From sexually explicit architecture sculptures to battles over postmodern icons, the architecture community has had its fair share of controversy over the past 12 months. It’s not easy to narrow down the sheer number of gaffes and scandals, but here are some of the more memorable moments from 2017. 

Operation Vandelay Industries

One of the biggest stories of the year was that of Paul J Newman, the man discovered through an investigation dubbed “Operation Vandelay Industries” to have been practicing as an architect in the state of New York despite being neither licensed nor registered. Newman was subsequently arrested on three indictments and charged with 58 felonies related to his unauthorized practice of architecture, forgery, and submission of documents to various municipalities.

SCI-Arc can't seem to find a single female architect to include in its Spring 2017 lecture series

When SCI-Arc announced its Spring 2017 lecture series, many noticed that something, or rather, someone(s), were missing. Granted, the roster included historian and theorist Sylvia Lavin as well as the artist Amalia Ulman—but the lack of a single practicing female architect was pretty striking and sparked quite the discussion in our comments section.

Atelier Van Lieshout's sexually explicit scultpure

Citing its erotic nature, officials at the Louvre had a sculpture of a house that resembled a couple having sex withdrawn from a contemporary art fair that was being held at the neighboring Tuileries Gardens. Entitled the Domestikator and the work of the Dutch art and design collective Atelier Van Lieshout, the architectural structure got a happy ending, eventually finding a home in front of the Centre Pompidou. 

No minarets? No dome? Tehran's modern mosque draws the ire of conservatives

Designed by Iranian Fluid Motion Architects, the Vali-e-Asr mosque in Tehran forgoes some features typical to mosques such as a minaret and proper dome. As a result, the structure faced harsh opposition by conservatives, who called the structure an "insulting, postmodern design" and refused to recognize it as a legitimate place of worship. 

Thomas Heatherwick's Pier 55

In 2017, Thomas Heatherwick seemed to be making headlines every other week—his jaw-dropping Zeitz MOCAA opened to rave reviews, progress to the Vessel in NY's Hudson Yards was closely watched, and his controversial Garden Bridge in London was officially canned by the city's mayor. However, the most entertaining saga of 2017 involving Heatherwick may be that of Pier 55, the pet project of Barry Diller that at one point this year seemed to have zero chance of being built only to come out the other end alive and well. 

The Kushner Family's 666 Fifth Avenue

When renderings were released for the Kushner family's Zaha Hadid-designed tower at 666 Fifth Avenue, social media was quick to poke fun. Not only was it designed for one of America's least agreeable families, the structure also looks like a raised middle finger, or even less favorably, a phallus, and sits at 666—the Devil's address. Ultimately, Kushner's business partner, Vornado Realty Trust, ended up pulling the plug on these plans in favor of a simple renovation but not before the internet could have some fun.   

Couple sues neighbors over a house renovated to look like theirs

A wealthy Toronto couple sued their neighbors for $2.5 million in a lawsuit that claimed their neighbors copied the style of their house. Add in appearances by the castle from the James Bond movie 'Skyfall' and a contractor called 'Scary Steve,' both among the evidence in this case, and you have one of the more bizarre stories involving rich people this year. 

Winning design of Flint Castle competition offends

Earlier this year, the Welsh government held a design competition for a statue that would be placed at Flint Castle, the first in a chain of fortresses used by Edward I to suppress Welsh resistance. However, the winning sculpture—a huge ring-shaped walkway meant to reference both the chain of castles its located at and symbolically, the crown—was put on hold following backlash against the design, which many saw as a tone-deaf celebration of the conquest of Wales and its subjugation under British rule.

Snøhetta's Renovation Plans for the AT&T Building

When Snøhetta revealed renderings for their renovation of the AT&T Building, Philip Johnson's both beloved and reviled Postmodern office building, the architecture community was quick to lament the controversial overhaul. The proposed modifications provoked an attempt to have the building granted landmark status and even sparked a protest that had Norman Foster weighing in. 

AIA changes intern title to "design professional"

In a bold semantic move, the AIA renamed NAAB-accredited, employed graduates on the path to licensure, previously referred to as interns, as either "design professionals" or "architectural associates." The name change was meant to reflect this group of emerging professionals' commitment to the field and though many were happy with the linguistic switch, others felt the path to licensure, and its many problems, need more than just a name change.

Find more 2017 in Review wrap-ups here.