Comments on: Beyond the yellow brick road http://gatescenter.blog.cs.cmu.edu/2006/04/17/beyond-the-yellow-brick-road/ Keeping up to date on Carnegie Mellon campus projects Fri, 10 Oct 2008 22:47:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Justin http://gatescenter.blog.cs.cmu.edu/2006/04/17/beyond-the-yellow-brick-road/#comment-35 Justin Sun, 14 May 2006 14:39:53 +0000 http://gatescenter.blog.cs.cmu.edu/2006/04/17/beyond-the-yellow-brick-road/#comment-35 Although I can appreciate people wanting to move away from the original architecture as it makes our campus look like it's right out of the industrial era of 100 years ago, but its also what gives our campus continuity. When I first got here three years ago I wasn't so keen on the appearance of the buildings, but I knew then that I liked the consistent architecture offered by the buildings in that style. I think it's important to keep this style for the new Gates center because it is visible from Forbes Avenue, and is nestled in with other buildings which have the classic look. Give me the green roofs and yellow brick anyday! Although I can appreciate people wanting to move away from the original architecture as it makes our campus look like it’s right out of the industrial era of 100 years ago, but its also what gives our campus continuity. When I first got here three years ago I wasn’t so keen on the appearance of the buildings, but I knew then that I liked the consistent architecture offered by the buildings in that style.

I think it’s important to keep this style for the new Gates center because it is visible from Forbes Avenue, and is nestled in with other buildings which have the classic look. Give me the green roofs and yellow brick anyday!

]]> By: Steve http://gatescenter.blog.cs.cmu.edu/2006/04/17/beyond-the-yellow-brick-road/#comment-23 Steve Tue, 25 Apr 2006 20:52:51 +0000 http://gatescenter.blog.cs.cmu.edu/2006/04/17/beyond-the-yellow-brick-road/#comment-23 Please excuse me if this is a private conversation, but I recently had a conversation that touched obliquely on Professor Akin's points which I've copied below: "Re: Bill Gates Building Wow--thanks for the great photos and article! I'd seen a photo in the Post Gazette last week but nothing like the photos you sent to give perspectives. I'm glad we had a chance to walk the area before the big excavation project. The windows and building shape are pretty neat. I agree with the concerns about the fascade and how well it will hold up, as well as the grey color. Considering how crummy Wean Hall and Donner Hall look (even though they are relatively "new" by campus standards, CMU doesn't need another modern building that looks like it's deteriorating 25 years from now. " My response: "Donner Hall looked crummy the day it was built (around about 1952, I believe). It is by far the worst abomination on campus and should be torn down immediately. I hate everything about it. However, I don't agree about Wean Hall. It is dirty, without question, but it is basically a nicely architectured building in my opinion. There were a lot of poured concrete buildings built back then. I wonder if they all have the same problem with dirt build up. Concrete is somewhat porous and probably hard or expensive to clean. I wonder if there is a possibility of painting it with an epoxy type coating or something. It needs exterior restoration and protection, but I still like the basic building." Does anyone know about the possibility of cosmetic work for Wean? By the way, I also think the renderings for the Gates building look great. I can't wait to see the finished product. Please excuse me if this is a private conversation, but I recently had a conversation that touched obliquely on Professor Akin’s points which I’ve copied below:

“Re: Bill Gates Building
Wow–thanks for the great photos and article! I’d seen a photo in the Post Gazette last week but nothing like the photos you sent to give perspectives. I’m glad we had a chance to walk the area before the big excavation project. The windows and building shape are pretty neat. I agree with the concerns about the fascade and how well it will hold up, as well as the grey color. Considering how crummy Wean Hall and Donner Hall look (even though they are relatively “new” by campus standards, CMU doesn’t need another modern building that looks like it’s deteriorating 25 years from now. ”

My response:
“Donner Hall looked crummy the day it was built (around about 1952, I believe). It is by far the worst abomination on campus and should be torn down immediately. I hate everything about it.

However, I don’t agree about Wean Hall. It is dirty, without question, but it is basically a nicely architectured building in my opinion. There were a lot of poured concrete buildings built back then. I wonder if they all have the same problem with dirt build up. Concrete is somewhat porous and probably hard or expensive to clean. I wonder if there is a possibility of painting it with an epoxy type coating or something. It needs exterior restoration and protection, but I still like the basic building.”

Does anyone know about the possibility of cosmetic work for Wean?

By the way, I also think the renderings for the Gates building look great. I can’t wait to see the finished product.

]]> By: Guy Blelloch http://gatescenter.blog.cs.cmu.edu/2006/04/17/beyond-the-yellow-brick-road/#comment-22 Guy Blelloch Mon, 24 Apr 2006 22:31:23 +0000 http://gatescenter.blog.cs.cmu.edu/2006/04/17/beyond-the-yellow-brick-road/#comment-22 I don't think visibility of the building will be a problem. It will be visible from Forbes and the West Quad, and from part of the cut. Others have argued that it will be too visible and should be tucked behind the Purnell Center and out of sight. I guess this depends on one's opinion of the architecture. I don’t think visibility of the building will be a problem. It will be visible from Forbes and the West Quad, and from part of the cut. Others have argued that it will be too visible and should be tucked behind the Purnell Center and out of sight. I guess this depends on one’s opinion of the architecture.

]]> By: Guy Blelloch http://gatescenter.blog.cs.cmu.edu/2006/04/17/beyond-the-yellow-brick-road/#comment-21 Guy Blelloch Mon, 24 Apr 2006 22:06:12 +0000 http://gatescenter.blog.cs.cmu.edu/2006/04/17/beyond-the-yellow-brick-road/#comment-21 I belive <a rel="http://gatescenter.blog.cs.cmu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2006/04/OmerAkin.pdf" title="this is it" href="http://gatescenter.blog.cs.cmu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2006/04/OmerAkin.pdf">this is it</a> I belive this is it

]]> By: Joseph Pagliaro A64 http://gatescenter.blog.cs.cmu.edu/2006/04/17/beyond-the-yellow-brick-road/#comment-19 Joseph Pagliaro A64 Fri, 21 Apr 2006 21:43:29 +0000 http://gatescenter.blog.cs.cmu.edu/2006/04/17/beyond-the-yellow-brick-road/#comment-19 It appears that the Gates Center will be so closely socked in between the many other buildings that appreciation for whatever design is rendered will be based on limited views. It appears that the Gates Center will be so closely socked in between the many other buildings that appreciation for whatever design is rendered will be based on limited views.

]]> By: Ralph Horgan http://gatescenter.blog.cs.cmu.edu/2006/04/17/beyond-the-yellow-brick-road/#comment-18 Ralph Horgan Fri, 21 Apr 2006 12:25:30 +0000 http://gatescenter.blog.cs.cmu.edu/2006/04/17/beyond-the-yellow-brick-road/#comment-18 I remember an article in FOCUS that Architecture Professor Omer Akin did 3 or 4 years ago on the topic of Beyond the Yellow Brick Road. Can you reprint that in this blog? I remember an article in FOCUS that Architecture Professor Omer Akin did 3 or 4 years ago on the topic of Beyond the Yellow Brick Road. Can you reprint that in this blog?

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