Last week, John Belle, one of the founding partners of the architecture firm Beyer Blinder Belle, died at his home in Remsenburg, N.Y. He was 84.
The crux of his professional philosophy can be found in a quotation used on the firm’s website: “Preservation is one of the highest forms of good citizenship.” Belle believed the urban renewal movement was setting a dangerous precedent that threatened to eradicate sites of historical and cultural importance.
As such, the work of Beyer Blinder Belle is often invisible, but can be found in some of New York City’s greatest icons, including the restoration of Grand Central Terminal, the creation of the Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration, and many more.
For a look at John Belle’s legacy, watch the above video.
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