By the 1990s, the Center's usefulness had diminished, in part because of the poor "seeing" conditions of the Chicago area, where light pollution and atmospheric turbulence are persistent problems, and in part because of the need for expensive remediation of the structure due to the presence of asbestos insulation and lead-based paint. Accordingly, the University decided, despite expressions of public support for the well-known landmark, that the cost-effective course of action was to tear down the Center. The telescopes were donated to Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona and the demolition proceeded in mid-September, 1995.
