Comments for SCS Complex Information and Blog http://gatescenter.blog.cs.cmu.edu Keeping up to date on Carnegie Mellon campus projects Thu, 24 Jul 2008 17:13:02 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 Comment on Impressions from SCS by Guy Blelloch http://gatescenter.blog.cs.cmu.edu/2006/04/17/impressions-from-scs/#comment-563 Guy Blelloch Wed, 30 Aug 2006 14:48:04 +0000 http://gatescenter.blog.cs.cmu.edu/2006/04/17/impressions-from-scs/#comment-563 Yes, it seems that as the University expands, parking will become more expensive. Basically existing surface lots are much cheaper than new structured lots. When the University eventually develops the Morewood lot, which is in the Master Plan, this will have an even greater impact on costs -- 700 cheap surface spots will be replaced with underground spots, which cost about $25K a piece. For comparison, the Gates Center is replacing 150 surface spots with underground spots. I'm not sure what the solution is. The choices I see are, the University could stop expanding, the University could expand elsewhere (a second campus), the University could subsidize parking, or the University could supply off campus parking with a shuttle to campus. Yes, it seems that as the University expands, parking will become more expensive. Basically existing surface lots are much cheaper than new structured lots. When the University eventually develops the Morewood lot, which is in the Master Plan, this will have an even greater impact on costs — 700 cheap surface spots will be replaced with underground spots, which cost about $25K a piece. For comparison, the Gates Center is replacing 150 surface spots with underground spots.

I’m not sure what the solution is. The choices I see are, the University could stop expanding, the University could expand elsewhere (a second campus), the University could subsidize parking, or the University could supply off campus parking with a shuttle to campus.

]]> Comment on Impressions from SCS by Kris Hutchings http://gatescenter.blog.cs.cmu.edu/2006/04/17/impressions-from-scs/#comment-562 Kris Hutchings Wed, 30 Aug 2006 13:05:08 +0000 http://gatescenter.blog.cs.cmu.edu/2006/04/17/impressions-from-scs/#comment-562 I'm really concerned about the Master Plans idea to eliminate parking when in reality they are just making it more expensive. Privledged people who make good money or have prestigious jobs here at the University can afford to pay the increased cost of parking or have their parking space garaunteed to them in their contract with the University. The people who work as staff members who can not afford to pay the increasing cost of parking and live 10 or more miles away get screwed. We are paying more to park here than ever before and with inflation we make less than we did a year ago. The University planners say ride a bus every day for 3 hours but none of them do and they make 6 figures so paying for parking is not a problem for them. All I am saying is that there is some real class seperation with the Master Plan. They make me feel like they are the Masters and I am the slave. (Sorry if I have offended anyone, that is not my intent.) I’m really concerned about the Master Plans idea to eliminate parking when in reality they are just making it more expensive.
Privledged people who make good money or have prestigious jobs here at the University can afford to pay the increased cost of parking or have their parking space garaunteed to them in their contract with the University.
The people who work as staff members who can not afford to pay the increasing cost of parking and live 10 or more miles away get screwed. We are paying more to park here than ever before and with inflation we make less than we did a year ago. The University planners say ride a bus every day for 3 hours but none of them do and they make 6 figures so paying for parking is not a problem for them.
All I am saying is that there is some real class seperation with the Master Plan. They make me feel like they are the Masters and I am the slave.
(Sorry if I have offended anyone, that is not my intent.)

]]> Comment on August Exterior Renderings by surprised http://gatescenter.blog.cs.cmu.edu/2006/08/21/august-renderings/#comment-557 surprised Tue, 29 Aug 2006 21:16:15 +0000 http://gatescenter.blog.cs.cmu.edu/2006/08/21/august-renderings/#comment-557 The building looks nice and comfortable. Lots of light and space. However, how did it become brown? Can we try to keep a more unifying theme for the campus? Use the same design elements? since it is so distinct in its shape, perhaps at least the exterior color can be similar to those of the rest of the building on campus. The building looks nice and comfortable. Lots of light and space.
However, how did it become brown? Can we try to keep a more unifying theme for the campus? Use the same design elements?
since it is so distinct in its shape, perhaps at least the exterior color can be similar to those of the rest of the building on campus.

]]> Comment on How green is our valley? by Gates Center Information and Blog » Blog Archive » The Landscape http://gatescenter.blog.cs.cmu.edu/2006/04/17/how-green-is-our-valley/#comment-528 Gates Center Information and Blog » Blog Archive » The Landscape Tue, 22 Aug 2006 21:37:09 +0000 http://gatescenter.blog.cs.cmu.edu/2006/04/17/how-green-is-our-valley/#comment-528 [...] Also see the post on How Green is Our Valley. [...] […] Also see the post on How Green is Our Valley. […]

]]> Comment on Preliminary Renderings by Cindy Chemsak http://gatescenter.blog.cs.cmu.edu/2006/04/15/check/#comment-506 Cindy Chemsak Fri, 18 Aug 2006 16:41:10 +0000 http://gatescenter.blog.cs.cmu.edu/2006/04/15/check/#comment-506 Considering using different textures for the exterior of the Gates Building which incorporate both modern and old architecture styles. Opposites for example, sleek metals coupled with Brick (maybe yellow) or stone and wood. Use other building colors in the multi-textured exterior to give the building the feel that it belongs while allowing it to proximately stand out. Considering using different textures for the exterior of the Gates Building which incorporate both modern and old architecture styles. Opposites for example, sleek metals coupled with Brick (maybe yellow) or stone and wood. Use other building colors in the multi-textured exterior to give the building the feel that it belongs while allowing it to proximately stand out.

