Marcel Breuer's iconic Pirelli Building, once a symbol of New Haven's mid-century embrace of urban renewal and modern architecture, has spent the past two decades completely vacant, save for a recent art show. 

Known for its Brutalist design featuring a 2-story gap, the mid-century masterpiece was taken over by IKEA in the late 90s. Upon acquiring the property, the Swedish furniture giant demolished the adjacent two-story wing to make room for parking spaces and have since left the remaining structure unoccupied, much to the anxiety of preservationists and civic leaders. Listed by the State Register of Historic Places, many believed it would become the victim of IKEA's demolition-by-neglect strategy. 

With the New Haven Independent reporting on new interest in turning the Sargent drive property into a hotel, the building now has a shot at its adaptive reuse. IKEA has yet to announce updates on plans for the Pirelli Building, but the city's Economic Development Administrator Matthew Nemerson told the local paper that the company is in talks with a New England hotel developer.

Like many small cities across the country, Connecticut's New Haven has seen a heightened and invigorated interest in the collegiate city—the result of a combination of revitalization efforts and its reputation as an art hotbed due to its proximity to Yale. This new wave of urban renewal has led to a building boomlet for the town, which may end up saving Breuer's mid-century treasure. “This is good news" Nemerson said. "It is going to be preserved."