DOES DESIGN MATTER?

As an architect, I enjoy watching buildings being built.  More precisely, I especially like to watch buildings designed by other people being built, because I do not have any responsibility for them, and all that comes with that responsibility.  Because I know how complicated the design and construction process is, I try to be careful of my criticism of other peoples buildings.  I do however try to be attentive to the thoughts and observations of others.  

This past spring and summer I have been watching with interest as two buildings are being built on East Main Street in Kent,  the new Kent Municipal courthouse and a new Coffee shop for Dunkin Doughnuts.  These buildings could not be more different in their size, program and design concept so I am interested to hear what the readers of Patch think of them.  In particular, I am interested to see the level of design literacy of the average reader and whether you think they are successful solutions, at least superficially, to their intended use.

People trained as architects and urban designers think about buildings in the context of the neighborhood they are built, the style, scale, impact on the life of the street, access by foot, bike, bus and car, and a long list of other variables.  I am very curious to hear how non-architects especially think about these buildings at this level, since both are not yet open to explore their interiors and functionality.