DESIGN DEBACLE

Celebrated Swiss architects Herzog & de Meuron were hired in 1998 to design the $70 million Blanton Museum at the University of Texas at Austin. But after drafting their ideas, the architects quickly realized that university regents had no interest in innovation – they wanted a grand design copied from the campus’ existing Mediterranean style. After several volleys, the architects abandoned the project and left town. A missed opportunity, lament critics. – Architecture Magazine