------------------------------
[Klaus] Philipsen FAIA
Archplan Inc. Philipsen Architects
Baltimore MD
------------------------------

Upon hearing of this proposed mandate, I too pushed back from the though of the Government dictating architectural style.  But upon deeper thought, it occurred to me that style dictation is not that radical... many Universities require it, many Hotel Chains require it, and many other Commercial Entities require it.  It reinforces brand identity and creates an extra-local gravitas that shouldn't automatically be perceived as negative.  

I've worked on many projects that mandate a style, and it hasn't hurt my creativity or damaged my freedom one bit!  My firm has enough client diversity to allow total design control on enough projects to offset the occasional style mandate.

I'm going to keep an open mind about this proposal.  It's too bad that the AIA has already spoken for all of us...

------------------------------
Dennis Wells AIA
Oklahoma City OK
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 02-17-2020 13:37
From: Nikolaus Philipsen
Subject: Architecture is Much More than Greek Columns!

City Beautiful - Architecture is so Much More than Greek Columns! 

The the ongoing effort of reversing much of what many consider essential elements of an open democracy found an unlikely target: Architecture.

The US Department of Treasury DC

The latest salvo aims at "modern architecture" and it isn't just a Tweet but a full presidential order, first revealed by the Architectural Record.

The order is only a draft so far, scripted by the National Civic Art Society, an organization founded in 2002. It is titled "Make Federal Buildings Great Again" following a familiar script in which invective is never far.  The draft  proposes that "the classical architectural style shall be the preferred and default style"  for new or refurbished federal buildings.

In what looks like a sweeping clean-up after the impeachment acquittal, even the nitty-gritty of how the General Service Administration (GSA) designs federal buildings is no longer safe. The presidential excursion into the field of architecture claimed already its first victim, according to Architectural Record: The Chief Architect and Director of the Design Excellence Program at GSA resigned his post to which he had been appointed in 2016.

The New Urbanist City Journal, as a voice and proxy for the National Civic Art Society, had GSA Chief
READ FULL ARTICLE


The New Urbanist City Journal, as a voice and proxy for the National Civic Art Society, had GSA

------------------------------
[Klaus] Philipsen FAIA
Archplan Inc. Philipsen Architects
Baltimore MD
------------------------------

Upon receipt of the original AIA message, I addressed the primary goal in a flip of the message. The Architecture profession needs to protect value, thus my recommendation to President Trump is to make Architects address the value of Classical language in their design. This approach allows for classical value and the innovation of proficient GSA Architects using progressive Classical language like Emergent domes to enclose space.

------------------------------
Seth Trotter Assoc. AIA
Sole Proprietor
tdtCREATIVE
Prescott AZ
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 02-18-2020 17:46
From: Dennis Wells
Subject: Architecture is Much More than Greek Columns!

Upon hearing of this proposed mandate, I too pushed back from the though of the Government dictating architectural style.  But upon deeper thought, it occurred to me that style dictation is not that radical... many Universities require it, many Hotel Chains require it, and many other Commercial Entities require it.  It reinforces brand identity and creates an extra-local gravitas that shouldn't automatically be perceived as negative.

I've worked on many projects that mandate a style, and it hasn't hurt my creativity or damaged my freedom one bit!  My firm has enough client diversity to allow total design control on enough projects to offset the occasional style mandate.

I'm going to keep an open mind about this proposal.  It's too bad that the AIA has already spoken for all of us...

------------------------------
Dennis Wells AIA
Oklahoma City OK

Original Message:
Sent: 02-17-2020 13:37
From: Nikolaus Philipsen
Subject: Architecture is Much More than Greek Columns!

City Beautiful - Architecture is so Much More than Greek Columns! 

The the ongoing effort of reversing much of what many consider essential elements of an open democracy found an unlikely target: Architecture.

The US Department of Treasury DC

The latest salvo aims at "modern architecture" and it isn't just a Tweet but a full presidential order, first revealed by the Architectural Record.

