Last night's (5/29) MNA meeting went very well! The board voted unanimously to oppose the Georgia Tech Foundation's application to demolish the Crum & Forster building.
It's not over yet, however. The GTF will next present its case at the Neighborhood Planning Unit meeting on Tuesday June 3 at Peachtree Christian Church. The meeting starts at 6:30pm.
We need everyone to come out and show your support for saving this architecturally and historically significant building - especially Tech students and alumni wearing their Tech gear!
Friday, May 30, 2008
Monday, May 26, 2008
MNA board meeting
The next group to hear the Georgia Tech Foundation's proposal to demolish the Crum & Forster building will be the monthly board meeting of the Midtown Neighborhood Association on Thursday, May 29th.
Please come and lend your support.
Please come and lend your support.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Submitted Sketches of 771 Spring
As previously mentioned in the post entitled "The Importance of Saving the Crum & Forster", on "May 17th Georgia Tech students, aspiring young architects, and Georgia Tech Alums conducted a sketching tour of the building". Below are the sketches I received from the attendees of the sketching day.
Drawn by Paul Knight
Drawn by Clay Rokicki
Drawn by Clay Rokicki
Drawn by Paul Knight___________________________________________________
Drawn by Clay Rokicki_______________________________________________
Drawn by Clay RokickiCommittee Votes Resoundingly to Oppose Demolition
Last night, the Midtown Land Use Committee voted to oppose Georgia Tech's application to demolish the Crum & Forster building. From Maria Saporta's article:
Tech will present its case before the Midtown Neighbors Association board next week and the Neighborhood Planning Unit next month. Please continue to show your support at these hearings.
Neighbors, Georgia Tech students, architects, local businessmen and historic preservationists described the foundation’s plan as “unfathomable,” “astonishing,” “arrogant” and “insensitive.”
One community activist even yelled out that the demolition would only go forward “over my dead body.” Someone else in the audience chimed in: “Mine too.”
Tech will present its case before the Midtown Neighbors Association board next week and the Neighborhood Planning Unit next month. Please continue to show your support at these hearings.
Monday, May 19, 2008
The Importance of Saving the Crum & Forster
Contributed by Jonathan LaCrosse
The building was designed by Helme, Corbett, and Harrison Architects from New York, associated with Ivey and Crook Architects from Atlanta. It is an excellent example of a renowned world-class Architectural firm partnering with an Atlanta Architectural firm.
Ivey and Crook Architects of Atlanta:
Both Ivey and Crook were educated at Georgia Tech, and studied under the tutelage of premier architect and academic Francis Palmer Smith. This building is considered to be representative of the type of Beaux-Arts projects and student exercises of Francis Smith's architecture program. Ivey was instrumental in establishing Georgia Tech's College of Architecture and is credited as a "student founder" of the program. A program which celebrates its 100 year anniversary this year. Crook was equally renowned. The firm did such notable work as the Emory President's House, The Candler Library at Emory, the Olympia Building, the Andrews-Dunn House, as well as many
notable buildings across Atlanta and the Southeast.
Helme, Corbett, and Harrison Architects from New York
The firm is highly regarded and renowned, having produced many signature buildings in New York City. They were responsible for the Design of Rockefeller Center, one of the first urban mixed use projects in the country. Wallace Harrison is considered one the great American architects of the twentieth century. He would later go on to design such infamous buildings as the Trylon and Perisphere at the 1939 World's fair, LaGuardia Airport, the United Nations Headquarters, Lincoln Center, and the Nelson Rockefeller Empire State Plaza.
The Crum and Forster Building may be the only building in the South remaining from this firm.
It was constructed by Carr Construction Company. The formwork used for the concrete frame was well advanced and way before its time.
The Original Blueprint Midtown/Midtown Alliance survey teams in partnership with the Georgia Tech College of Architecture, the Atlanta Preservation Center, the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation and the City Atlanta Urban Design Commission surveyed the buildings in Midtown. The net results of that survey identified the Crum & Forster Building as one of 15 buildings recommended for local designation as a Landmark Building.
The Blueprint Midtown survey stated that retaining Midtown's unique "sense of place" was among their highest priorities, of which this building contributes to heavily. Demolition of existing resources for development of surface parking and/or land banking was a strategy that new Midtown zoning strongly aspired to avoid.
It is a win, win situation for all.
