6 replies to this topic

[Garris]

The Wheeler School has started work on construction on a number of projects on their campus bordering Meeting Street and Angell on the East Side.  The construction will be of a new student union (complete with a very modern and mini-"G-Tech-ish" looking entrance and connector between their two older buildings on Meeting Street) and of new entrances to Wheeler and the Hamilton Schools there.  

I'm having trouble (and don't have time right now) to rip an image for the forum, but here is the link to the architecture firm's website (complete with photos...  Hit "forward" to see additional images, and you can zoom in as well): http://www.annbeha.c...d...demic&id=86

This kind of flew under the radar.  It's shockingly contemporary for the East Side and I can't help but wonder why the CHNA wasn't chaining themselves to trees to protest this.  Somehow I imagine that if Brown were building these structures the reception would be different.

For the projects completion list, this one is slated to be done early '09.

Edited by Garris, 22 July 2008 - 01:42 PM.

[Cotuit]

Garris, on Jul 22 2008, 03:39 PM, said:

I'm having trouble (and don't have time right now) to rip an image for the forum, but here is the link to the architecture firm's website

I left work early because construction in my office was pissing me off, so I have plenty of time:

[xine]

Garris, on Jul 22 2008, 03:39 PM, said:

This kind of flew under the radar.  It's shockingly contemporary for the East Side and I can't help but wonder why the CHNA wasn't chaining themselves to trees to protest this.

Perhaps it's because nobody asked them :-)   The controversial projects we hear about and associated protests are usually because there is a public hearing triggered by a variance application or because the site is in a historic district.

Plus I'm not sure I agree on the shocking bit, I think it's quite modest in scale and temperament and is not out of place considering the rather disjointed styles of their other buildings.

It's not a giant LED wall or anything. Can we get one of those in this city? Now that would probably need a waiver, I seem to remember some regulation about internally illuminated and/or moving signs...
  ;-)

[Cotuit]

xine, on Jul 22 2008, 11:01 PM, said:

Can we get one of those in this city?

I seem to remember early versions of the Chace Center called for a video wall. But it was cost managed out along with carpets and two or three floors of the building.

[Garris]

xine, on Jul 22 2008, 11:01 PM, said:

Plus I'm not sure I agree on the shocking bit, I think it's quite modest in scale and temperament and is not out of place considering the rather disjointed styles of their other buildings.

Oh, I like it quite a bit.  I said it was shocking for the East Side (deep sarcasm was implied), not by most normal standards, by which it's actually quite conservative.  Remember that the Brown/RISD Hillel building there (which is very conservative, attractive, preserved 3 historic facades, and has won tons of design awards) was fought tooth and nail (including to court) by the CHNA.

It'll be very interesting to see what Brown does for their next two or three buildings for the Hill.  The proposed athletic complex was supposedly completely redesigned to something very classic and "Ivy League," while the arts building planned is supposedly quite progressive and radical by any standard.  It'll be interesting...

[mental757]

PBN:  "Wheeler project rolling along"

http://www.pbn.com/stories/45321.html

partial text:

"On Sept. 25, Shawmut Design and Construction held a “topping off” ceremony to mark the occasion. The project involves the renovation of an occupied 7,600-square-foot, two-story wood-framed schoolhouse and the creation of a 10,800-square-foot addition. The project, which is being completed on a 15-month, three-phase schedule, has roughly reached the halfway point of construction."

[mental757]

PBN:  "Wheeler School campus in miniboom"

http://pbn.com/detail/45373.html