Staunton's Lost Architecture

What is lost when buildings come down

Here is an example of Staunton’s established urban patterns and architectural rhythm removed for surface parking and new bank buildings.

What else is lost?

• High quality building materials
• Embodied energy
• Locations for active businesses
• Upstairs living that supports business

Carefully look at the photo from 1962. Note the six commercial store buildings on the right demolished for surface parking.

The energy embodied in the bricks alone in a typical three-story, 20-x-100-foot main street storefront building is roughly equal to the amount of energy embodied in 3,900 gallons of gasoline – enough to keep the average American driving for more than eight years – or to the amount of energy saved by recycling 1.3 million aluminum cans. (Advisory Council on Historic Preservation)