Thursday, October 26, 2006
5:30 to 8:00 p.m.
Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs
Glickman-Miller Hall, Atrium
Light refreshments will be served

Printable Agenda (pdf) | Breuer Tower History | Encouraging Community Dialogue | Watch Video

Presented by the Levin College Forum, a program of the Center for Civic Education in the Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs, Cleveland State University. Where the community gathers to discuss challenges, create opportunities, and celebrate accomplishments.

Built in 1971 for the Cleveland Trust Company, the 29-story Breuer Tower connects to the Neo-classical Rotunda (1905, George B. Post & Sons) at the corner of East 9th Street and Euclid Avenue. Marcel Breuer is recognized as one of the founders of the Modern Movement in architecture and was a leading proponent of the International Style. The Tower is one of his few realized designs for a high-rise building and established a trend for other high-rises built across the United States.

Yet, many people think the building is downright ugly. Its Modernist façade has none of the ornate details or gilded interior spaces typically associated with historic buildings. And, what about the asbestos and the inefficient floor plans? Is it feasible and cost effective for the County to renovate the building? Or is razing the building and sending twenty-nine stories of construction debris to a local landfill the best choice?

This forum is being hosted to encourage constructive community dialogue on this major expenditure of public resources. Join us for what promises to be a lively discussion about the fate of this important Cleveland architectural asset. We invite you to voice your opinion on whether to renovate or raze it. AIA Cleveland, Chapter of The American Institute of Architects, is hosting this forum in partnership with the Cleveland Restoration Society, Cleveland Green Building Coalition, EcoCity Cleveland, Kent State University’s Cleveland Center for Urban Design, Cleveland State University’s Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs, Historic Gateway Neighborhood and many others.