Educational values
Routinely Georgia Tech Professors from the College of Architecture and members of the Institute of Classical Architecture and Classical America ask their students to study the building. As recently as May 17th Georgia Tech students, aspiring young architects, and Georgia Tech Alums conducted a sketching tour of the building. Conversely SCAD, which has a competing Architecture Program, has made great strides in the City of Atlanta, especially with their renovation of the Peters Mansion. As a GA Tech alum I find it hard to accept that a competing Architecture program was given the opportunity to renovate and restore the house of the very man who donated the land to create Georgia Tech. In other words, Georgia Tech should have been given the opportunity. If the Crum & Forster building were given over to the College of Architecture, it could then develop a viable alternative for the site, the College would thus gain some ground with its competition. Competition I might add, that is now in our very backyard.Architectural and Historical Value
Inspired by Italian Renaissance details, the building combines such rare elements as a pulvinated brick frieze, monolithic limestone columns, and wrought iron grillage. The building is unique, eccentric and one of a kind. Architects, TVS & Associates incorporated references to this building when making material choices and height/scale decisions. While not protected it has for years been considered a contributing landmark by the City of Atlanta, the AIA, the Midtown Alliance, and the Atlanta Preservation Center, just to name a few. The Crum & Forster Building's architectural significance have been documented in significant publications: Atlanta Urban Design Commission's Atlanta Historic Resources Workbook (1981), Atlanta's Lasting Landmarks (1987), Lewis Edmund Crook, Jr. "A Twentieth-Century Traditionalist In The Deep South" (1984) and The American Institute of Architects Guide to Atlanta (1992).The building was designed by Helme, Corbett, and Harrison Architects from New York, associated with Ivey and Crook Architects from Atlanta. It is an excellent example of a renowned world-class Architectural firm partnering with an Atlanta Architectural firm.
Ivey and Crook Architects of Atlanta:
Both Ivey and Crook were educated at Georgia Tech, and studied under the tutelage of premier architect and academic Francis Palmer Smith. This building is considered to be representative of the type of Beaux-Arts projects and student exercises of Francis Smith's architecture program. Ivey was instrumental in establishing Georgia Tech's College of Architecture and is credited as a "student founder" of the program. A program which celebrates its 100 year anniversary this year. Crook was equally renowned. The firm did such notable work as the Emory President's House, The Candler Library at Emory, the Olympia Building, the Andrews-Dunn House, as well as many
notable buildings across Atlanta and the Southeast.
Helme, Corbett, and Harrison Architects from New York
The firm is highly regarded and renowned, having produced many signature buildings in New York City. They were responsible for the Design of Rockefeller Center, one of the first urban mixed use projects in the country. Wallace Harrison is considered one the great American architects of the twentieth century. He would later go on to design such infamous buildings as the Trylon and Perisphere at the 1939 World's fair, LaGuardia Airport, the United Nations Headquarters, Lincoln Center, and the Nelson Rockefeller Empire State Plaza.
The Crum and Forster Building may be the only building in the South remaining from this firm.
It was constructed by Carr Construction Company. The formwork used for the concrete frame was well advanced and way before its time.
Urbanistic and Neighborhood value
To demolish the building would not be in keeping with the urbanistic values that have made Technology Square such a success. Doing so would also be a huge step backwards from all the progress that has been made on the 5th street improvements, and would be an embarrassment to the Institute and the College of Architecture.The Original Blueprint Midtown/Midtown Alliance survey teams in partnership with the Georgia Tech College of Architecture, the Atlanta Preservation Center, the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation and the City Atlanta Urban Design Commission surveyed the buildings in Midtown. The net results of that survey identified the Crum & Forster Building as one of 15 buildings recommended for local designation as a Landmark Building.
The Blueprint Midtown survey stated that retaining Midtown's unique "sense of place" was among their highest priorities, of which this building contributes to heavily. Demolition of existing resources for development of surface parking and/or land banking was a strategy that new Midtown zoning strongly aspired to avoid.
