"This is one of the first buildings by one of the pre-eminent architects of the late 20th century, and it's gone."

That walk in the gallery changed his life, Mr. Gehry said, putting him on the road to becoming one of the world's pre-eminent architects.

The Academy (1859) is perhaps the most impressive of the three and was designed by Theophilus Hansen - pre-eminent architect of his generation.

He also noted that Ernest George was one of five or six pre-eminent English architects at the time of its commission.

Gilbert went on to be one of the pre-eminent architects of his time, designing the Woolworth Building and the United States Supreme Court building, among many others.

Nevada's pre-eminent architect and former mining engineer Frederic DeLongchamps designed the 1927 version of the Riverside Hotel for George Wingfield.

Ely Jacques Kahn, who designed the 32-story Squibb building, built his reputation as the pre-eminent architect of office buildings in the 20's on his use of color.

Among its alumni are such pre-eminent architects as Richard Meier, B.Arch.

Albert Rodrigues, Georgetown's pre-eminent architect, told me there are 15 public buildings in Georgetown, including St. George's, that are in "profoundly critical" need of restoration.