A lot more than a building

There's something about this photo by The Enquirer's Pat Reddy that I love -- maybe because it captures the spirit and passion of what visionaries can accomplish together. Or, maybe it's because some photos just perfectly capture a moment.

This photo does all those things. It shows Corporex chairman Bill Butler (right) and renowned architect Daniel Libeskind sharing the moment (and maybe even a small feeling of relief, because it wasn't easy) at Wednesday's dedication ceremonies for the Ascent at Roebling's Bridge in Covington.

I'm no architecture expert, but much about this building reminds me of stories about Frank Lloyd Wright. His buildings had quirks and huge engineering challenges for those who actually had to build them, because Wright pushed the envelope. Same for the Ascent, where glass and steel were asked to do things they normally don't have to do. Wright's buildings beautifully align with their surroundings. Architecture buffs from around the globe still go to see them decades later. This, too, should be true for the Ascent.

"Buildings matter," Butler said in his remarks Wednesday. I think he's right and that the Ascent will matter in positive ways we only can begin to predict.