Modernist Marshall Center Faces Wrecking Ball TAMPA (WUSF) - Modernist buildings such as the original USF Marshall Center have been called
"a very special genre that was unique to the United States, very American, and the buildings here at USF not only represent the United States at the peak of its postwar boom, but represent the subtropical environment that was unique to Florida."

Preservationists such as Tampa's Del Acosta want to avoid a similar fate for the remaining original USF buildings. They're uniformly clad in buff-colored brick and feature concrete sunshades to keep out the harsh Florida sun. They include the original low-slung chemistry building, the Life Sciences Building, Theatre One and the original Student Services tower, which was the campus' first library.

Many, like the courtyard of the Administration Building, are open-air and feature natural tropical plants and fountains. That's in contrast to the newer buildings, which are designed to keep out as much of the elements as possible.

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