America's Favorite Architecture

It's interesting that this 1885 list is dominated by recent and "trendy" buildings, at least as much as your new list of 150 is.

Yes, Richardson's work has stood the test of time, but where is Monticello, or the University of Virginia, or anything from the Federal period?

Hal,

Well it is only the top ten. A list of 100 or so would have, no doubt, included more works from an earlier period.

Alamo

Results of Poll of Architects, Historians and Critics by AIA Journal published July 1976 for Proudest Achievements of American Architecture in the Nation’s first 200 Years(only the first ten are listed)

1. University of Virginia Campus, Charlottesville, VA, Thomas Jefferson

2. Rockefeller Center, Reinhard & Hofmeister; Corbett Harrison McMurray (56 on 2007 list)

3. Dulles Airport, Chantilly, VA, Eero Saarinen

4. Falling Water, Bear Run, PA, Frank Lloyd Wright (29 on 2007 list)

5. Carson Pirie Scott, Chicago, IL, Louis Sullivan, Daniel Burnham (145 on 2007 list)

6. Seagram Building, New York, NY, Meis van der Rohe & Philip Johnson; Kahn and Jacobs

7. Philadelphia Savings Fund Society, Philadelphia, PA, George Howe & William Lescaze

8. (tie) Boston New City Hall, Kalman McKinnell & Knowles; Cambell Aldrich & Nulty
Trinity Church, Boston, MA, H.H. Richardson (25)

10. (tie) Lever House, New York City, SOM
Brooklyn Bridge, New York City-Brooklyn, John and Washington Roebling (20 on 2007 list)
Robie House, Chicago, IL, Frank Lloyd Wright (138 on 2007 list)

Johnson Wax Building, Racine, WI, Frank Lloyd Wright

Ford Foundation Building, New York, Kevin Roche and John Dinkeloo

In reviewing the recent poll of America's Favorite Buildings for the AIA150 program, my curiosity was aroused as to how the poll compared to previous ones that I was aware of. In addition to the 150 poll, I knew of a poll be the AIAJournal in 1976 of architects, historians and critics to select the "proudest achievements of American architecture over the past 200 years", as well as a poll of architects in 1885 by the trade journal, American Architect & Building News. So attached is the comparison of the three polls using only the top ten in each, which I thought may be of interest to you. (There was also a poll by The AIA Journal in 1948, but I only know that the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington DC was first and don't have the other results.)

It is interesting to note that to the best of my checking, only Trinity Church in Boston by H.H. Richardson appears on all three polls. It was first in the 1885 poll, tied for 8th in the 1976 poll, and 25th in the 2007 poll.

There were five other buildings from the ten of the 1976 poll that also appeared in the 2007 poll. Rockefeller Center was 2nd in 1976 and 56th in 2007. Falling Water was 4th in 1976 and 29th in 2007. Carson Pierie Scott was 5th in 1976 and 145th in 2007. Robie House was tied for 10th in 1976 and 138th in 2007. The Brooklyn Bridge was tied for 10th in 1976 and was 20th in 2007. There are also a few below the top ten in 1976 that also appear on the 2007 150 list.

It is interesting to note that the landslide first place winner in 1976, Thomas Jefferson's University of Virginia campus, failed to even make the Favorite 150 building list in 2007. However, two other TJ projects did make the 2007 list. His Monticello was 17th, and his Virginia State Capitol was 50th.

It is also interesting that a former AIA president's firm, Shreve Lamb and Harmon did the Empire State Building which ranked first in the 2007 poll. R.H. Shreve, FAIA was president 1941-1943.

This recent poll for AIA150 seems to highlight the fact that the public's opinion of architecture is considerably different than most architects viewpoint. This obviously indicates that we must do a better job in our schools and with the public in explaining "architecture" and good design. Of course, there is also a difference between "favorite" and "best", which would impact on results. And without question, the PR and publicity the AIA received with the release of this 150 poll was outstanding and undoubtedly helped in raising awareness of architecture with the public.