Architecture can yield glorious tombstones

A new book, The Edifice Complex, looks at how some of the world’s most famous buildings were designed as architectural monuments to the people who provided the funding for them. But, many of these monuments far outlived the forces they were designed to glorify. Case in point: The former Pan Am building at 200 Park Avenue: It’s now the MetLife Building, because Pan American Airways went out of business shortly after erecting it. more [Slate]