The world has lost a tremendous number of historic structures that were once monumental testaments to mankind's ingenuity and innovation. Many have been lost to war, terrorism, fire, or natural disasters, but a great number have been willfully demolished in the name of "progress." Most heritage and architecture enthusiasts can name at least one building in their city that they wish had been protected, but was razed to make way for new spaces deemed more fit for modern times. But from the rubble of these proud landmarks rose the fight for heritage preservation. Recognizing not only the aesthetic and beautifying purpose they served, but their social and cultural importance as well, the loud voices of preservationists around the world have spurred the creation of legislation that seeks to protect remarkable buildings and prevent their untimely demise. 

One of the world's biggest architectural losses came in 1963, when New York City's Pennsylvania Station was demolished in what many considered "an act of vandalism." As automobiles began to reshape urban areas, train travel decreased and building maintenance costs became prohibitive. The transit services were placed underground in a new facility that has often been derided for its cavernous spaces, with Madison Square Garden sitting above. The outrage that followed the demolition of the prestigious building channeled itself into a national movement promoting the preservation of historic structures. In the subsequent years, the passage of new laws opened the door to legal protection for numerous New York landmarks, including Grand Central Terminal. 

Pennsylvania Station, image by the Library of Congress via Wikimedia Commons

Despite the creation of the Landmarks Preservation Commission, the 47-storey Singer Building was dismantled in 1968. It was the tallest building in the world when it was completed in 1908, and it still holds the undesirable distinction of being the tallest building ever purposely demolished by its owner. Its small interior spaces, which were deemed uneconomical, catalyzed its destruction. It was replaced by the 54-storey One Liberty Plaza, a steel-framed office tower with a black facade.

Singer Building, image by Offices of the Singer Company via Wikimedia Commons

New York City's battle with the wrecking ball has similar parallels to The Windy City's. Opened in 1905, the Chicago Federal Building housed federal courts, the main post office, and other government bureaus. Topped by a majestic dome and featuring a rotunda with a larger diameter than that of the United States Capitol, the building's destruction added another Beaux-Arts masterpiece to the growing list of demolished structures. Though it's one of the city's most considerable architectural losses, the act did spawn a Modernist gem in the Kluczynski Federal Building by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. 

Chicago Federal Building, image via Wikimedia Commons

Most preservation efforts have focused on century-old buildings, yet those exemplifying the design movements that were popular in the mid-20th century are vanishing at an accelerating pace. With its heavy use of concrete, Brutalism isn't often cited as an attractive architectural style, but its uncompromising approach, raw appearance, and sculptural qualities have garnered some fans. The nine-storey Prentice Women's Hospital Building, also in Chicago, was one of the most recognized Brutalist icons. Its cloverleaf shape and oval windows were standout features of the 1975-built edifice, which seemingly hovered above a five-storey podium. When plans to replace the building with a medical research facility were unveiled, preservationists and prominent architects called upon the city to protect it. Architect Jeanne Gang, who built the curvaceous Aqua building nearby, suggested incorporating the structure into a new skyscraper development. Their calls proved futile however, as crews went ahead with demolition. The most recent razing on our list, the building had completely disappeared by 2014. 

Prentice Women's Hospital Building, image by Umbugbene via Wikimedia Commons

For 800 years, the fresh food market Les Halles was considered the "belly of Paris." Its crowded alleyways and gigantic cast iron and glass pavilions provided a social gathering place for Parisians to mix and mingle. But the immense popularity of the vibrant shopping district ironically led to its end. Traffic bottlenecks became a serious issue, leading to the removal of the market in 1971. Two of the arcade structures were saved, with one residing in the Parisian suburb of Nogent-sur-Marne, and the other in Yokohama, Japan. The site has since been converted into an underground shopping mall and metro station, but current plans will see an undulating glass canopy installed in a bid to reinvigorate the historic property. 

Design of Les Halles by Victor Baltard, image via Wikimedia Commons

The Larkin Administration Building in Buffalo, New York housed offices for the soap company of the same name when it opened in 1906. Clad in dark red brick, the five-storey structure was notable for several reasons, not the least of which is its architect: Frank Lloyd Wright. It was the first air-conditioned building in the world, and its built-in furniture and stained glass windows were innovative ornamental additions to the interior. The Larkin Company fell into financial trouble and the building was subsequently foreclosed by the city in 1945 for back taxes. It was sold to Western Trading Corporation in 1949. Indicative of the automobile era that changed the urban composition of cities across America, the new owners planned a truck stop for the site. Despite countrywide calls to save the building, the company razed the structure. The truck stop was never built and the site has languished as a parking lot ever since. A marker and single wall are the only signs of Wright's work remaining on the site. 

Larkin Administration Building in 1906, image via Wikimedia Commons

The Richfield Tower in Los Angeles was completed in 1929 for Richfield Oil. Its unique black and gold colour scheme represented the "black gold" of the oil business. The 12-storey building was topped by a spire vertically accented by a 'RICHFIELD' sign. As the company expanded, new space was needed, and the building was demolished in 1969. City National Plaza, then named ARCO Plaza, now occupies the site. Despite the significant loss, the black and gold elevator doors from the tower were salvaged and incorporated into the lobby of the new complex. 

Richfield Tower in 1933, image via Wikimedia Commons

While these acts of destruction cannot be undone, they also sparked a new appreciation for historic buildings while shining a spotlight on their vulnerability, especially when post-war development sought to redefine cities as we knew them. Now, the post-war buildings that replaced some of the most impressive architecture on the planet are under threat in much the same way. But lessons learned from past mistakes have been embedded into legislation that seeks to protect buildings, and our definition of "significant" or "historic" is evolving to capture buildings from the mid-20th century, and these structures are offered an opportunity for preservation that the century-old monuments of the past were not.