Press
The Roundhouse and its merits have been the frequent subject of local press. See below a selection of recent news pieces that discuss both the building’s legacy and its potential future development.
Philadelphia Deserves More Thoughtful Approaches to Historic Preservation
Randy Mason
December 4, 2024
Hidden City Philadelphia
Recent decisions made by Mayor Cherelle Parker’s administration involving historic preservation reflect a deep misunderstanding of the value of culture to thriving cities. The choices to threaten Chinatown with the Sixers arena project and refuse legal protection for the Police Administration Building (aka the Roundhouse) are short-sighted, damage the diversity of Philadelphia’s cultural heritage, and reflect a narrow vision of both preservation and urban redevelopment.
Should a building be doomed by its harmful past?
Jake Blumgart
November 13, 2024
The Philadelphia Inquirer
A recurrent argument emerged at Friday’s meeting of the Philadelphia Historical Commission among those who opposed preservation efforts: Some buildings are simply too tainted by their past to save. The former Police Headquarters known as the Roundhouse and the former Republican Party headquarters from the era of GOP machine rule in the late 19th-through-mid-20th centuries were considered last week for addition to the local historic register.
The Roundhouse in Philly will not be historically designated after tie vote
Aaron Moselle
November 8, 2024
PlanPhilly
After more than 60 years, the Roundhouse may be demolished. The Philadelphia Historical Commission on Friday voted down a nomination to preserve the curvilinear building at 7th and Race streets on the city’s register of historic places. The decision means the city-owned property, the former home of the Philadelphia Police Department, may now be knocked down to make way for new development.
Will the Roundhouse be added to the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places?
August 3, 2023
City of Philadelphia
The property at 700–34 Race Street, known as “The Roundhouse,” has been nominated to the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places. The nomination will go before the Committee on Historic Designation on September 6 and the Historical Commission on October 13. If commissioners agree that the building meets the requirements for designation, the building will be added to the register.
What’s the Future of the Roundhouse? We asked the community.
Bruce Bohri
April 3, 2023
City of Philadelphia
Today the City released “Framing the Future of the Roundhouse.” Last year we spent six months asking people what kind of future they envisioned for the former police headquarters. This report summarizes what we learned.
The report is available in English, Spanish and simplified Chinese.
What’s Next for the Roundhouse? Confronting the Past to Shape the Future
Alan Jaffe
Winter 2023
Extant Magazine/Hidden City Philadelphia
“What do we do with the Roundhouse?” As the Philadelphia Police Department completed its long-anticipated move from its distinctive curved concrete headquarters at 7th and Race Streets to a repurposed Philadelphia Inquirer tower at 400 North Broad Street, the City turned to that lingering question.
The Roundhouse’s architect debunks a Philly urban legend: The building wasn’t designed to look like handcuffs
Jake Blumgart
September 11, 2022
The Philadelphia Inquirer
Robert Geddes wants to see Philly’s former police headquarters return to its original, modernizing and progressive vision.
‘Wide and varied’ opinions offered of future of Philly’s Roundhouse during months of public input
Aaron Moselle
December 9, 2022
PlanPhilly, WHYY
The city is one step closer to selling the Roundhouse, the former headquarters of the Philadelphia Police Department.
Whatever happens to the Roundhouse, the process must be transparent and benefit Philadelphia
The Editorial Board
November 17, 2024
The Philadelphia Inquirer
The Philadelphia Historical Commission’s decision not to approve preservation protections for the former city Police Headquarters known as the Roundhouse raises an important question: What’s next? Before there is any rush to demolish the unique Brutalist concrete hulk, the city should seek proposals from development partners to either renovate the Roundhouse or tear it down and redevelop the nearly three-acre site at Seventh and Race Streets.
Parker Administration Orders Historical Commission Appointees to Reject Roundhouse Designation
Kimberly Haas
November 12, 2024
Hidden City Philadelphia
At its meeting on November 8, the Philadelphia Historical Commission added six new properties to the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places, but denied the long-awaited designation of the former Police Administration Building, also known as the Roundhouse, at 700-734 Race Street.
Philadelphia’s Historical Commission decides the Roundhouse is not worthy of preservation
Jake Blumgart
November 8, 2024
The Philadelphia Inquirer
The Philadelphia Historical Commission on Friday rejected preservation protections for the former city Police Headquarters building on Race Street, long called the Roundhouse because of its unique architecture. The designation effort would have safeguarded the building against demolition or substantial exterior alteration. The commission voted 6-6 on the question of preserving the building, so the motion failed under the body’s rules.
To redeem the Roundhouse, make it the anchor for a new, affordable neighborhood
Inga Saffron
January 3, 2023
The Philadelphia Inquirer
As part of its efforts to help people reimagine the Police Administration Building at Eighth and Race Streets, the Preservation Alliance asked architect Anthony Bacali to envision what it would look like if a new residential building was constructed in the existing parking lot.
What should Philly do with the Roundhouse? No, seriously, the city is asking for your help.
Jake Blumgart
August 7, 2022
The Philadelphia Inquirer
Philadelphia is preparing to sell its old police headquarters for redevelopment. It’s starting by asking people how they feel about the building.
Police Administration Building the Next Big Preservation Debate
Kimberly Haas
January 28, 2022
Hidden City Philadelphia
Over the next few months the Philadelphia Police Department (PPD) will be fully installed in its new home at 400 N. Broad Street. Establishing a new headquarters has been a long time in the making.
Building Stories: The Roundhouse
Fon Wang & Ashley Hahn (ed.)
