Cloepfil's MAD @ 2 Columbus Circle amongst its neighbors. Photo Michael Paul Oman-Reagan

Brad Cloepfil's incredibly contentious 2 Columbus Circle opens tomorrow and the NYT's gives it some pretty faint praise along with a fair amount of criticism. Personally, I feel the project flies in the face of all these highly performative and histrionic buildings architects have been putting up lately and that is bold in a different way. The real question is how does it reframe the Columbus Circle and how well do its galleries work? It just seems like everyone wanted this thing to do a jig but what Brad has done is create a more useable and subtle building. I think there is room for subtle in New York.

The architect aquits himself well in this interview from Architectural Record at Business Week's site.

Also, check out part 1of PORT's interview with Brad Cloepfil and get ready for the super massive part 2, it's the longest interview we've ever done and I hope to have it up very soon so check back.