Preservation groups are fighting to save Paul Rudolph's Burroughs Wellcome building in North Carolina, one of his "most significant projects", after discovering its current owner had secured a demolition permit.
The Paul Rudolph Heritage Foundation, Preservation North Carolina, Preservation Durham and non-profit conservation group Docomomo US are working to raise awareness in order to preserve the building, which the celebrated architect completed in Durham, North Carolina in the 1970s.
Kelvin Dickinson, president of Paul Rudolph Heritage Foundation, which is based in New York City, said he first learned of the plan following a tip-off from a local resident.
Local tip "sent the alarm bells off"
He initially thought the owner, biotechnology company United Therapeutics, was undertaking asbestos abatement but discovered it secured a demolition permit on 4 September. "A guy down in North Carolina who lives down the street from the building reached out to me and said, I see that there's a construction fence and there's construction equipment going up," Dickinson told Dezeen.
Rudolph completed Burroughs Wellcome in 1972. Top image: Photo by PJ McDonnell
"Somebody from the demolition crew also posted some pictures on Google Maps, saying this a beautiful building, it's a shame it's going to be demolished," he added.
"That sent the alarm bells off."
Owner originally planned to turn building into museum
According to Dickinson, United ...