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COMPLETE: Dunkin' Donuts Center renovations

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Frankie811 City

Frankie811

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Sale of Dunkin' Donuts Center moves closer

PROVIDENCE -- The Providence Civic Center Authority voted today to approve the sale of the city's aging Dunkin' Donuts Center to the state's Convention Center Authority. The sale is expected to close on Dec. 5, if four other public boards sign off on the $28.5 million sale.

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Garris Town

Garris

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I can't say I love this, especially without a better sense of materials. It seems to do nothing at all to integrate with the streetscape, which is a shame and an opportunity lost. Look at all of those elevated stairs!

- Garris

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Cotuit Megalopolis

Cotuit

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I can't say I love this, especially without a better sense of materials. It seems to do nothing at all to integrate with the streetscape, which is a shame and an opportunity lost. Look at all of those elevated stairs!

web-dunkProv4.jpg

It could speak to the street better, but I think it's an improvement over the way it is now. I'm loving the glass walkway coming over the tunnel from the Convention Center. That will help a bit to animate that void, not at street level, but it will have an effect on the feel from the street, especially if they keep it lit at night.

I like the way the memorial fountain becomes a feature on the corner, I can't tell if that is from moving it, or just the reorientation of the stairs.

I like the 'grand' stairs leading straight down to Sabin Street. Currently the stairs there are parallel to Sabin, and there's a wall there. This turning of the stairs removes part of the wall along the sidewalk. Also, I like the stairs leading into a courtyard. There's currently stairs leading straight-up to the building further up Sabin. But the stairs lead to a set of doors, so though the stairs create a break in the wall, it's just to lead you to another wall (of doors). The courtyard is a more inviting entrance, and the new orientation of the stairs make it more appealling from the street.

The ramp also reduces the impact of the current wall. Right now there is this arcade around the building that looms over you as a pedestrian. The ramp will bring that arcade down to street level, then the wall becomes the building itself, which if one must walk next to a wall, is better than a looming catwalk above you (feels more secure, no one is hiding behind it, that kind of thing...). I think the ramp is also a good design component. With the proposed garage at the Old Public Safety Complex, and the current garage next to Trinity Rep, a lot of the Dunk's patrons will arrive from the west via the ramp. It should serve well to funnel crowds into crosswalks in a redesigned LaSalle Square. What I'd like to see now, is what is happening at the Hilton end.

Also, we need to see what TPG has planned at the Old Public Safety Building. They better have a really good street presense along LaSalle Square or this whole Power Block thing is just not going to come off right.

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Griswald Whistle-Stop

Griswald

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Any type of curve in a building equals lots more $$$$$. There are no curves on the rest of the building, I don't think it fits in well. I don't like the idea of throwing it in just for the hell of it, especially when the money could be used somewhere else.

I do agree however, that almost anything is an improvement, I would really like to see this intersection become a vibrant public space.

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Liamlunchtray Burg

Liamlunchtray

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I like it. There are definitely things that could be better, but overall its a huge improvement. I would prefer the entrance to be on street level rather than up a flight of stairs, but it still looks decent. The building as it stands is so monumentally ugly that most anything would be an improvement. I think this is a good job of working with what they have.

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Cotuit Megalopolis

Cotuit

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The building as it stands is so monumentally ugly that most anything would be an improvement.

Yes, I hate those weird ass fins that make it look like a Klingon battle cruiser, the glass additions to the front square it off and bring it closer to the street.

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MikeR Hamlet

MikeR

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It looks like the current luxury area is being replaced (the gold seats in the render) and the luxury area are going to the side. That will up the capacity over the 13,105 mark for basketball, which should help the Friars and PC (more revenue). It also looks like the WWII monument will be moved closer to Sabin St and be more integrated with the streetscape, which is good.

it looks like they will use the currennt balcony on the Convention Ctr. to connect the two facilities, which is good. The colors are going to silver and gold in the seating (Friars and P-Bruins colors). Overall. it looks OK, but it's tough to give judgement from the render - it's just too vague at this moment. I'm sure we'll see something in the ProJo soon.

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mental757 Burg

mental757

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with a very limited budget to replace the mechanical systems, the locker rooms, the concourse areas, the 'luxury' boxes, and all the seats - I'm surprised they have enough to make the outside look as nice as it does in the renders. I'd be happy we'll get that much!!!

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mod134 Whistle-Stop

mod134

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Hi All. Lifelong Rhode Islander Nicholas here.

I've been going to the Dunk for years - everything from the circuis to hockey and basketball games, concerts, etc.

This place really needs a makeover (I was at the two P-Bruins games and the PC Friars game over the weekend.)

I like the design, I think the "flow" needs to be more intuned to the streets.

What's this I hear about another parking garage being built behind the arena ... where would that go? Also, is it true that the expansion of the seating capacity to 20k is being looked into, seriously, or is it just a pipe dream?

I think that there is only so much a 10-15k seat arena can do when Boston is an hour away. That being said, the demand for events is obvious between Boston and Hartford's new convention centers as well as Hartford's latest efforts for a new civic center. A 20k seat arena in Providence - I am not sure what to think. Part of me wants to think that it is overkill, while the other part of me wants to think this is our golden opportunity, since we can't do this later due to property, construction costs, etc. 20 years down the road.

I also noticed how we get a lot of concerts and stuff in Providence but not a ton at the Dunkin Donuts Center. Bands/performers will go to PPAC at like 3k seating and Lupo's and clubs like that, which seat even less; a far cry from my guesstimate of 10k for a concert at the Dunk now. I am not sure what that is a sign of - lack of confidence of the bands in the Providence market - so they go to the smaller venues, or lack of updated facilites at the Dunk (which will be significantly boosted by the renovations) - which causes them to look for other venues.

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Frankie811 City

Frankie811

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Also, is it true that the expansion of the seating capacity to 20k is being looked into, seriously, or is it just a pipe dream?

Yeah, it's all true. Right after they include a casino at the RI Convention Center. :whistling: Yo Nicky, what's wrong with youse guys!!! :D Seriously though, everything I've read suggests that only about 1,100 new seats will be added. Yeah I know, $ 58 million and only that many new seats. Forget about it. :shades:

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Johnzo Unincorporated Area

Johnzo

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I'm hoping that when they do this renovation, they'll add some retail spots in the lobby. Perhaps a new P-Bruins store or a Friars team store or something. I remember reading somewhere that there were plans for a Dunkin Donuts in the lobby. They need something to generate some pedestrian activity in front of the Dunk, or else the Power Block is going to have one dead gap.

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Baines Hamlet

Baines

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I'm hoping that when they do this renovation, they'll add some retail spots in the lobby. Perhaps a new P-Bruins store or a Friars team store or something. I remember reading somewhere that there were plans for a Dunkin Donuts in the lobby. They need something to generate some pedestrian activity in front of the Dunk, or else the Power Block is going to have one dead gap.

That is a good point...a DD in the DD Center makes real sense. But TPG has also invested in the old Fogarty Bldg as a place to generate street traffic along the block with retail and restaurants.

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