May 6, 2016
PlanPhilly
The Philadelphia Police have resided at “The Roundhouse” on Race Street since 1963. Now work is underway to relocate the police to a campus in West Philadelphia. As they leave, what will become of the Roundhouse, one of Philly’s most polarizing buildings?
Philadelphia Deserves More Thoughtful Approaches to Historic Preservation
Randy Mason
December 4, 2024
Hidden City Philadelphia
Recent decisions made by Mayor Cherelle Parker’s administration involving historic preservation reflect a deep misunderstanding of the value of culture to thriving cities. The choices to threaten Chinatown with the Sixers arena project and refuse legal protection for the Police Administration Building (aka the Roundhouse) are short-sighted, damage the diversity of Philadelphia’s cultural heritage, and reflect a narrow vision of both preservation and urban redevelopment.
Whatever happens to the Roundhouse, the process must be transparent and benefit Philadelphia
The Editorial Board
November 17, 2024
The Philadelphia Inquirer
The Philadelphia Historical Commission’s decision not to approve preservation protections for the former city Police Headquarters known as the Roundhouse raises an important question: What’s next? Before there is any rush to demolish the unique Brutalist concrete hulk, the city should seek proposals from development partners to either renovate the Roundhouse or tear it down and redevelop the nearly three-acre site at Seventh and Race Streets.
Should a building be doomed by its harmful past?
Jake Blumgart
November 13, 2024
The Philadelphia Inquirer
A recurrent argument emerged at Friday’s meeting of the Philadelphia Historical Commission among those who opposed preservation efforts: Some buildings are simply too tainted by their past to save. The former Police Headquarters known as the Roundhouse and the former Republican Party headquarters from the era of GOP machine rule in the late 19th-through-mid-20th centuries were considered last week for addition to the local historic register.
Parker Administration Orders Historical Commission Appointees to Reject Roundhouse Designation
Kimberly Haas
November 12, 2024
Hidden City Philadelphia
At its meeting on November 8, the Philadelphia Historical Commission added six new properties to the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places, but denied the long-awaited designation of the former Police Administration Building, also known as the Roundhouse, at 700-734 Race Street.
The Roundhouse in Philly will not be historically designated after tie vote
Aaron Moselle
November 8, 2024
PlanPhilly
After more than 60 years, the Roundhouse may be demolished. The Philadelphia Historical Commission on Friday voted down a nomination to preserve the curvilinear building at 7th and Race streets on the city’s register of historic places. The decision means the city-owned property, the former home of the Philadelphia Police Department, may now be knocked down to make way for new development.
Philadelphia’s Historical Commission decides the Roundhouse is not worthy of preservation
Jake Blumgart
November 8, 2024
The Philadelphia Inquirer
The Philadelphia Historical Commission on Friday rejected preservation protections for the former city Police Headquarters building on Race Street, long called the Roundhouse because of its unique architecture. The designation effort would have safeguarded the building against demolition or substantial exterior alteration. The commission voted 6-6 on the question of preserving the building, so the motion failed under the body’s rules.
What’s the Future of the Roundhouse? We asked the community.
Bruce Bohri
April 3, 2023
City of Philadelphia
Today the City released “Framing the Future of the Roundhouse.” Last year we spent six months asking people what kind of future they envisioned for the former police headquarters. This report summarizes what we learned.
The report is available in English, Spanish and simplified Chinese.
What’s Next for the Roundhouse? Confronting the Past to Shape the Future
Alan Jaffe
Winter 2023
Extant Magazine/Hidden City Philadelphia
“What do we do with the Roundhouse?” As the Philadelphia Police Department completed its long-anticipated move from its distinctive curved concrete headquarters at 7th and Race Streets to a repurposed Philadelphia Inquirer tower at 400 North Broad Street, the City turned to that lingering question.
To redeem the Roundhouse, make it the anchor for a new, affordable neighborhood
Inga Saffron
January 3, 2023
The Philadelphia Inquirer
As part of its efforts to help people reimagine the Police Administration Building at Eighth and Race Streets, the Preservation Alliance asked architect Anthony Bacali to envision what it would look like if a new residential building was constructed in the existing parking lot.
‘Wide and varied’ opinions offered of future of Philly’s Roundhouse during months of public input
Aaron Moselle
December 9, 2022
PlanPhilly, WHYY
The city is one step closer to selling the Roundhouse, the former headquarters of the Philadelphia Police Department.
The Roundhouse’s architect debunks a Philly urban legend: The building wasn’t designed to look like handcuffs
Jake Blumgart
September 11, 2022
The Philadelphia Inquirer
Robert Geddes wants to see Philly’s former police headquarters return to its original, modernizing and progressive vision.
What should Philly do with the Roundhouse? No, seriously, the city is asking for your help.
Jake Blumgart
August 7, 2022
The Philadelphia Inquirer
Philadelphia is preparing to sell its old police headquarters for redevelopment. It’s starting by asking people how they feel about the building.
Police Administration Building the Next Big Preservation Debate
Kimberly Haas
January 28, 2022
Hidden City Philadelphia
Over the next few months the Philadelphia Police Department (PPD) will be fully installed in its new home at 400 N. Broad Street. Establishing a new headquarters has been a long time in the making.
Building Stories: The Roundhouse
Fon Wang & Ashley Hahn (ed.)
May 6, 2016
PlanPhilly
The Philadelphia Police have resided at “The Roundhouse” on Race Street since 1963. Now work is underway to relocate the police to a campus in West Philadelphia. As they leave, what will become of the Roundhouse, one of Philly’s most polarizing buildings?