Name changes are not a big deal at all, as they occur very often. I think why people are so sentimental about this case is because the height and symbolism of the building. As for my city, we are no strangers to experiencing name changes on well known buildings. Pan-Am has become MetLife, Citicorp has become Citigroup, and RCA has become GE. Point is people will call buildings what they want. But as time goes on, generations will know these buildings for their name at that point of time. From the ones I listed in New York, I refer to all of them by their current names because that’s simply what I know. Just as I know ‘Sears Tower’, that’s what I will always refer to it as.
The renovations on the other hand are simply a result from the new owner of the building wanting to stay up to date in an office market that is tight. Bottom line, the building is dated, and tenants are navigating to prices that they believe or worthwhile for what they are getting in return of space. An iconic building doesn’t always attract tenants on that merit alone; therefore renovations are a fact of life for any structure. I can’t say I like all the end results, but it’s a appearance is money business.
__________________
"I'm going there, but I like it here wherever it is.."
|