The Collin County Observer

News, Analysis & Opinion for Collin County

Brutalism and the Collin County Courthouse

06/29/09

11:19:33 pm, by bill

, 105 words,

Categories: Observer Opinions, Commissioners Salaries, Indigent Defense, Indigent Healthcare, Open Government, Poverty, Discrimination - equality

Brutalism and the Collin County Courthouse

This from the Dallas Morning News' Ed Housewright writing in the McKinney Blog:

State preservationists love old courthouse

I had a story today on the Texas Historical Commission trying to save the recently abandoned Collin County Courthouse.

Many consider the 1979 building generic and boring.

The historical commissioner head, however, says the six-story cube is a "good example of a modern form of architecture known as Brutalism which is gaining notoriety and appreciation among architects and historic preservationists."

"Brutalism", eh? I think that term accurately describes a whole lot of what I observed in the 6th floor commissioners courtroom there over the last several years.

Bill

Permalink 8 comments

Comments, Pingbacks:

Comment from: Collin County Citizen [Visitor]

What ironic poetry.

Permalink 06/30/09 @ 22:21

Comment from: Jim Blue [Visitor]

"It looks like an old Soviet apartment building. There's nothing that warrants any sort of historic consideration," from County Judge Keith Self. WHAT???!!!! Self lacks the respect for an institution that makes America different in freedom and its judicial system protecting the rights of suspects. His disrespect makes a mockery of the many, many cases that have been heard in this building. Whether you like the architecture or not, to compare it to a Communist Soviet building goes way beyond what we would expect from the highest ranking County official Shame on you Judge Self.

Permalink 07/01/09 @ 13:04

Comment from: Janie [Visitor]

You have to admit it's pretty ugly... and all that wasted space. I remember when it was built....such a waste of money at the time.

Permalink 07/01/09 @ 20:35

Comment from: McKMom [Visitor]

Who cares about it being ugly? What I care about is wasting tax payer dollars. Collin County officials have already done a fine job with wasting money and it needs to stop.

Permalink 07/02/09 @ 08:33

Comment from: Janie [Visitor]

It's the city of McKinney wanting to tear it down! Not Collin County officials!

Permalink 07/02/09 @ 10:47

Comment from: Brandi [Visitor]

· http://www.mckinneyupdate.com

Again, might want to check out www.mckinneyupdate.com as I'm pretty sure I broke that story which was published on June 4, 2009. Here is the link
http://www.mckinneyupdate.com/Courthousesaleissue.html

The story mentioned above is dated June 29. Just a thought.

Permalink 07/07/09 @ 17:36

Comment from: Evan Jarvis [Visitor]

I am the son of a founding partner of the firm that designed this courthouse. I think some of the comments on it's architecture are unfounded and uneducated. This is a very sound building in all respects. We will never see the value of this type of construction again. Construction prices and material has more than doubled. Now add in demolition. Hmmmm... I think the new City Official to be hero's by saving this building and updating it. As far as it having a Soviet likeness I now my father and uncle (Duane Jarvis & Donald Jarvis) would be offended personally. Both of these men served the community and their country. They are also well respected among their fellows. Post humasly Duane Jarvis AIA and Donald Jarvis FAIA. This building was designed to expand and serve the community in the future it's value to the tax payers and community would more than double if McKinney just remodeled and added three stories to it. Plus the annex.....oh yea...is there a hotel project the the tax payers took on the the County/City could not finish...waste of money...that building has been paid for and serving the community of years before the City purchased it...
Let us put it all on paper and the lets see...
P.S. At one time or another most all design has it's out trends.

Permalink 09/05/09 @ 15:35

Comment from: Floyd [Visitor]

I was stupid and got a payday loan. Now I got in a bind and could not pay it. Mo money turned it over to the district attorney. Now they going after me. In collin country bylaws it said that they can go after postdated or hold checks. Again I know I am stupid. I hope they pass some laws for payday loans. But as for now they are still wasting money

Permalink 10/25/09 @ 11:37