Comments on: The demolition of the Friars Club http://www.abandonedonline.net/2010/05/23/the-demolition-of-the-friars-club/ History and photography of abandoned and historical locations across the United States. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:51:27 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Andrew http://www.abandonedonline.net/2010/05/23/the-demolition-of-the-friars-club/comment-page-1/#comment-68 Andrew Mon, 09 Aug 2010 10:56:07 +0000 http://www.abandonedonline.net/wp/?p=40#comment-68 Thank you for the history of this building. As an incoming UC grad student, I visited the campus in March and April, but was there for such a short time that I don't remember noticing this building. I saw its remains when returned this past weekend and decided to research what had been lost. Despite it's imposing and bulky nature, I agree that it could have made for interesting residences. And if the current building didn't have enough space, there was open land to it's north and south where additional housing could have been built. The thing is, that in the end demolition with new construction probably really is going to be less expensive than rehabilitation. It would have taken considerable effort to convince the developer to save the building. maybe some sort of historic tax credit would have helped. As far LEED ratings go, the system currently does not consider the demolition of existing buildings in the process (although projects do get extra points for reusing existing materials and structures). However, you are not the first one that I have heard question the logic in demolishing a perfectly sound building to build a new green one. I would say that this is one area where the LEED point system (as well as local governments) could use some reform. Thank you for the history of this building. As an incoming UC grad student, I visited the campus in March and April, but was there for such a short time that I don't remember noticing this building. I saw its remains when returned this past weekend and decided to research what had been lost. Despite it's imposing and bulky nature, I agree that it could have made for interesting residences. And if the current building didn't have enough space, there was open land to it's north and south where additional housing could have been built.

The thing is, that in the end demolition with new construction probably really is going to be less expensive than rehabilitation. It would have taken considerable effort to convince the developer to save the building. maybe some sort of historic tax credit would have helped.

As far LEED ratings go, the system currently does not consider the demolition of existing buildings in the process (although projects do get extra points for reusing existing materials and structures). However, you are not the first one that I have heard question the logic in demolishing a perfectly sound building to build a new green one. I would say that this is one area where the LEED point system (as well as local governments) could use some reform.

]]>