The order is only a draft so far, scripted by the National Civic Art Society, an organization founded in 2002. It is titled "Make Federal Buildings Great Again" following a familiar script in which invective is never far.  The draft  proposes that "the classical architectural style shall be the preferred and default style"  for new or refurbished federal buildings.

In what looks like a sweeping clean-up after the impeachment acquittal, even the nitty-gritty of how the General Service Administration (GSA) designs federal buildings is no longer safe. The presidential excursion into the field of architecture claimed already its first victim, according to Architectural Record: The Chief Architect and Director of the Design Excellence Program at GSA resigned his post to which he had been appointed in 2016.

The New Urbanist City Journal, as a voice and proxy for the National Civic Art Society, had GSA Chief
READ FULL ARTICLE


The New Urbanist City Journal, as a voice and proxy for the National Civic Art Society, had GSA

------------------------------
[Klaus] Philipsen FAIA
Archplan Inc. Philipsen Architects
Baltimore MD
------------------------------

I agree with Mr. Dennis Wells. In fact it seems that the modernist style has been imposed far too long now. I disagree with Ms. Margaret Sullivan below, cost is not a basis to discuss this issue.  We all know too painfully well how much Calatrava's station for NYC ended up costing. Is it better than a well designed Classical building simply because it was designed by a "Star-chitect"? Not so, in my opinion.

------------------------------
Manuel Mergal AIA
Mergal Architecture & Design
New York NY
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 02-18-2020 17:46
From: Dennis Wells
Subject: Architecture is Much More than Greek Columns!

Upon hearing of this proposed mandate, I too pushed back from the though of the Government dictating architectural style.  But upon deeper thought, it occurred to me that style dictation is not that radical... many Universities require it, many Hotel Chains require it, and many other Commercial Entities require it.  It reinforces brand identity and creates an extra-local gravitas that shouldn't automatically be perceived as negative.

I've worked on many projects that mandate a style, and it hasn't hurt my creativity or damaged my freedom one bit!  My firm has enough client diversity to allow total design control on enough projects to offset the occasional style mandate.

I'm going to keep an open mind about this proposal.  It's too bad that the AIA has already spoken for all of us...

------------------------------
Dennis Wells AIA
Oklahoma City OK

Original Message:
Sent: 02-17-2020 13:37
From: Nikolaus Philipsen
Subject: Architecture is Much More than Greek Columns!

City Beautiful - Architecture is so Much More than Greek Columns! 

The the ongoing effort of reversing much of what many consider essential elements of an open democracy found an unlikely target: Architecture.

The US Department of Treasury DC

The latest salvo aims at "modern architecture" and it isn't just a Tweet but a full presidential order, first revealed by the Architectural Record.

The order is only a draft so far, scripted by the National Civic Art Society, an organization founded in 2002. It is titled "Make Federal Buildings Great Again" following a familiar script in which invective is never far.  The draft  proposes that "the classical architectural style shall be the preferred and default style"  for new or refurbished federal buildings.

In what looks like a sweeping clean-up after the impeachment acquittal, even the nitty-gritty of how the General Service Administration (GSA) designs federal buildings is no longer safe. The presidential excursion into the field of architecture claimed already its first victim, according to Architectural Record: The Chief Architect and Director of the Design Excellence Program at GSA resigned his post to which he had been appointed in 2016.

The New Urbanist City Journal, as a voice and proxy for the National Civic Art Society, had GSA Chief
READ FULL ARTICLE


The New Urbanist City Journal, as a voice and proxy for the National Civic Art Society, had GSA

------------------------------
[Klaus] Philipsen FAIA
Archplan Inc. Philipsen Architects
Baltimore MD
------------------------------

Original Message------

I agree with Mr. Dennis Wells. In fact it seems that the modernist style has been imposed far too long now. I disagree with Ms. Margaret Sullivan below, cost is not a basis to discuss this issue.  We all know too painfully well how much Calatrava's station for NYC ended up costing. Is it better than a well designed Classical building simply because it was designed by a "Star-chitect"? Not so, in my opinion.

