Whether you loved them or hated them, the eye-popping glass structures along the I-88 corridor in Naperville and Lisle were something to behold. But several of them, the former Lucent building included, may have lived beyond their usefulness. Many companies are cutting back on office space, leaving a glut of empty structures.
Today’s preservation efforts are focusing more than ever on “embedded energy,” in existing buildings. It’s been said, “The most energy efficient buildings are those that are already here.” They cost time, materials and treasure to build. Tearing them down wastes all that.
Fair enough, but not enough to preserve the building (owned by Nokia until very recently) in Naperville at the corner of Naperville and Warrenville roads.
Built around the turn of the millennium, the building and nearby parking decks are being demolished. I took this pic shortly before demo work began.
Even when it was built, I was not a big fan, so I’m not terribly sad to see it go. But to witness both the construction and eventual demolition of such a building boggles the mind.
