[Johnny Ryall]

'Sun break' metalwork out at county office building Downtown
the Commercial Appeal | By Tom Bailey Jr.

Renovation of the Shelby County Office Building in Downtown Memphis will include removal of the aluminum metalwork that shaded windows, but also made some people think the building was a jail. Some architects regard the structure as a fine example of modern architecture and see it as a historical loss.

Popular myth says the dense, decorative metalwork covering the windows barred inmates from escaping when the Shelby County Office Building held court years ago. That is one reason why so many people just never liked the look of Election Commission headquarters, said Cliff Norville, the county's deputy administrator of support services. "People always thought it was a jail because of that stuff hanging on the building," he said, "but it was just an architectural detail." "In my tenure with Shelby County I cannot remember a single positive comment about the aluminum on the building."

The truth is that the aluminum rectangles and squares of the brise-soleil (pronounced BREEZ soh-LEY, it is French for "breaks the sun") were designed to shade the windows at 157 Poplar. Still, the county is removing the sun baffles as part of a $5 million renovation of the distinctive-looking building at Poplar and Third, and some architects are disturbed over the historical loss. Alfred Lewis Aydelott, the man considered the father of modern architecture in Memphis, designed the four-story building that opened in 1964. "The aluminum screening is integral to the entire architecture, concept and presence of the building," said architect Keith Kays, who just co-wrote "A Survey of Modern Public Buildings in Memphis, Tennessee From 1940 to 1980." "It's a reflection of the technology at that time." Chooch Pickard, president of the American Institute of Architects' Memphis chapter, said the building "is a good example of how technology was developing in that period." "Whether a building is attractive or not is subjective," he said. "People who appreciate modern architecture appreciate that building."

Work crews removed the metal from the building's north side in December and will get the rest later. The county is selling the estimated 40,000 pounds of aluminum for recycling -- 25 to 40 cents a pound -- and will use the money to help pay for the renovation. Work also includes replacing part of the roof; replacing the single-pane windows with insulated, double-pane glass; replacing the heating, cooling and electrical systems; removing asbestos; installing a sprinkler system; renovating the elevators; installing an emergency generator; improving entrances, exits and restrooms to make them ADA-compliant; and remodeling some of the interior.

A spot check of people entering and leaving the building Thursday showed that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. "Personally, I don't like it," Karl Shelter said of the metal baffling that still dominates the south side. "It's just not appealing." But Tom Stephens said he has grown used to the building over the years. It's so unusual looking, he said, he uses the structure to give directions to others. "You tell somebody, 'You see a little short building with a cage on it?'"

Point, counterpoint on the building
County official Cliff Norville: With removal of metal sun screen, county intends to redo the window treatment in a way that adds new architectural flair. Architect Keith Kays: "Style and taste and appreciation of buildings are evolutionary, going through periods of like and dislike. It's important not to discard something because it's out of vogue."