------------------------------
Manuel Mergal AIA
Mergal Architecture & Design
New York NY
------------------------------

If we are going to limit options to an antiquated style of federal architecture, let's at least mandate a more antiquated American style like Richardsonian Romanesque.

------------------------------
Kevin Halliburton AIA
Principal, Vice President
Weatherl & Associates
Abilene TX
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 02-17-2020 13:37
From: Nikolaus Philipsen
Subject: Architecture is Much More than Greek Columns!

City Beautiful - Architecture is so Much More than Greek Columns! 

The the ongoing effort of reversing much of what many consider essential elements of an open democracy found an unlikely target: Architecture.

The US Department of Treasury DC

The latest salvo aims at "modern architecture" and it isn't just a Tweet but a full presidential order, first revealed by the Architectural Record.

The order is only a draft so far, scripted by the National Civic Art Society, an organization founded in 2002. It is titled "Make Federal Buildings Great Again" following a familiar script in which invective is never far.  The draft  proposes that "the classical architectural style shall be the preferred and default style"  for new or refurbished federal buildings.

In what looks like a sweeping clean-up after the impeachment acquittal, even the nitty-gritty of how the General Service Administration (GSA) designs federal buildings is no longer safe. The presidential excursion into the field of architecture claimed already its first victim, according to Architectural Record: The Chief Architect and Director of the Design Excellence Program at GSA resigned his post to which he had been appointed in 2016.

The New Urbanist City Journal, as a voice and proxy for the National Civic Art Society, had GSA Chief
READ FULL ARTICLE


The New Urbanist City Journal, as a voice and proxy for the National Civic Art Society, had GSA

------------------------------
[Klaus] Philipsen FAIA
Archplan Inc. Philipsen Architects
Baltimore MD
------------------------------

Why on earth would you succumb to changing the current approach for achieving the best design opportunity for a throwback limited style that would simply be contemporary design firms trying to interpret a bygone era.
Come on show some guts!

Garret Smith
glstudioltd@ gmail.com


Original Message------

If we are going to limit options to an antiquated style of federal architecture, let's at least mandate a more antiquated American style like Richardsonian Romanesque.

------------------------------
Kevin Halliburton AIA
Principal, Vice President
Weatherl & Associates
Abilene TX
------------------------------

Original Message------

Why on earth would you succumb to changing the current approach for achieving the best design opportunity for a throwback limited style that would simply be contemporary design firms trying to interpret a bygone era.
Come on show some guts!

Garret Smith
glstudioltd@ gmail.com

It would be a mistake to not account for classical language like the Los Angeles Civic Mall's Trajan Column and Disney capital by Gehry. Classical understanding isn't a limited language when fully considered.

------------------------------
Seth Trotter Assoc. AIA
Sole Proprietor
tdtCREATIVE
Prescott AZ
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 02-25-2020 19:25
From: Eugene Ely
Subject: Architecture is Much More than Greek Columns!

Guts?......What an alien  concept  in  this day  and  age.   But  do keep trying, it  would be  wonderful if  something  shook us  out  of  this mortal funk we  find ourselves  in.

Original Message------

Why on earth would you succumb to changing the current approach for achieving the best design opportunity for a throwback limited style that would simply be contemporary design firms trying to interpret a bygone era.
Come on show some guts!

Garret Smith
glstudioltd@ gmail.com

The whole thing is silliness.  I was on a municipal building board for a new high school being built in our town for a few years.  During that time many of the folks on the board were wholly dedicated to the idea of making a new high school "historic". To most folks this means literally nothing valuable other than it looks like it was designed a long time ago.  Then we got pricing... turns out all that ornament costs a ton of money to build and maintain.  One guy on the committee quit because in his words he was not going to support another modern atrocity. To me, this is so unbelievably silly it makes me chuckle every time someone brings it up. Bottom line for me, if Mr Trump wants to pay for all the historic upgrades that these lovely antiques need and he also wants to pay for the costs associated (over double per square foot) then let him.  Seriously, this is silly.
Peggy Sullivan

------------------------------
Margaret Sullivan AIA
George Penniman Architects LLC
Essex CT
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 02-17-2020 13:37
From: Nikolaus Philipsen
Subject: Architecture is Much More than Greek Columns!

