Contrasts in Architecture Are Rare in Fullerton

I'm not an architect nor do I pretend to be.  At best, I notice some architecture while clearly ignoring other types.  I'm a land surveyor, not a building surveyor.  So when I see structures, I look to quantify them, not qualify them.

At least that was my modus operandi until May 11, 2011. 

On that day I was walking Independence Mall in Philadelphia and admiring the history and reflecting on what it would have been like in 1776.  As I crossed Market Street to go look at the Liberty Bell I looked left and right scanning the streets.  Then something caught my eye.  The antique cityscape had something shiny and new nestled in between two pieces of historic-looking buildings.

Those who have visited Independence Mall will agree that they are awed by Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, Christ Church Burial Ground, and other important pieces of American history.  It is breathtaking for those with that certain affinity for history.

And in the midst of this structural history I find my eyes gazing on a structure unlike anything else on the Mall.  For that matter, I don't recall ever seeing anything like this structure with my own eyes. 

The structure has jutting polished metal forming right angles and contrasts sharply against the backdrop of American history.  The building's unusual placement on the Mall speaks volumes of its purpose, though no billboards announce what that may be. 

As I circle the Mall admiring the formation of our Country, my mind and camera wander back to the building, now more striking than when I saw it just moments ago. 

Nearing the building, I look for signs as to what the building is and what it represents.  Seeing none and realizing I'm now short on time, I turn away to make my next appointment.

Troubled by the mystery, I turn to the internet to find my answer. 

I find Google Earth to be a great tool for understanding our world.  Once again, the tool came through with an answer which was supported by additional sources.

The National Museum of American Jewish History stands as a monument to, as the name implies, American Jews.  Its purpose is to connect Jews more closely to their heritage and to inspire in people of all backgrounds a greater appreciation for the diversity of the American Jewish experience and the freedoms to which Americans aspire.  The architect, James Polshek, has created a striking symbol of American Jews and their story through the placement and use of materials, textures, shapes, and colors.  You can see more of James Polshek's work at http://ennead.com/#/projects/nmajh.

This experience, seeing the building on the Mall and recognizing the unusual beauty of its presence in that location has caused me to question the direction the City of Fullerton has traveled for decades. 

A recent Friends for Fullerton's Future blog post brought to light the Redevelopment Design Review Committee's selections of less than inspiring architecture. 

I used to have the strong opinion that modern designs just would not work in our downtown.  After long debates and discussions with friends and my visit to Philadelphia I am confident that it can work well. 

Entrepreneurs looking to raise the bar and make their place in Fullerton should look to innovative designs which will stand in contrast to our old and confused architecture.  More importantly, when every other building is a bar or tattoo parlor, business owners need to look at ways of setting their establishment apart from the rest of the herd. 

There is a great transcript of a debate on this architectural issue that took place at Harvard in 1982.  Click HERE and read the arguments that shape our structural world.