Tearing down a Brutalist State-owned building in Salem

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stellarfun

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Representatives of state and local agencies met July 24 in Salem to discuss preliminary planning. Among those present were representatives of the city’s Planning Department and Historic Salem, Inc., a private preservation group that has closely watched the court projects.

There was a discussion at the meeting of demolishing a 1979 addition in the rear of the probate court, which some feel is an eyesore that detracts from the 1909 courthouse.

“I think it’s exciting they’re looking at that possibility,” said Duncan.
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http://www.salemnews.com/local/x798265109/State-studying-Salem-court-building-reuse

The front of the building:
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Cant yet find a good image yet of the 'brutalist' annex in the rear.
 
Is the building to the left part of the courthouse, or something else? It looks much newer, though its columns appear to pay homage to its neighbor.
 
Ron Newman said:
Is the building to the left part of the courthouse, or something else? It looks much newer, though its columns appear to pay homage to its neighbor.
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The building to the left is the new courthouse, very recently opened.

This is the back of the new courthouse, the brutalist re*r is to its left.

court%202.JPG
 
Here's a decent image of the 1979 addition from Bing maps.

salem_court_brutalist_addition_bing.jpg


Meh. Certainly not the worst building in Salem.
 
Probably nothing a good pressure washing couldn't fix.
 
I actually like it, I wouldnt chain myself to save it from the wrecking ball but as was stated, a good power washing, some clear glass and some use other than parking for the ground floor would give it a turnaround, likely for much cheaper. Its scale isnt as monolithic and overbearing as many similar styled buildings.

Its also a pretty cool living history of styles: youve got pre-modernism, modernism, and post modernism all in one compact site, and all three seem to speak to each other reasonably well.
 
Boooo, it sucks.

I thought the OP image was what they were demolishing and I nearly died. Seeing what they're actually demolishing, I say go with it.

I didn't know there was a single brutalist building anywhere near Salem.
 
Seems to me that this would be salvageable as a useful building if the first floor is converted to retail, and the glass pattern of the upper floors is continued to the ground. Could downtown Salem use a Super Walgreen's? ;-)
 
Compare this to the neoclassical courthouse out front and you can really see this brand of Brutalism as a reprise of Greek Revival themes.

It'll probably get replaced by some redbrick POS, representing yet another phase of the long New England war between neo-Georgian style and classicism.
 
Beton Brut said:
Get a load of Rockett Arena at Salem State.
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Interesting building. I never actually saw it before. The streetview strikes me as a (very) poor man's Gottried Bohm, with its brick incorporated into sculptural concrete. Incidentally, I think Boston's City Hall riffs on Bohm more directly in this respect.

I'm not too offended by the courthouse addition. Its worst sin is not its style, but the fact that its ground floor is a parking garage bounded by a parking lot bounded by basically a highway.

IMO, the most deserving building of demolition in Salem is the brick bunker District Court House just up the block. It may not be Brutalist in material, but it's certainly Brutalist in spirit:
http://www.bing.com/maps/?v=2&cp=42...z~30~h~47~p~8.8~pid~5082&app=5082&FORM=LMLTCC
 
This is the now vacant district court building. Its young enough that it can be demolished or at least have the facade redone.

salemdistrict.jpg


This is the Salem Superior Court building. Probably on the National Register. Also vacant. Built in 1862, it will be there until the Apocalypse.

671px-Salem_Superior_Court.JPG


This is the granite original, courthouse, built in 1847. Also will be standing at the time of the Apocalypse.

card00319_fr.jpg


large file.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ec/Salem_Old_Granite_Courthouse.JPG

On Federal St in Salem, going from west to east, the former First Baptist Church, bought by the state, moved, and now a law library.

preservation-walk-012.jpg


Then the new courthouse.

Then the vacant, neo-classical Probate & Family Court courthouse with the brutalist annex. That's the one being re-purposed.

Then the red brick Salem Superior Court. To be re-purposed at some point.

Then the 1847 court house, I believe also to be re-puroposed.

The District court is on a different street but nearby.
 
stellarfun said:
This is the Salem Superior Court building. Probably on the National Register. Also vacant. Built in 1862, it will be there until the Apocalypse.
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I was called to jury duty here... in the summer... They don't have AC in the court rooms... at all... I died...

I mean, I guess I understand because it would drown out a case, but it was only the jury pool selection! They can just turn them off later! Or get some silent fans or something. I don't know how they did it back in 1862. I wouldn't have lived a day past June 21st back then.
 
BostonUrbEx said:
I was called to jury duty here... in the summer... They don't have AC in the court rooms... at all... I died...

I mean, I guess I understand because it would drown out a case, but it was only the jury pool selection! They can just turn them off later! Or get some silent fans or something. I don't know how they did it back in 1862. I wouldn't have lived a day past June 21st back then.
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1997-08-11-time-to-bill.gif
 
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