Remember the very long, drawn out process over the last few months where the only people who still believed Frank Gehry getting kicked off the Atlantic Yards project was mere rumor were those working PR for Bruce Ratner (the project's developer)? Well surprise surprise -- it was announced late last week that, yep, Gehry has now officially been given his walking papers and is off the high-profile project entirely, with a new architect (likely the firm Ellerbe Becket) giving the future New Jersey Nets stadium an all new look. For more info, Metropolis has a great bit of commentary and some links to other opinion to check out. Gothamist also has some great thoughts on the big, surprise-less, finally-final change. Here's a bit about the breakup:

A spokesman for Gehry, who had created a futuristic metallic design for the proposed NBA arena, said the split between the architect and developer Forest City Ratner was amicable and Gehry will still be working with the company on the Beekman Tower project in New York, the New York Daily News reported Friday.

"We remain extremely proud of our work on the Atlantic Yards master plan and on the original arena, which we designed in close collaboration with Forest City Ratner," Gehry said in a statement. "While there are always regrets at designs not realized, we greatly appreciate our ongoing relationship."

Have to appreciate the civility in business. Getting booted from a big project and your consolation is going back to the other job that same company cut in half recently? We think we'd find it a little hard not to say "Nope. That's it. We're done with them." But that's why we're not starchitects.