation & #AdaptiveReuse of this market hall is a win for this local community—civically and ecologically—as it halts the #RazeAndRebuild cycle & saves #EmbodiedCarbon.

#RetroFirst #reuse #sustainability #DemolitionMoratorium
c20society.bsky.social C20 Society @c20society.bsky.social · May 15
Good News Friday: Wakefield’s modern Market Hall has been spared demolition and relaunched as Wakefield Exchange (WX) - a new venue for live music, comedy, food, art and events.
Completed in 2008, the 4,000-square-metre market was the first public building designed by architect David Adjaye.
May 15, 2026 at 3:00 PM
tedgrunewald.bsky.social
The loss of NYC's SROs to demolition & development #RazeAndRebuild —coupled with Reagan's draconian cuts to housing grants—led to mass #displacement with many left with no other option than to set up housekeeping in #GrandCentralTerminal's Waiting Room & adjacent bathrooms.
bsky.app/profile/tedg...
tedgrunewald.bsky.social Theodore Grunewald @tedgrunewald.bsky.social · Apr 3
Grand Central Terminal's Main Waiting Room—a.k.a. Vanderbilt Hall—degenerated into a de facto homeless shelter during the 1980s Reagan Administration (after they killed-off new public housing construction through cuts to HUD)—and the historic public benches were removed.
May 12, 2026 at 5:05 PM
tedgrunewald.bsky.social
Ironically, it's not an expansion—rather, a contraction.

This $724M #RazeAndRebuild (a.k.a. teardown)—in an existential climate crisis, natch —is 105,108 sq. feet smaller than the demolished #LACMA building complex, and yields 53,000 sq. feet less gallery space.

lareviewofbooks.org/article/lacm...
April 21, 2026 at 5:01 AM
tedgrunewald.bsky.social
Lamster won the accolade for his ongoing series about saving Dallas City Hall by I. M. Pei.

#HistoricPreservation #preservation #DemolitionAlert #LateModern #Brutalism #RazeAndRebuild #UrgentDemolitionAlert #Modernism #ModernPreservation #Dallas #CulturalHeritage

www.archpaper.com/2026/05/mark...
May 5, 2026 at 12:15 PM
tedgrunewald.bsky.social
More on #RazeAndRebuild:

www.archdaily.com/932528/a-new...
A New Idea in Architecture? No New Buildings
The energy already embodied in the built environment is a precious unnatural resource. It’s time to start treating it like one.
www.archdaily.com
May 1, 2026 at 3:34 PM
tedgrunewald.bsky.social
I can't really ever forgive Keaton for her truly uninformed celebrity endorsement of Govan's ruinous #RazeAndRebuild of LACMA for Zumthor's kunsthalle.

I expected better from her.
youtu.be/uuyAEmCA6Ho?...
Brad Pitt And Diane Keaton Implore Board To Fund LACMA Redesign | TIME
YouTube video by TIME
youtu.be
October 12, 2025 at 10:18 PM
tedgrunewald.bsky.social
It's a testament to the fence-sitting skills of the Chief Architecture Critic of the @NYTimes.com that an "important" piece about #HistoricPreservation can be written that does not even *once* whisper about the financialization of the real estate industry, or about #RazeAndRebuild.
.
December 4, 2024 at 6:39 PM
tedgrunewald.bsky.social
I'm certain that next year, Trump will claim he needs to #RazeAndRebuild the historic #WhiteHouse #WestWing and #WestColonnade —so that they will be symmetrical with his new, grotesquely-overscaled #EastWing Colonnade and ballroom.

I also feel certain he's soon replacing the #NorthPortico capitals.
Diagram of the south façade of the White House complex showing the asymmetrical mismatch between the historic one-story West Colonnade (at left, connecting the White House to the West Wing) and Trump's new two-story East Colonnade (at right) connecting his ballroom to the East Room of the White House at the second level. Notice the awkwardly ham-fisted addition of an exterior entry stair leading to the second level of the East Colonnade, and that Trump's ill-conceived new ballroom is nearly twice the size of the White House itself—dominating and overwhelming the central building. In contrast, the lower diagram shows the historic White House complex from the south before demolition—with its classically symmetrical West and East Colonnades connecting the main body of the White House to its two correctly-scaled, subsidiary West and East Wings. Diagram source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_House_State_Ballroom (Left) Elevation drawing of the White House's historic Ionic column capital used on the North Portico, the South Portico/Truman Balcony, and as pilasters on the east, west, and south façades. (Right) Elevation drawing of the new Corinthian capital Trump is using for the exterior columns of his ballroom. Trump TruthSocial posts 4 minutes apart on the North Portico (left), and on new Corinthian capitals of his ballroom (right), implying that the North Portico's Ionic order will be changed to match the Corinthian order of his ballroom. (Left) Elevation drawing of the White House's historic Ionic column capital used on the North Portico, the South Portico/Truman Balcony, and as pilasters on the east, west, and south façades. (Right) Elevation drawing of the new Corinthian capital Trump is using for the exterior columns of his ballroom.
August 1, 2026 at 7:04 PM
tedgrunewald.bsky.social
So goes the endlessly repeating cycle of taste...

