Back view of the American Press Institute Building, designed by architect Marcel Breuer, “master of modernism.” API Photo
The vacant American Press Institute Building at 11690 Sunrise Valley Drive drew international attention this week, days before a scheduled rezoning hearing at the Fairfax County Planning Commission this Thursday, June 16, 2016.
The building was designed by architect Marcel Breuer, called a "Master of Modernism," who also designed the Whitney Museum (now the Met Breuer-Metropolitan Museum of Art) and the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris.
“This is all pretty exciting,” said Carol Ann Riordan, who went live with an online petition to save the historical building. “Just in 48 hours, this has gotten the attention of people all over the globe.”
The American Press Institute building, a two-story, 48,200-square-foot office building, was constructed in 1973.
“We would be ecstatic if this world class building could find a second life,” said Riordan, formerly with the API executive staff. “Wouldn’t it be marvelous if another organization would move into that grand building and the torch could be passed?”
The movement to save the American Press Institute building comes from a core group of journalists and other news media executives who attended API seminars during its Reston years along with API staff members, guest faculty members, and others in leadership roles with the Institute, plus architects, historians, preservationists and community leaders, Riordan said.
Separate from Riordan’s preservation efforts, Dennis Hays, Friends of the Reston Regional Library, had a brainstorm, which many in Reston are buzzing about: move the Reston Regional Library into the building.
“We would think the county would love to have a solution. We think this is an elegant solution,” said Hays.
Reston Regional Library, the Embry Rucker Shelter and other public uses are all vying for a finite amount of space in Reston Town Center. This could solve many difficult future uncertainties all at once.
“It would just be so perfect. It is a godsend,” said Connie Hartke, of Reston Citizens Association.
On the petition, she wrote, “Reston Regional Library, the most used in the County, deserves this fabulous location! Halt the demolition so this option can be explored.”
FORMER EMPLOYEES of the American Press Institute “consider ourselves stewards of the institute and building,” said Riordan.
“We all say it’s our beloved building,” said Riordan, a 30-year Reston resident.
“In 1981, I was lucky to go to my first seminar at the API,” she said. “In 1986, API asked if I would be interested in joining the executive staff,” which she did from 1986 to 2012. She served as the Institute's interim executive director prior to API's merger with the Newspaper Association of America.
“It is, in fact, one of the few buildings in Reston that is consistent with Bob Simon's vision for encouraging architectural excellence in our community,” according to Reston 20/20.
American Institute of Architects Virginia and the American Institute of Architects Northern Virginia have also circulated the online petition at http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/breuer
Riordan said she and others thought the redevelopment of the building into new townhouses by Sekas Homes, LTD, was all but “a done deal.”
What’s Next
The Fairfax County Planning Commission has a scheduled “Decision Only” hearing on Thursday, June 16, 8:15 p.m. on Sekas Homes, LTD, application that involves “demolishing the existing 48,200-square-foot office building” to construct 34 single family attached dwellings and one multifamily residential building with 10 units.
The Commission makes a recommendation to the Board of Supervisors, which will have its own public hearing and staff analysis before making its decision regarding the potential redevelopment.
THE PLANNING COMMISSION has a scheduled public hearing on a rezoning application submitted by Sekas Homes on Thursday, June 15, at 8 p.m. in the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Boardroom.
Planning Commission staff recommends approval.
“The applicant proposes to redevelop the property by demolishing the existing 48,200 square foot office building and constructing 34 single family attached dwellings and one multifamily residential building with 10 units, which results in an overall density of 9.56 dwelling units per acre,” according to Planning Commission staff report.
FOR NEARLY 38 YEARS, tens of thousands of news media executives — representing a “Who’s Who in Journalism” — attended leadership seminars in the nonprofit’s Breuer-designed headquarters in Reston, according to the petition. “The API building is historically and architecturally significant. It is a crucial chapter in Reston’s rich history. It should have a second life instead of being torn down”
“Quite simply, this growing coalition, has gathered local, national, international attention,” said Riordan.
On May 17, David Edwards, Architectural Historian for the Commonwealth of Virginia Department of Historic Resources, wrote: "It is our opinion that the API building reaches the level of exceptional importance … and strongly encourages its preservation,” according to the petition.
“This historically and architecturally significant building is powerful and inspirational. It ties together our heritage, our culture, and our enduring values. It serves as a mirror, helping us understand where we’ve been and where we’re going. It is something to be treasured and preserved. The American Press Institute building deserves no less,” according to Riordan