Yesterday the Washington, DC Historic Preservation Review Board (HPRB) conferred historic landmark status on DC's Third Church of Christ, Scientist, over the objections of the congregation. The Washington Post and the Examiner both report the story. At the request of a group that included an architectural historian, the board voted 7-0 to designate the building, designed by architect Araldo Cossutta, as a historical landmark. It is an important example of the modern architectural form known as "brutalism"-- a fortress-like concrete "boxy structure" with few windows. (Photo of building.) The designation prevents the Church from carrying out plans to tear down the building and replace it with a smaller structure. Now no changes can be made without approval of the HPRB. The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty sent a letter to the HPRB arguing that landmarking the building would violate the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.
UPDATE: The full text of the Becket Fund's letter, which focuses on the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act as well as RFRA, is now available online.
