RSA Judicial Building

[jtrippe77]

12 stories, according to today's Advertiser article. The article also mentions a 96 vehicle parking lot, which is likely to front on Monroe St. Unfortunately, this project looks to be another suburban fortress-style building that will do little or nothing to improve the vibrancy and street life of downtown.

RSA plans to upgrade historic site

There is a video on WSFA.com explaining the new project. However, it says 8 stories. Do we have a definitive answer? I hope it's 12 rather than 8. None of the news agencies in Montgomery get their facts right.

[Southron]

Thanks for the tip about the WSFA video, jtrippe77. Here are a couple of small renderings -- hopefully larger and better ones will be available soon.

[Southron]

According to an RSA press release, the facades of the old judicial building will remain intact, with the south facade "celebrated through the inclusion of a structured glazed wall which exposes this building from Dexter Avenue and creates a dramatic impact on Dexter Avenue both day and night."

That's just too weird. The old building is encased in a glass box so we can all look at it, but the building will have no active uses at street level. A better way to do this would be to build the new office building behind and attached to the old judicial building, with no surface parking lot. There are several parking decks and surface lots within walking distance. Built fronting Monroe, the new building would not have such an adverse effect on the Dexter Avenue streetscape.

[jtrippe77]

There's another video and article on WSFA.com that talks about the fight over this building. It says something about a smart code that limits the height of buildings to six stories. However, government projects do not fall under the code. This time WSFA actually says it will be 12 stories. So, if Hilton wanted to come in and build a sixteen story hotel they couldn't under the smart code? Why would we not want taller buildings?

[Southron]

There's another video and article on WSFA.com that talks about the fight over this building. It says something about a smart code that limits the height of buildings to six stories. However, government projects do not fall under the code. This time WSFA actually says it will be 12 stories. So, if Hilton wanted to come in and build a sixteen story hotel they couldn't under the smart code? Why would we not want taller buildings?

The SmartCode limits buildings on Dexter Ave to 6 stories, but taller buildings are allowed in other parts of downtown I think. This new RSA building is way out of scale for Dexter Ave, and should be limited to 6 stories. If built, it will ruin the vista up Dexter to the state capitol.

WSFA-TV: Preservationists Oppose Downtown Building's Design

[Southron]

Some better renderings:

Dexter Ave now and with the new building:

[Southron]

Mary Walton Upchurch, a Montgomery landscape architect, wrote an outstanding opinion piece in today's Advertiser regarding the proposed RSA Judicial Building. The way that this building dwarfs the capitol building shows a significant lack of respect for the architectural heritage of this state and its most important symbol.

Dwarfing the Capitol

[Southron]

A more detailed view of the front of the proposed building:

We don't need that monstrosity fronting on Dexter, ruining the view of the state capitol and providing no street-level uses. Why build over or demolish an existing building on Dexter when there are plenty of surface parking lots to build on in downtown Montgomery?

[j.midtown]

A more detailed view of the front of the proposed building:

I don't think we need that monstrosity fronting on Dexter, ruining the view of the state capitol and providing no street-level uses. Why build over or demolish an existing building on Dexter when there are plenty of surface parking lots to build on in downtown Montgomery?

That really is atrocious. Combine this with the recent demolition of the 1917 B'ham News building and it seems Alabama is intent on making itself look like an historical and architectural laughingstock.

[Southron]

That really is atrocious. Combine this with the recent demolition of the 1917 B'ham News building and it seems Alabama is intent on making itself look like an historical and architectural laughingstock.

Hopefully a public outcry (if there is one) will convince RSA to change this ridiculous design.

Today's Montgomery Advertiser had another article about the building and its opposition. The comments on this article are particularly interesting.

Debate persists over RSA plans

If Bronner would simply follow the downtown Smartcode, I'd be all for a properly revised version of this project. As it stands now, it needs to die.

[Southron]

The Mobile paper ran Mary Walton Upchurch's opinion piece in Sunday's paper. It would be great if a statewide buzz developed against this thing, and helped get the RSA to modify the plans to comply with the downtown master plan. Statewide opposition to the initial plans (really ugly) for the RSA Battle House Tower in Mobile played a part in getting RSA to redesign that building, so hopefully a similar thing will occur with this project.

Mobile Press-Register: Crushing design

[j.midtown]

The Mobile paper ran Mary Walton Upchurch's opinion piece in Sunday's paper. It would be great if a statewide buzz developed against this thing, and helped get the RSA to modify the plans to comply with the downtown master plan. Statewide opposition to the initial plans (really ugly) for the RSA Battle House Tower in Mobile played a part in getting RSA to redesign that building, so hopefully a similar thing will occur with this project.

