Threatened, A New-Brutalist Building Needs Protection

“Of all the arguments for designating Baltimore’s Morris A. Mechanic Theatre a city landmark, one of the strongest comes from the owner itself. Others have reasoned that the 1967 building is a laudable symbol of its times, an inspired work of modern design by an architect of international stature,” John M. Johansen. “But the owner has filed plans with the city indicating what it might do to the vacant building in Charles Center if it’s not protected by landmark status and, in doing so, it demonstrated exactly why it needs to be protected.”