Docomomo US chapters, friend groups, and partners organized tours across the country for Tour Day 2025, many of which focused on the annual theme of Places of Worship. We would especially like to thank the many sacred spaces that opened their doors for Tour Day participants, include St. Peter's in New York City, Fish Church in Stamford, CT, Beth Sholom Synagogue in Elkins Park, PA, and the Cedar Lane Universal Unitarian Church in Bethesda, MD. 

For her final President's Column Katie Horak reflects on a productive year for the organization, her excitement about the upcoming International Docomomo Conference, and the recent passing of architect Frank Gehry.

Our annual list of must-read titles on architecture and design.

Our gift-giving guide for the Modernist in your life packs a design-y punch across price points, with finds for all ages, iconic originals, and a selection of goods designed and made in or inspired by Los Angeles – where we hope to see you March 17–22, at the International Docomomo Conference. Cheers!

When Docomomo US was created more than 30 years ago, we set out to build a network of like-minded individuals to offer leadership, knowledge, and enthusiasm for the modern movement, which was little and little appreciated. We could not have envisioned the remarkable change in public attitude toward modernism we see today. Every year we thank and acknowledge our longstanding members in a formal way and recognized them during the Docomomo US Modernism in America Awards Ceremony. 

In mid-October 2025, the architecture community was surprised by an article in the Dallas Morning News that Dallas officials are considering demolishing I.M. Pei's iconic Brutalist Dallas City Hall. This follows a Feburary 2025 approval by the Dallas Landmark Commission, who voted to initiate historic designation.

Special Edition Vol. 2 of Docomomo US’s 2025 Annual Theme on “Places of Worship” focuses on the adaptive reuse of Modernist sacred places. As the issue’s guest editor, Partners for Sacred Places approaches the topic of adaptive reuse from a “both-and” perspective.

At its height, the Norwegian Seamen’s Church consisted of 31 churches across the globe, serving as a home away from home for over 900,000 seafaring and expatriate Norwegians. Today, as Spyre Center, the building has found new life through adaptive reuse for a contemporary audience seeking a holistic health community rather than organized religion. 

Two Mid-Century Modernist chapels in New Orleans, the Episcopal Chapel of the Holy Spirit and the Methodist NOLA Wesley Center, built within three blocks and ten years of each other, demonstrate what it looks like for a religious building to stay and adapt.

Crosses of Chicago is a series of photographs by Kim E. Lovely that documents 30 storefront churches that were located throughout the South and West sides of Chicago between 2005 and 2007. The series captures the bold graphic aesthetic of storefront churches, including hand-painted Latin crosses, signage, and graphic facades.

A case study for other postwar synagogue designers, Park Synagogue is now becoming an important precedent in the preservation and adaptive reuse of Modernist sacred places.

North Christian Church and its site are in transition from a house of worship to a secular purpose, as part of a public library system. This presents an intriguing opportunity and challenge for creative solutions highlighting the unique design by Eero Saarinen and his colleagues, while devising appropriate designs for the new use.  

Docomomo US is currently seeking qualified applicants to contribute to the ongoing leadership of the organization as a one year student board member – starting on January 1, 2026, and ending on December 31, 2026 – the term is potentially renewable for one year at the discretion of the board.

San Francisco aims to demolish Embarcadero Plaza and Vaillancourt Fountain as part of the Embarcadero Plaza and Sue Bierman Park Renovation Project, an initiative kickstarted by private interests.

A coalition of advocates have come together to urge the new owners of Victor Lundy's home and studio in Bellaire, Texas to abandon plans to deconstruct the house.

Docomomo US recent response to the Trump Executive Order to make ‘Federal Architecture Beautiful Again’.

It’s our annual survey of the Modern real estate marketplace, where in we hope to connect modern homes with new stewards who will uphold each property's original integrity.

The Nuclear Ship Savannah is not only the world’s first nuclear-powered merchant ship but also served as a floating showcase of mid-century American art and design. Now, not only can visitors experience the restored modern passenger areas like the dining room, staterooms, veranda and main lobby, but they can also walk inside the former reactor space, which has been outfitted with interpretive displays to aid in understanding how a nuclear reactor works. 

The Docomomo US Annual Theme “Places of Worship” profiles and explores the rich array of postwar Modern religious buildings that can be found in almost every community across the nation. It’s worth noting from the start that these buildings house worship, yes, but often much more.