Sustainable and Environmental Value
To tear down a building of this quality and soundness subverts its potential for reuse or redevelopment at a time when heightened environmental consciousness and sustainability issues point to reuse not demolition. The implications of destroying and disposing of usable materials into a landfill is at complete odds with the sustainable movement. Furthermore, considering that Georgia Tech, through its programs and Colleges espouses and fosters concepts of sustainability, urbanism, and architecture it would be hypocritical for the Institute to warrant demolition over re-use.Economic Value
Considering the level of refined details, quality of construction, hand-carved limestone trim, finely executed brick-work, custom-made bricks, custom wrought copper fascia and cornice, monolithic limestone columns, overscaled wrought iron grillage entryway and lantern, overscaled double hung sash windows, concrete frame, exterior load bearing masonry walls, clay tiled roof, etc. etc. One could easily attach a price of between 300 to 400 dollars a square foot. With reportedly 35,000 square feet of space the building would thus cost around $10,500,000 to $14,000,000 to completely rebuild from scratch. Aside from the stolen copper flashing (which could be claimed on an insurance policy and replaced).the building is in sound shape. Anyone who remembers the Biltmore or Georgian Terrace before they were renovated would consider this a dream building to renovate. Incidentally the time, energy, and money devoted to demolition costs could easily be diverted to upgrade the building, if even required (if kept as its original use, little upgrades per code would be necessary.) Numerous examples of appropriate adaptive re-use could be considered. In Washington D.C., for example, historic street facades are required to remain. Developers preserve the existing street presence while building completely new structures behind.It is a win, win situation for all.
AJC Article
An article from Maria Saporta, of the Atlanta Journal Constitution: No need to sacrifice 4 historic buildings.
Friday, May 16, 2008
Facts
Crum and Foster Building 771 Spring Street
1. The 1926 Crum and Foster Building is significant both for its Italian renaissance-inspired architecture and for its contribution to Atlanta’s stature as a regional headquarters town and corporate address of choice.
2. Development of the Crum and foster Building marks an excellent example of an Atlanta design firm partnered with a noted world-class firm. The unique partnership of Helme, Corbett & Harrison, Architects, NYC and Ivey and Crook, Architects, Atlanta. This is also part of an on-going legacy of architectural partnership between local and world-class out-of-town firms that continues today.
3. Original Blueprint midtown/Midtown Alliance survey teams in partnership with Georgia Tech College of Architecture, the Atlanta Preservation Center, the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation and the City of Atlanta Urban Design Commission surveyed the Buildings in Midtown. The net results of that survey in 1999 identified the Crum and Foster Building as one of 15 buildings recommended for local designation as a Landmark building.
4. Blueprint midtown survey respondents stated that retaining Midtown’s unique ‘sense of place” was among their highest priorities. Whether experienced form its Spring Street streetscape or on the entrance steps leading to the buildings monumental round arches and colonnade, the Crum and Foster Building gives on a sense of being in a particular place and time.
5. Demolition of existing resources for development of surface parking and/or banking land was a strategy that new Midtown zoning strongly aspired to avoid.
6. Not only were the architects of the Crum and Foster Building, architects Ivey and Crook, graduates of Georgia Tech’s College of Architecture, but Ivey actually helped to establish the school as a student by writing a petition to the university president to start the architecture program 100 years ago this year.
7. The Crum and Foster Building’s history and architectural significance have been documented in significant publications: Atlanta Urban Design Commission’s Atlanta Historic Resources Workbook (1981), Atlanta’s Lasting Landmarks, (1987), Lewis Edmond Crook, Jr. “A Twentieth-century Traditionalist in the Deep South” (1984) and The American Institute of Architects Guide to Atlanta (1992).
8. The Georgia Tech Master Plan indicates the site as only an area of strategic importance to the institute, but no specific development or planning guidelines are set in the plan for replacing the existing structure.
9. The Crum and Foster Building was integrated into the early strategic planning of Georgia Tech’s award winning Technology Square development. Architects, TVS & Associates incorporated references to this building and the adjacent Biltmore when making material choices and height/scale decisions.
10. Georgia Tech has outstanding urban planning and architectural programs, and its reputation suffers when the very principles those programs stand upon are set aside by expedient institutional policies.
11. To demolish a significant, structurally – sound 1926 historic building subverts its potential for reuse or redevelopment at a time when heightened environmental consciousness and sustainability issues point to reuse not demolition as the new ethos.
12. By its very presence, the Crum and Foster Building reminds us of a time in our city’s history when architectural design, human scale, and relationship to the street were important to promoting institutional excellence.
1. The 1926 Crum and Foster Building is significant both for its Italian renaissance-inspired architecture and for its contribution to Atlanta’s stature as a regional headquarters town and corporate address of choice.
2. Development of the Crum and foster Building marks an excellent example of an Atlanta design firm partnered with a noted world-class firm. The unique partnership of Helme, Corbett & Harrison, Architects, NYC and Ivey and Crook, Architects, Atlanta. This is also part of an on-going legacy of architectural partnership between local and world-class out-of-town firms that continues today.