Children will forever reject the tastes of their parents' generation—while revering their grandparents'!

#PoMoPreservation #preservation #HistoricPreservation #Postmodernism #PoMo #LateModernism #RazeAndRebuild

www.nytimes.com/2016/02/09/n...
Mr. Roche designed the restaurant in the ’70s and returned a decade later for the lobby, in which, Mr. Grunewald said, the columns were distinctly neo-Classical. “Postmodernism had a name by then,” he said. “They’re explicitly postmodern.” Source: https://archive.vn/bEsRv#selection-4755.0-4759.403 “We’re at a critical point in the cycle with postmodern interiors in New York,” Mr. Grunewald said. “When they’re new, people get excited about them. After a while, they disappear into the background of the city. People look at other new things. These buildings recede. Right before they’re rediscovered, people think they’re worthless. The same thing happened with Art Deco. That’s a dangerous moment.”
May 1, 2026 at 4:09 PM
tedgrunewald.bsky.social
And what a waste of #EmbodiedCarbon!

"What could matter more than the prevention of environmental and societal collapse?" asks
@rowanmoore.bsky.social "It makes squabbles about architectural style or form seem trivial by comparison."

#RetroFirst #RazeAndRebuild

theguardian.com/artanddesign...
Where are the architects who will put the environment first?
Architects need to see the climate crisis not just as a problem but as an opportunity for creative thinking
theguardian.com
May 1, 2026 at 1:56 PM
tedgrunewald.bsky.social
Perhaps the finest example of #PostModernism in the USA—together with Chicago's now-badly-mutilated Thompson Center—it was completed by #HHPA in 1980, and is being pointlessly destroyed for an arena (!) no one wants or needs.

#RazeAndRebuild
#EmbodiedCarbon
#PostModernPreservation
Hardy Holzman Pfeiffer Associates (HHPA) Hugh Hardy, Malcolm Holzman, Norman Pfeiffer Best Products Corporate Headquarters, Phase I (1978-80) Richmond, Virginia, USA Twilight view of translucent & mirrored glass block and turquoise-glazed terracotta exterior looking towards entrance bridge over moat flanked by a pair of colossal stone eagles by sculptor Rene Chambellan salvaged from the demolished 1939 Airlines Building on E. 42nd St.in New York City. Photo credit: Norman McGrath For more, see: Morton, David. "Best Bets," Progressive Architecture (February 1981): pp. 66-73. https://www.usmodernist.org/PA/PA-1981-02.PDF Hardy Holzman Pfeiffer Associates (HHPA) Hugh Hardy, Malcolm Holzman, Norman Pfeiffer Best Products Corporate Headquarters, Phase I (1978-80) Richmond, Virginia, USA Cover of the late critic and architect, Michael Sorkin's 1981 book on HHPA featuring on its cover a Norman McGrath photo of the curving mosaic tile circulation path—set parallel to the arc of the exterior glass block wall—that cuts through the orthogonal grid of the office areas. The bold, multi-directional water-lily pond carpet was adapted from a 1977 painted folding screen by artist Jack Beal. Small, linear "Colonial houses" fitted-out with desks & task lighting and featuring natural wood and Dutch blue cubicle enclosures with cornices punctuate the pathway, and humanize the scale. For more, see: Morton, David. "Best Bets," Progressive Architecture (February 1981): pp. 66-73. https://www.usmodernist.org/PA/PA-1981-02.PDF Hardy Holzman Pfeiffer Associates (HHPA) Hugh Hardy, Malcolm Holzman, Norman Pfeiffer Best Products Corporate Headquarters, Phase I (1978-80) Richmond, Virginia, USA Ground floor and second floor plans showing visitor and employee parking separated from curved glass block façade by a moat with water jets at the base. Inside, a curved, central circulation path runs parallel to the arc of the glass block entry façade, and collides with ranges of orthogonal, semi-enclosed work stations. The orthogonal saw-tooth of wings containing enclosed offices overlook narrow courts and rear garden areas. The second level floor plate zigzags against the interior of the great, two-story, curved, glass-block façade and generates a series of intriguing one- and two-story residual spaces. For more, see: Morton, David. "Best Bets," Progressive Architecture (February 1981): pp. 66-73. https://www.usmodernist.org/PA/PA-1981-02.PDF Hardy Holzman Pfeiffer Associates (HHPA) Hugh Hardy, Malcolm Holzman, Norman Pfeiffer Best Products Corporate Headquarters, Phase I (1978-80) Richmond, Virginia, USA View from second level showing exposed trusses behind glass block exterior wall supporting roof slab. The second floor zigzags against the interior of the great curved glass-block façade and generates a series of intriguing one- and two-story residual spaces. Photo credit: Norman McGrath For more, see: Morton, David. "Best Bets," Progressive Architecture (February 1981): pp. 66-73. https://www.usmodernist.org/PA/PA-1981-02.PDF
April 28, 2026 at 10:24 PM
tedgrunewald.bsky.social
Absent in virtually every discussions of Zumthor's LACMA are the ecological & ethical implications of destroying a large complex of legacy buildings that could have been #retrofitted.

