An architectural in memoriam for those we lost to the wrecking ball While 2016 has the sad distinction of saying goodbye to numerous celebrities, the year has not been as difficult for the preservation community as years past. Of course, development pressures, aging structures, and tragic circumstances have contributed to the loss of many famous structures, but overall, according to preservationists contacted for this article, there seems to have been more wins than losses (and many important structures whose fate still hangs in the balance). Here are some of the important buildings lost during 2016.

Wright Auctions
The famed Four Seasons logo sing went for $96,000

Four Seasons Restaurant (Philip Johnson: New York City, New York) The year?s biggest loss may have been this paean to modernist interior design, a power lunch landmark that helped define midcentury style, New American cuisine, and modern dining. While the unparalleled collection of furniture and tableware inside this Seagram?s building hotspot were auctioned off this summer, the grace and beauty of the space can never be recreated (though Eater?s loving look at the restaurant?s last days offers a fitting tribute).

Flickr/Don Shall
Hood Museum of Art entryway before being demolished this fall

Hood Museum (Charles Moore: Hanover, New Hampshire)
A beloved design by a postmodern master is in the midst of a controversial renovation, which will replace the o...