Docomomo International became aware by Docomomo US that the brutalist PepsiCo “Bottlecap” Theater, by Daverman Associates of Grand Rapids, Doral, USA, 1964, is under threat of being demolished due to the news owners’ plan to demolish all of the buildings on the PepsiCo property.

Designed by the architectural firm Daverman Associates of Grand Rapids, Michigan, one of Michigan’s key mid-century architectural firms, being the project supervised by Robert J. Boerema.

“In late 2017, PepsiCo sold its offices and bottling plant in Doral, Florida to local developers Terra and Terranova Corp. for just over $40 million. The 23.7 acre property, a highly visible landmark along the Palmetto Expressway, includes a 232,919-square-foot bottling plant from 1964 as well as offices and a unique, Brutalist-style theater reminiscent of a soda bottle cap. A large portion of the site is undeveloped, and local advocates reported that the new owners submitted an application to demolish all of the buildings on the property. They do not believe the permit has been approved yet, so there may still be time to influence their decision. Preservation groups such as the Historic Preservation Association of Coral Gables are hoping to convince the developer to preserve and incorporate at least some of the buildings, especially the theater, into any new construction.”

Being one of Doral’s significant buildings, architects have expressed their dislike of the current situation and a petition to preserve the building was started. To sign the petition go to: change.org.

For more information please go to the Docomomo US website and follow the Historic Preservation Association of Coral Gables on Facebook for updates.