My rare agreement with the preservationists

In the fall of 2003, Chicago unveiled the newly-renovated Soldier Field. The new stadium grafted a futuristic-looking bowl onto a classic structure of Doric colonnades. The result? From the outside, it’s a butt-ugly effect. Soldier Field now looks like an alien spaceship humping the Parthenon. Blair Kamin, The Tribune‘s excellent architecture critic, described it as “an architectural close encounter of the worst kind.” Think I’m exaggerating? Go take the official virtual tour and notice that the only exterior picture of the stadium is partially obstructed by trees. By all accounts, I hear that the interior of the stadium is actually quite nice. Driving by it on Lake Shore Drive, however, most people just shudder in revulsion. So I can’t say I’m shocked to read the following story by Hal Dardick and David Mendell in today’s Chicago Tribune:

Setting a flying saucer stadium inside the classical columns of Soldier Field destroyed its historic character, so the structure should be stripped of its National Historic Landmark status, federal architecture analysts said this week. The National Park Service on Tuesday sent its recommendation to withdraw landmark status, the highest honor the government bestows on buildings and places, from the Chicago Park District, which owns the structure. Federal officials also recommended removing the venerable stadium from the National Register of Historic Places. That was the first step in a monthslong process to decide whether the stadium will lose its historic designations, something historic preservationists warned would be triggered by the controversial $660 million renovation of the Bears’ home. Soldier Field “no longer retains its historic integrity,” states a three-page report written by staff for the National Park System Advisory Board. “The futuristic new stadium bowl is visually incompatible with the classical colonnades and the perimeter wall of the historic stadium.” “During the process of new construction, many historic features and spaces were obliterated,” it continues. “With the exception of the colonnades, exterior walls and a small seating area on the south end of the bowl, very little of the historic fabric remains.” The report now goes to the Advisory Board Landmarks Committee, which in September will make a recommendation to the full board, which will forward its recommendation to the U.S. secretary of the interior for a decision.

All I can add is, good for the National Park Service.