tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2140721014134558960.post760271460963967383..comments2023-09-15T08:48:49.716-04:00Comments on Cleveland Area History: Saving the Breuer buildingChristopher Busta-Peckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15428701548572867797noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2140721014134558960.post-11369634098454198252011-02-09T16:59:07.053-05:002011-02-09T16:59:07.053-05:00You had Ms. Levine as a teacher too! She taught my...You had Ms. Levine as a teacher too! She taught my two introductory architecture classes at Case Western when I was a student there. It was a pleasure to have her as a teacher. She drew the class' attention to the Breuer Building and I recall several spirited arguments about the aesthetic qualities/importance of 'Brutalist' work in the advent of modern design and in the use of prefabrication in efficient (both in thermal and money terms) design.<br /><br />Destruction of existing buildings is an American past time. Why have one old one when you can have a new one for twice the price? I think improvements can be made, but a certain appreciation for great design belongs in a city like Cleveland where, although sometimes difficult to see through the grit of the place, there still exists a spirit unmarred by mass consumerism and the monoculture of new cities (like my hometown, Columbus).Geoff -RNhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06871576936703994251noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2140721014134558960.post-69677696309224486802010-07-08T18:38:51.967-04:002010-07-08T18:38:51.967-04:00We had something similar here in downtown Greensbo...We had something similar here in downtown Greensboro, NC. Wachovia Bank built a 17-story office building back in 1964. It didn't have a famous architect, however, and it certainly was a very undistinguished steel and glass box. It was abandoned in the early 1990's due to asbestos, just like the Ameritrust building.<br /><br />A local developer bought it five years ago, did the asbestos abatement and turned it into a luxury condo development:<br /><br />http://www.centerpointegreensboro.com/<br /><br />Not knowing the area that the Ameritrust building sits in and the fact that what works here in Greensboro doesn't necessarily work for Cleveland, I still think it would be a shame to tear down an architecturally significant building when there are ways to repurpose it.Karenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09268304194276808749noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2140721014134558960.post-10568146220599910142010-07-07T17:02:39.473-04:002010-07-07T17:02:39.473-04:00I opersonall think that one of the things that has...I opersonall think that one of the things that has alway hurt this building is the city grime that clings to it. It makes the windows seem hollow, lifeless.<br /><br />IOn the other hand, Cleveland has never embraced this structure. While Breuer is an important name, there is something dehumanizing about the structure at ground level. It does embrace you on the street level and invite you in. It always reminded me of a IBM punch card - it lacks humanity. But its still cool.The Cool Cookiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04162345087029159056noreply@blogger.com