The Pan Am Building And the Shattering of the Modernist Dream

How a building and the reaction to it signaled the end of an era; the transformation of architectural practice in the context of New York City culture and politics. The Pan Am Building and the reaction to it signaled the end of an era. Begun when the modernist aesthetic and the architectural star system ruled architectural theory and practice the completed building became a symbol of modernisms fall from grace. In The Pan Am Building and the Shattering of the Modernist Dream Meredith Clausen tells the story as both history and cautionary talea case study of how not to plan and execute a large-scale urban project that seems especially relevant in light of the World Trade Center and the ongoing discussions over what should be built in its place.The Pan Am Building was despised by many as soon as the plans were announced in 1958. The star power of the celebrity architectsthose deans of modernism Walter Gropius and Pietro Belluschioverrode critics objections. When construction was completed in 1963 it became more than an architectural question; this "mute massive overscaled octagonal slab " as Clausen describes it built over Grand Central Terminal blocked the view down Park Avenue created deep shadows where there had been sunlight and poured 25 000 office workers on the sidewalks each morning and evening. As Clausen tells it the story of the buildingwhich was undistinguished architecturally but important because of its location and its moment in historyencompasses the end of modernisms social idealism the decline of Gropiuss and Belluschis reputations the victory of private interests over public good the revival of architectural criticism in the press (both Ada Louise Huxtable and Jane Jacobs emerged as prominent and influential critics) the birth of the historic preservation movement and the changing culture and politics of New York City.