Mobile Press-Register: Crushing design

It would nice if a significant number of the architecture faculty at Auburn came out against it; being as they are all state employees and thus RSA members.

[Southron]

It would nice if a significant number of the architecture faculty at Auburn came out against it; being as they are all state employees and thus RSA members.

Good idea. Anyone know what other Alabama colleges have architecture programs? I'm pretty sure Tuskegee does.

[Southron]

The Montgomery Landmarks Foundation (prominent historic preservation group) met Monday and decided to officially oppose the new RSA building. The Landmarks board sent resolutions to Mayor Bobby Bright and Governor Bob Riley in hopes they will convince RSA to alter the design.

WSFA-TV: Landmarks Foundation Comes Out Against RSA Building

Riley and Bright aren't likely to get involved. I hope Landmarks has some VIPs that can be influential in getting the design fixed.

[Southron]

David Braly, president of the Landmarks Foundation, wrote a letter to Dr. Bronner of RSA that was published in the Montgomery paper and really lays out the case against the current design. Braly described the building as the wrong building on the wrong site. It contrasts inelegantly with its surroundings, overwhelming the Capitol and other important buildings on upper Dexter, and violates the newly adopted SmartCode and Downtown Master Plan by providing no street-level amenities such as retail bays for small shops or restaurants, or on-street parking. Read the letter for more details about the building design.

Wrong building, wrong site

[j.midtown]

Good idea. Anyone know what other Alabama colleges have architecture programs? I'm pretty sure Tuskegee does.

Auburn and Tuskegee are the only AR programs in the state.

[Southron]

The front steps of the old supreme court building were destroyed today. RSA is putting this project on the fast track, probably so Bronner can claim that it's too far along to make any changes. This thing must be modified somehow.

[HSVTiger]

The front steps of the old supreme court building were destroyed today. RSA is putting this project on the fast track, probably so Bronner can claim that it's too far along to make any changes. This thing must be modified somehow.

If this a historical building which I think it is, doesn't it have strict rules as to what can be done do it?

I wouldn't think any demolition would be allowed. Why are the steps not saved for other uses?

[Southron]

If this a historical building which I think it is, doesn't it have strict rules as to what can be done do it?

I wouldn't think any demolition would be allowed. Why are the steps not saved for other uses?

Unfortunately, the state can do whatever it wants with its buildings. There really needs to be a joint city-state Capitol area historic district set up to prevent this kind of nonsense in the future. As it stands now, RSA is exempt from city Architectural Review Board oversight and does not have to comply with the mandatory downtown SmartCode that was enacted earlier this year.

[Southron]

The Birmingham News ran Mary Walton Upchurch's opinion piece last Sunday. This is getting some play around the state now.

WSFA-TV ran a story about the Montgomery County Historical Society opposing the design: Montgomery Preservationists Urge RSA To Redesign Building Plans For Old Judicial Building

[Southron]

The old supreme court building undergoing interior demolition while it awaits its fate.

[Southron]

The Montgomery Independent ran a story about growing opposition to the RSA's plans for the judicial building in this Thursday's edition.

A public forum to discuss the RSA Judicial Building proposal is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, January 8th, at the Old Alabama Town Reception Center, 301 Columbus Street.

Opposition grows to RSA building plans on Dexter Avenue

[Southron]

More renderings of the proposed building:

South side (Dexter Ave)

North side (Monroe St)

East side (Decatur St)

West side

[Southron]

The Anniston Star ran an editorial about the need to come up with a compromise for the new judicial building design.

This is the best editorial about this that I've seen from a newspaper. RSA deserves praise for wanting to invest $200 million in downtown Montgomery, but not for such a poorly designed building. A compromise solution can be found that the opposing sides could accept, but the question is whether or not RSA is willing to even discuss the issue.

A compromise is needed

[Southron]

Chad Emerson, national SmartCode expert, wrote an excellent guest column in today's Montgomery Advertiser. He mentions that the proposed Judicial Building would diminish the Capitol's standing, resigning the Capitol to second fiddle on Dexter Avenue. The proposed building also flagrantly disregards the recent downtown Montgomery master plan and mandatory SmartCode for downtown. This is a must read to fully understand what's at stake here.

Off target this time

The Advertiser ran a front-page story in Sunday's paper about the judicial building controversy. An RSA representative said that Bronner will not change the plans.

Historic groups clash with RSA on renovation