City Beautiful - Architecture is so Much More than Greek Columns! 

The the ongoing effort of reversing much of what many consider essential elements of an open democracy found an unlikely target: Architecture.

The US Department of Treasury DC

The latest salvo aims at "modern architecture" and it isn't just a Tweet but a full presidential order, first revealed by the Architectural Record.

The order is only a draft so far, scripted by the National Civic Art Society, an organization founded in 2002. It is titled "Make Federal Buildings Great Again" following a familiar script in which invective is never far.  The draft  proposes that "the classical architectural style shall be the preferred and default style"  for new or refurbished federal buildings.

In what looks like a sweeping clean-up after the impeachment acquittal, even the nitty-gritty of how the General Service Administration (GSA) designs federal buildings is no longer safe. The presidential excursion into the field of architecture claimed already its first victim, according to Architectural Record: The Chief Architect and Director of the Design Excellence Program at GSA resigned his post to which he had been appointed in 2016.

The New Urbanist City Journal, as a voice and proxy for the National Civic Art Society, had GSA Chief
READ FULL ARTICLE


The New Urbanist City Journal, as a voice and proxy for the National Civic Art Society, had GSA

------------------------------
[Klaus] Philipsen FAIA
Archplan Inc. Philipsen Architects
Baltimore MD
------------------------------

Don't worry- Greece is paying for it.

------------------------------
Gregory Ibanez FAIA
Principal
Ibanez Shaw Architecture LLC
Fort Worth TX
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 02-26-2020 10:30
From: Margaret Sullivan
Subject: Architecture is Much More than Greek Columns!

The whole thing is silliness.  I was on a municipal building board for a new high school being built in our town for a few years.  During that time many of the folks on the board were wholly dedicated to the idea of making a new high school "historic". To most folks this means literally nothing valuable other than it looks like it was designed a long time ago.  Then we got pricing... turns out all that ornament costs a ton of money to build and maintain.  One guy on the committee quit because in his words he was not going to support another modern atrocity. To me, this is so unbelievably silly it makes me chuckle every time someone brings it up. Bottom line for me, if Mr Trump wants to pay for all the historic upgrades that these lovely antiques need and he also wants to pay for the costs associated (over double per square foot) then let him.  Seriously, this is silly.
Peggy Sullivan

------------------------------
Margaret Sullivan AIA
George Penniman Architects LLC
Essex CT

Original Message:
Sent: 02-17-2020 13:37
From: Nikolaus Philipsen
Subject: Architecture is Much More than Greek Columns!

City Beautiful - Architecture is so Much More than Greek Columns! 

The the ongoing effort of reversing much of what many consider essential elements of an open democracy found an unlikely target: Architecture.

The US Department of Treasury DC

The latest salvo aims at "modern architecture" and it isn't just a Tweet but a full presidential order, first revealed by the Architectural Record.

The order is only a draft so far, scripted by the National Civic Art Society, an organization founded in 2002. It is titled "Make Federal Buildings Great Again" following a familiar script in which invective is never far.  The draft  proposes that "the classical architectural style shall be the preferred and default style"  for new or refurbished federal buildings.

In what looks like a sweeping clean-up after the impeachment acquittal, even the nitty-gritty of how the General Service Administration (GSA) designs federal buildings is no longer safe. The presidential excursion into the field of architecture claimed already its first victim, according to Architectural Record: The Chief Architect and Director of the Design Excellence Program at GSA resigned his post to which he had been appointed in 2016.

The New Urbanist City Journal, as a voice and proxy for the National Civic Art Society, had GSA Chief
READ FULL ARTICLE


The New Urbanist City Journal, as a voice and proxy for the National Civic Art Society, had GSA

------------------------------
[Klaus] Philipsen FAIA
Archplan Inc. Philipsen Architects
Baltimore MD
------------------------------