The Architecture Top Ten

I think the Akron Art Museum is the most interesting building of all, because many different styles were combined. I think the tower of Transbay Transit Center isn't really an innovation. It's no more than cut from Hong Kong and paste in San Fransisco. The green top is beautifull, because it seems like oasis in the dessert.

The Bloch Building is beautiful. I live across the street from it and see it every day. Steven Holl's approach was genius. The building is incorporated into the sculpture park with walkways around the 'lenses' of the building.

I walk my dog through this park nearly everyday. The building also provided the neighborhood a pretty good sledding hill.

Thanks for nominating it.

I think the new federal building in San Francisco designed by Morphosis should be added to the list. Its stunning, sculptural presence is felt throughout the city.

I am an architect in Sarasota, a Riverview High School Class of 1973 graduate, and a member of the Sarasota Architectural Foundation (SAF) Riverview Committee.

On 20 November the Sarasota County School Board was presented a synopsis of four architect/developer presentations. The school board felt that the proposal by RMJM Hillier with Diane Lewis Architect and Beckelman + Capalino, LLC, New York, NY with Seibert Architects, Sarasota to rehabilitate the original Paul Rudolph Riverview High School buildings into a community facility for music and the arts, the Riverview Music Quadrangle (RMQ) had best met the requirements of their April 2007 resolution to consider saving these historic structures. Further information and details will be presented to the school board before their final vote in March 2008 to decide whether to save or demolish Rudolph's Riverview High School.

The school board had a workshop 11 December where Diane Lewis gave a brief description of the Riverview Music Quadrangle project. The Sarasota Architectural Foundation asked that the school board officially endorse the RMQ project by signing a letter stating such. Today, 19 December, SAF received from the school board that letter. With that letter the effort can go full bore to raise money to make the RMQ a reality.

We've come a long way ... from the school board unanimously voting to demo Riverview to them unanimously voting to give a solution to save it a chance.

If you would like to donate to the Revive Rudolph's Riverview fund please go to http://www.sarasotaarchitecturalfoundation.org and click on "make a donation". Together we can save our architectural history.

Mark H. Smith, AIA
President, Florida Association of the American Institute of Architects

As an architect, school planner and designer, I've had the remarkable opportunity to work with leading school organizations across the US and Asia in envisioning innovative schools that support visionary educational programs.

Assignments at many of these schools are actually to re-invigorate existing campuses, a process often made necessary by changing educational landscapes created to equip students for success in our global society.

Having been a part of re-envisioning schools by Fumihiko Maki, Gunnar Birkerts, Harry Weese, Eliot Noyes, and Paul Rudolph, I am ever aware that there is a collection of modern school buildings that have much to teach about the relationships between design and education, between public buildings and their communities, and between buildings and their climate.

Paul Rudolph's Riverview High School is key among these modern schools.

From a sustainable perspective, this building constructed in 1958, demonstrates how to achieve naturally lit, comfortable learning environments with simple sun screens, operable walls, and effective building sections. Teaching sustainable design is a timely topic in 2008, as the US Green Building Council reports that schools represent the largest construction sector in the US and that buildings alone are responsible for 38% of CO2 emissions in the US.

As a composition, Rudolph's Riverview demonstrates poetic design at every scale, masterfully executing clear campus organization with monumental geometry, intimate scale, and economical design. Experientially, this building is in a class with Louis Kahn's Kimbell Art Museum.

From a public perspective, Rudolph's Riverview is an important piece of our modern history, modestly demonstrating the role of architecture in communicating the aspirations of a modern society.

Today, the Riverview Music Quadrangle by RMJM Hillier with Diane Lewis Architect and Beckelman + Capalino, LLC, New York, NY with Seibert Architects, Sarasota breathes new life into this cultural icon, re-invigorating spaces once designed for education into spaces filled with music. When complete, this campus will reflect aspirations of our Global Society: creativity, humanity, stewardship, and environment.

The window of opportunity to preserve Rudolph's Riverview High School is narrow.

Please visit http://www.sarasotaarchitecturalfoundation.org to re-invigorate this important part of our collective culture.

Peter Brown AIA

The campaign to Revive Rudolph's Riverview has been a real grass roots movement. It started out with a few dedicated people who did not want to see the building demolished to be replaced by a parking lot.

In the past few months many more have joined our effort. What began as an acrimonious situation has turned into a positive dialog between the Sarasota School Board and the Sarasota Architectural Foundation's Revive Riverview Committee.

With the adaptation of the Riverview Musical Quadrangle the historic Rudolph building will come alive with a new and exciting venue. If this happens everyone comes out a winner.

For more details go to our website: Sarasotaarchitecturalfoundation.org

Les Fishman
Chairman, Sarasota Architectural Foundation