Vacant modernist building won medal in 1954 for design.
Architecture Buildings Preservation / Protection Needed
Vacant modernist building won medal in 1954 for design.

This modernist masterpiece won the American Institute of Architects' gold medal in 1954 and was named one of the best buildings of the year by Architectural Forum magazine, according to Inga Saffron's column in the Philadelphia Inquirer, 3/4/18, at p. H18. It closed in 1989 because of an asbestos problem, and its holdings were moved to the central library on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philly. I remember as a young lawyer going there, as its reference books were used, pre-Web, to see who owned what to determine who to sue, for ex., Company A was an affiliate of Company B, so sue both of them. It is hoped that the building can be saved and refurbished.

Publication date Jun 24, 2018
Neighborhood
Property ID: 11148
Updated on: Jun 02, 2019

This modernist masterpiece won the American Institute of Architects' gold medal in 1954 and was named one of the best buildings of the year by Architectural Forum magazine, according to Inga Saffron's column in the Philadelphia Inquirer, 3/4/18, at p. H18. It closed in 1989 because of an asbestos problem, and its holdings were moved to the central library on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philly. I remember as a young lawyer going there, as its reference books were used, pre-Web, to see who owned what to determine who to sue, for ex., Company A was an affiliate of Company B, so sue both of them. It is hoped that the building can be saved and refurbished.

info

Location:
Mercantile Library , 1021 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19107, United States
, .
Listing Category:
Architecture Buildings Preservation / Protection Needed
Virtual / Real:
Virtual
Created Date:
06-24-2018
Created by
plaquemaster
All locations from this user

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