Garland Jones Building – Identity

Finding inspiration in Raleigh’s architectural past.

Preservation Raleigh has taken inspiration from the Garland Jones Office Building story to create our brand. Our primary logo is a window detail from photos of the building. The original photo above is licensed from Raleighskyline.com.

The Story Behind Our Logo

The  demolition of the Garland Jones Office Building remains one of the most widely discussed urban planning events in Raleigh’s history. When Wake County made the decision to replace the modernist landmark with a new justice center, debates filled local blogs, print media, and community circles. Yet, despite the passionate community discourse, opposition within the halls of county government was largely absent, and the building’s fate was sealed.

Constructed in 1960 as the First Federal Savings and Loan building, the structure was later purchased by Wake County in 1992 and named in honor of former Wake County Manager Garland H. Jones (1928–1991). With its variegated blue enameled glass panels and smooth east-side marble wall, this mid-century modern classic stood as a bold, brilliant contrast to its monotone architectural peers.

The building was ultimately demolished in May 2009. While the physical structure is gone, a few local artifact collectors who saved some of its iconic glass panels, and Preservation Raleigh used it’s story in the identity of our organization.

In 2023, Preservation Raleigh drew inspiration from the Garland Jones story when designing our brand identity. Our primary logo is a photo of a window detail from the building. We chose this specific architectural element for several vital reasons:

• A Symbol of Modernism: The variegated blue windows represented an important era of design in Raleigh. By centering our brand around them, we celebrate the mid-century modern heritage and architectural diversity that we work to protect.
• A Reminder of the Advocacy Required: The loss of the Garland Jones building underscores an important point: community discussion alone is not always enough to save our historic spaces. The logo serves as a visual call to action, reminding us of the active, seat-at-the-table advocacy required to protect our city’s architectural inheritance before it is lost to demolition.
• A Link to Lost History: Our logo keeps the story of the Garland Jones building active, connecting Raleigh’s architectural heritage directly to the work we do today to shape the city’s future.

Incorporating the iconic blue windows into our branding is our way of keeping the Garland Jones building part of Raleigh’s ongoing story. It serves as a daily reminder that local landmarks are worth fighting for, inspiring us to sustain Raleigh’s architectural inheritance for everyone’s benefit.