I don't have much to say about it. The Atlanta Preservation Center features the demolition and regrets on its Facebook Plage (which you should like).
From the Atlanta Business Chronicle: "But, the 2008 tornado that struck downtown severely damaged the building, said Grady spokesman Matt Gove. Hirsch Hall remains unoccupied."
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wow, doesn't take them long to take a building down.
ReplyDeleteThe tornado DID NOT. If the building was strong enough for them to put large vehicles and machinery on the roof to begin demolition, that's evidence right there.
ReplyDeleteHm, not to sound like a grave robber but I would be interested in dumpster diving for those Tower of the Winds capitals!
ReplyDeleteEverybody would come out better if we can save a few artifacts: contractors, preservationists, museums, developers, city hall.
ReplyDeleteWe tear these thing down from time to time. Seems like preservationists should engage the demolition folks to find way to save some the best parts. That way, when things are inevitable the demolition and preservation folks can safe a few things.
These days preservationists and demolition contractors may see themselves and mortal enemies.
The roof structure was interesting. It looks like there was some kind of open terrace.
ReplyDeleteWhen I lived in Atlanta I always used to say Sherman started a trend.... that has hardly been abated. The Lowes Grand Theater was torn down shortly after I moved there.
ReplyDeleteI watched Loew's Grand Theater burn in 1978 from the roof of the Hurt Building. I went to one move there, sat in a balcony, "The Lion in Winter" I think.
ReplyDeleteTwo-and-a-half years ago(summer of 2009) I worked on a project to renovate Hirsch Hall into an NIH ARRA Grant funded Core for teaching doctor's and social workers how to help patients stick with their health-maintenance (diet changes, exercise, smoking-cessation, etc.). I became familiar with the building. It was structurally sound at that time and there some architectural features it had that were very interesting. I am said to see it gone. There were not enough advocates for investing in it at Grady. What I am afraid of is that the new building will have significantly less architectural or civic merit.
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