Plans to expand the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, which involve demolishing part of Robert Venturi and Denise Scott Brown’s 1996 addition, have come under fire as architects fight to save the beloved postmodern work. With over 70 signatures, including those of Sir Terry Farrell, Paul Goldberger, Sam Jacob, Inga Saffron, and Robert A. M. Stern, a petition recently sent to the MCA board is asking the museum to reconsider the plans in favor of an approach that is "sensitive and respectful to the village of La Jolla."

In 1996, the museum hired the celebrated Philadelphia architectural firm to create a much-needed overhaul. The result was a $9 million expansion, that provided an additional 10,000 square feet of space, and a renovation, that restored the original front facade of the Mission-style building originally designed in 1916 by Irving J. Gill. Situated on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean, the museum in La Jolla—described at the time by Goldberger as "an exquisite project, overflowing with those qualities that make Mr. Venturi [and Scott Brown] designer[s] of extraordinary gifts"—has become a well-loved urban space.

Now under threat, VSB's design would be compromised by the 75-year-old museum's $55 million extension. Led by New York architect Annabelle Selldorf, the new design would tear down much of the facade as well as the iconic colonnade. In a public plea to save the building, the signees say they fear it will interrupt "the urbane rhythm of the street" and destroy the courtyard. They also take issue with the move to relocate the museum’s entry to a formulaic glass lobby, a decision they say "thumbs its nose at Gill’s architecture."

Despite public outcry, the extension will likely continue as planned, with the removal of some existing sections already underway. While the fight to save the architectural landmark trudges on, another VSB work has been recently met with a much better fate. Back in May, their Sainsbury Wing at the National Gallery in London was granted the highest level of historic designation and protection by the U.K government, a decision applauded by architects around the world.