3. Original Blueprint midtown/Midtown Alliance survey teams in partnership with Georgia Tech College of Architecture, the Atlanta Preservation Center, the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation and the City of Atlanta Urban Design Commission surveyed the Buildings in Midtown. The net results of that survey in 1999 identified the Crum and Foster Building as one of 15 buildings recommended for local designation as a Landmark building.
4. Blueprint midtown survey respondents stated that retaining Midtown’s unique ‘sense of place” was among their highest priorities. Whether experienced form its Spring Street streetscape or on the entrance steps leading to the buildings monumental round arches and colonnade, the Crum and Foster Building gives on a sense of being in a particular place and time.
5. Demolition of existing resources for development of surface parking and/or banking land was a strategy that new Midtown zoning strongly aspired to avoid.
6. Not only were the architects of the Crum and Foster Building, architects Ivey and Crook, graduates of Georgia Tech’s College of Architecture, but Ivey actually helped to establish the school as a student by writing a petition to the university president to start the architecture program 100 years ago this year.
7. The Crum and Foster Building’s history and architectural significance have been documented in significant publications: Atlanta Urban Design Commission’s Atlanta Historic Resources Workbook (1981), Atlanta’s Lasting Landmarks, (1987), Lewis Edmond Crook, Jr. “A Twentieth-century Traditionalist in the Deep South” (1984) and The American Institute of Architects Guide to Atlanta (1992).
8. The Georgia Tech Master Plan indicates the site as only an area of strategic importance to the institute, but no specific development or planning guidelines are set in the plan for replacing the existing structure.
9. The Crum and Foster Building was integrated into the early strategic planning of Georgia Tech’s award winning Technology Square development. Architects, TVS & Associates incorporated references to this building and the adjacent Biltmore when making material choices and height/scale decisions.
10. Georgia Tech has outstanding urban planning and architectural programs, and its reputation suffers when the very principles those programs stand upon are set aside by expedient institutional policies.
11. To demolish a significant, structurally – sound 1926 historic building subverts its potential for reuse or redevelopment at a time when heightened environmental consciousness and sustainability issues point to reuse not demolition as the new ethos.
12. By its very presence, the Crum and Foster Building reminds us of a time in our city’s history when architectural design, human scale, and relationship to the street were important to promoting institutional excellence.
Where to Begin....
With the intent of expanding Technology Square, the Georgia Tech Foundation of the Georgia Institute of Technology, recently purchased the widely admired Crum & Foster Building located at 771 Spring Street. The Foundation proposes demolition of this architecturally historic gem; which based on their description, will be replaced by nothing but an empty lot fluffed by generic streetscape modifications. Constructed in 1926 and designed by Helme, Corbett, and Harrison in association with Ivey and Crook, the Crum and Foster Building not only greatly contributes to the aesthetics of Spring Street’s Eastern elevation, but is also among the few remaining classically designed historic buildings in Midtown. In this age of urban renewal, we, as a society, look towards those cities layered with history as exemplary models for our own development. The demolition of such a structure as the Crum & Foster Building would therefore be historically, architecturally, and environmentally irresponsible.
Please see our link at the side for the petition to save this remarkable structure.
Important Dates:
May 20th - 7PM - Midtown Land Use committee:
-Lutheran Church of the Redeemer - Corner of 4th and Peachtree
-If unable to attend, please voice concerns to the director of the committee, Tony Rizzuto at tony7957@bellsouth.net
June 3, 2008 - 6PM - NPU E meeting
-Peachtree Christian Church
-If unable to attend, voice concerns to the director of NPU E,
Penelope Cheroff at pcheroff@cheroffgroup.com , 404-892-0229
June 5, 2008 - D.R.C. final hearing
Please see our link at the side for the petition to save this remarkable structure.
Important Dates:
May 20th - 7PM - Midtown Land Use committee:
-Lutheran Church of the Redeemer - Corner of 4th and Peachtree
-If unable to attend, please voice concerns to the director of the committee, Tony Rizzuto at tony7957@bellsouth.net
June 3, 2008 - 6PM - NPU E meeting
-Peachtree Christian Church
-If unable to attend, voice concerns to the director of NPU E,
Penelope Cheroff at pcheroff@cheroffgroup.com , 404-892-0229
June 5, 2008 - D.R.C. final hearing
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