Given the existential treat of impending #ClimateCollapse —the slash & burn model of #RazeAndRebuild is outdated.
Hardy Holzman Pfeiffer Associates Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) Robert O. Anderson Building a.k.a. Arts of the Americas Building Wilshire Boulevard façade Times-Mirror Central Court (1983-86) Destroyed (2020) William Pereira's LACMA complex of (1962-5) in background. Architectural Record, February 1987, cover and pp. 110-119 Source: http://www.usmodernist.org/AR/AR-1987-02.pdf Hardy Holzman Pfeiffer Associates Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) Robert O. Anderson Building a.k.a. Arts of the Americas Building Times-Mirror Central Court (1983-86) Destroyed (2020) William Pereira's LACMA complex of (1962-5) in background. Architectural Record, February 1987, cover and pp. 110-119 Source: http://www.usmodernist.org/AR/AR-1987-02.pdf Hardy Holzman Pfeiffer Associates Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) Robert O. Anderson Building a.k.a. Arts of the Americas Building Times-Mirror Central Court (1983-86) Interior views Destroyed (2020) William Pereira's LACMA complex of (1962-5) in background. Architectural Record, February 1987, cover and pp. 110-119 Source: http://www.usmodernist.org/AR/AR-1987-02.pdfyed (2020)
May 1, 2026 at 2:55 PM
tedgrunewald.bsky.social
Growth for growth's sake is an antiquated notion.
#RazeAndRebuild is so last century.

"The most sustainable building is the one you don’t build. The next most sustainable is the building you already have."
—Thomas de Monchaux

#DemolitionMoratorium #EmbodiedCarbon #RetroFirst #reuse #sustainability
"The conflation of demolition with progress is just one of the deeply ingrained anti-urban sentiments of contemporary American society. But when a building is demolished, it represents a systemic communal failure. It is a trashing of the hopes, dreams and capital that went into its initial creation and a repudiation of the efforts that went into its making and maintenance. Buildings aren’t eternal, but they certainly should have lifetimes that far exceed that of people. Centuries should be the minimum. Buildings can, and should be, extremely durable and capable of virtually endless modification and adaptation." —Edward Keegan (@edwardkeegan.bsky.social): From: "Our stewardship of historic buildings has been abysmal. Chicago must do better" Chicago Tribune, December 15, 2024 Source: https://www.chicagotribune.com/2024/12/15/column-chicago-historic-building-preservation-keegan/ Archived link: https://archive.ph/XKHXF
September 21, 2026 at 12:47 PM
tedgrunewald.bsky.social
This all sounds so familiar. (Especially the Boris Johnson part).

Raze. Rebuild. Repeat.

Architecture's #RazeAndRebuild model is *so* last century.
—Antiquated & irresponsible.

@edwardkeegan.bsky.social via Chicago Tribune

#DemolitionMoratorium #EmbodiedCarbon #RetroFirst #reuse #sustainability
Opposition to demolition The demolition of Earls Court was opposed by the 'Earl's Court Area Action Group', which began a 'Save Earl's Court' campaign.[36] The Group is composed of local residents and interested parties who would be affected by the exhibition centre's destruction and subsequent 20 years of proposed redevelopment. Darren Johnson, a Green Party member of the London Assembly, wrote to the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, and argued that "the Earl's Court demolition plans are a recipe for a disaster, with massive economic, social and environmental consequences. The winners will be the wealthy developers and overseas property speculators while the losers will be the community, local businesses and Londoners who will lose one of the capital's key exhibition centres."[37] The Guardian's London blogger Dave Hill cited concerns over the number and relative affordability of the housing units that will be constructed on the site after the proposed demolition of Earls Court, as well as concerns over the views of local residents.[38] Despite the opposition, Boris Johnson approved the redevelopment plans on 3 July 2013.[39] Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earls_Court_Exhibition_Centre#Opposition_to_demolition The conflation of demolition with progress is just one of the deeply ingrained anti-urban sentiments of contemporary American society. But when a building is demolished, it represents a systemic communal failure. It is a trashing of the hopes, dreams and capital that went into its initial creation and a repudiation of the efforts that went into its making and maintenance. Buildings aren’t eternal, but they certainly should have lifetimes that far exceed that of people. Centuries should be the minimum. Buildings can, and should be, extremely durable and capable of virtually endless modification and adaptation. Edward Keegan (@edwardkeegan.bsky.social): Our stewardship of historic buildings has been abysmal. Chicago must do better. Source: https://www.chicagotribune.com/2024/12/15/column-chicago-historic-building-preservation-keegan/
May 13, 2026 at 6:33 PM