]]> Comment on Impressions from SCS by Dale Moore http://gatescenter.blog.cs.cmu.edu/2006/04/17/impressions-from-scs/#comment-487 Dale Moore Thu, 10 Aug 2006 18:42:40 +0000 http://gatescenter.blog.cs.cmu.edu/2006/04/17/impressions-from-scs/#comment-487 Ok. Thanks for the info about the traffic. The fourth floor loading dock is, of course, restricted to vehicles that have access to a parking permit, so it is used mostly by only CMU folks. It is also impractical for larger delivery trucks because of the arch and the tight spaces needed for turning. I've currently seen several delivery trucks going through the construction zone trying to get to the wean loading docks and raising the ire of the construction workers. Coming to the lower Wean loading docks from forbes has been a common path for our suppliers for many years. Ok. Thanks for the info about the traffic.
The fourth floor loading dock is, of course, restricted to
vehicles that have access to a parking permit, so it is used
mostly by only CMU folks. It is also
impractical for larger delivery trucks because of the arch
and the tight spaces needed for turning.

I’ve currently seen several delivery trucks going through
the construction zone trying to get to the wean loading docks
and raising the ire of the construction workers. Coming to
the lower Wean loading docks from forbes has been a
common path for our suppliers for many years.

]]> Comment on Impressions from SCS by Peter Lee http://gatescenter.blog.cs.cmu.edu/2006/04/17/impressions-from-scs/#comment-50 Peter Lee Mon, 22 May 2006 17:22:18 +0000 http://gatescenter.blog.cs.cmu.edu/2006/04/17/impressions-from-scs/#comment-50 Vehicular access to the main Wean Hall loading dock will be from Frew Street, as it is today. (This is the loading dock on the 4th-floor level, between Wean, Hammerschlag, and Porter Halls.) To get to this Wean Hall loading dock from Forbes Avenue, delivery vehicles would go around to Frew Street. I believe this is exactly what they do now. To get to the lower part of Wean Hall, there would be two vehicular paths. One is Roberts Drive, as you point out. The other comes down from Neville Ave and through the new roadway under the CIC building. This is probably the better path for larger trucks. Note that the elimination of surface parking as well as a vehicular access through the campus from Forbes Ave is consistent with the University Master Plan that was established several years ago (and is now a goal of the Gates Center project). Vehicular access to the main Wean Hall loading dock will be from Frew Street, as it is today. (This is the loading dock on the 4th-floor level, between Wean, Hammerschlag, and Porter Halls.) To get to this Wean Hall loading dock from Forbes Avenue, delivery vehicles would go around to Frew Street. I believe this is exactly what they do now.

To get to the lower part of Wean Hall, there would be two vehicular paths. One is Roberts Drive, as you point out. The other comes down from Neville Ave and through the new roadway under the CIC building. This is probably the better path for larger trucks.

Note that the elimination of surface parking as well as a vehicular access through the campus from Forbes Ave is consistent with the University Master Plan that was established several years ago (and is now a goal of the Gates Center project).

]]> Comment on Beyond the yellow brick road 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!

]]> Comment on Impressions from SCS by Dale Moore http://gatescenter.blog.cs.cmu.edu/2006/04/17/impressions-from-scs/#comment-31 Dale Moore Tue, 09 May 2006 17:09:41 +0000 http://gatescenter.blog.cs.cmu.edu/2006/04/17/impressions-from-scs/#comment-31 The pedestrian travel through and around this building appears to have been considered with bridges to the cut and possible Newell Simon. But I cant quite see whether vehicular traffic will still be able to wind from Forbes Avenue all the way to the Wean loading docks. Will large delivery trucks be able to reach Wean loading docks from Forbes? Or will they be required to come down Roberts Drive from Frew Street, a very narrow passageway? The pedestrian travel through and around this building
appears to have been considered with bridges to the cut
and possible Newell Simon. But I cant quite see
whether vehicular traffic will still be able to wind from
Forbes Avenue all the way to the Wean loading docks.
Will large delivery trucks be able to reach Wean loading docks
from Forbes? Or will they be required to come down Roberts
Drive from Frew Street, a very narrow passageway?

]]> Comment on How green is our valley? by Dale Moore http://gatescenter.blog.cs.cmu.edu/2006/04/17/how-green-is-our-valley/#comment-30 Dale Moore Tue, 09 May 2006 17:02:11 +0000 http://gatescenter.blog.cs.cmu.edu/2006/04/17/how-green-is-our-valley/#comment-30 Some of the green areas of this building appear to be underneath an overhang of the building, and on the north side of the building. This means that it will not receive natural rain water and be out of direct sunlight most of the time. Do you think that these factors will cause it to be difficult to maintain these green areas? Some of the green areas of this building appear to be underneath an overhang of the building, and on the north side of the building.
This means that it will not receive natural rain water and be out
of direct sunlight most of the time. Do you think that these
factors will cause it to be difficult to maintain these green areas?

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