One huge compressor | The Salt Lake Tribune

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Phillip W. Johnson ("The cost of ugly," Forum, July 9) and Craig Glover ("Zion's cracker box," Forum, July 12) describe the new Federal Courthouse in Salt Lake City as the "ugliest building in Utah." While this is a crowded category, I am inclined to agree.

I'm sure that in the swanky digs of Thomas Phifer and Partners, the New York architectural firm which profited from this perfect crime, the associates are swelling with pride that the ignorant natives Out West are unhappy. In the rarefied air of the American Institute of Architects, it is award-worthy to offend the quaint tastes of the bourgeoisie — even better when the offended are of no consequence.

Where was that job anyway — Utah? (Hearty laughter and another round of single malt.)

I am reminded of Prince Charles' comment on some similarly "brutalist" architecture in England. Chuck said: "You have to give this much to the Luftwaffe — when it knocked down our buildings, it didn't replace them with anything more offensive than rubble."

In this case, the feds knocked down Port O' Call, the liveliest corner in the state of Utah, and replaced it with a super-sized, air-conditioning compressor.

McKay Edwards

Salt Lake City