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Post by longsuffering on Jul 13, 2021 22:53:00 GMT -5
It’s 10:43, and the crane is in operation with at least three construction crew members are working under the lights. Any idea why the late night show? It finally stopped raining?
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Post by Pakachoag Phreek on Jul 14, 2021 7:08:47 GMT -5
It’s 10:43, and the crane is in operation with at least three construction crew members are working under the lights. Any idea why the late night show? It finally stopped raining? To be replaced by fog as dense as you get on the Maine coast. I think the workers were trying to finish assembling a complex corner of the facade, at the top where the stonework sections are angled polygons.
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Post by sader1970 on Jul 14, 2021 7:31:30 GMT -5
Believe Phreek is correct based on my observations as well.
Just interesting that they did it at night rather than the day.
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Post by hchoops on Jul 14, 2021 7:57:11 GMT -5
The ugly brown half of the huge exterior facing the Jo takes away from any semblance of fitting in with the beautiful architecture of the rest of the campus, disregarding the remote behemoth Luth. The inside will be magnificent though.
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Post by longsuffering on Jul 14, 2021 10:30:42 GMT -5
The ugly brown half of the huge exterior facing the Jo takes away from any semblance of fitting in with the beautiful architecture of the rest of the campus, disregarding the remote behemoth Luth. The inside will be magnificent though. The publicity photos are generally of the lower campus where long dead Priests designed a campus that fit well together and aged beautifully.
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Post by alum on Jul 14, 2021 11:23:33 GMT -5
The ugly brown half of the huge exterior facing the Jo takes away from any semblance of fitting in with the beautiful architecture of the rest of the campus, disregarding the remote behemoth Luth. The inside will be magnificent though. I am sure that there is some architect/design professional basis for erecting a building that does not seem to fit in, but not knowing anything about this kind of stuff, I have no idea what it is. It would be nice if someone explained it to us.
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Post by newfieguy74 on Jul 14, 2021 12:07:37 GMT -5
The ugly brown half of the huge exterior facing the Jo takes away from any semblance of fitting in with the beautiful architecture of the rest of the campus, disregarding the remote behemoth Luth. The inside will be magnificent though. Perhaps viewed in person, as opposed to a photo (and maybe you have seen it in person, I don't know), it will seem a better fit. At many schools the newer buildings have been intentionally designed to add a counterpoint to the traditional college look. HC paid the architects a lot of money to take all these factors into account.
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Post by hchoops on Jul 14, 2021 12:21:48 GMT -5
I saw it in person on Sunday. It is far from aesthetically pleasing The side facing the chapel is mostly glass which is significantly better
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Post by KY Crusader 75 on Jul 14, 2021 13:50:13 GMT -5
I like classical architecture that pleases the eye (my eye), fits wells with adjacent structures, and that will stand the test of time. I detest grotesque modern eyesores. One pf the problems may be that no architect, seeking to gain exposure and build a reputation, is going to get his/her copy of Architecture World Illustrated and see a cover story on "Smith & Jones debut design for classic building that fits the neighborhood". Instead, he/she will see the cover feature on "Jones & Smith push the limits of design with plans for a statement structure made of glass, steel, corrugated iron, and recycled Oldsmobile engine blocks".
I remember when builders broke ground for the IBM Building in Atlanta (now One Atlantic Center) and I thought " I hope this will not be an embarrassing monstrosity". As it turned out it was then and remains now a beautiful classic design that will look great 50 years from now. All buildings should look so good. It's hard to go wrong with stone or brick for that matter.
Sorry for the long rant
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Post by Deleted on Jul 14, 2021 14:27:15 GMT -5
Since everyone likes old architect maybe we should just build grass huts.
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Post by rgs318 on Jul 14, 2021 14:38:28 GMT -5
I doubt that would match or compliment the current architecture in any way. Why stop at grass huts...no caves available, or locations where they could be placed?
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Post by sader1970 on Jul 14, 2021 15:08:05 GMT -5
Ya see, there's the problem presuming your reference to "grotesque modern eyesores" is to PPAC. Just about all of us 'cepting maybe NAD and the visitors from other schools never took an architectural course and know nothing about the subject and we're all limited to a version of the old definition of pornography for the looks of the PPAC, "I'll know it when I see it." It's all subjective. I like the curved concrete (is that the material?) but don't like the rusted look. Reminds me of the very first house we bought outside Syracuse with siding called "barn board" that looked poor but they made up for it with about 24" of insulation which really came in handy all things considered. House was all-electric thanks to nuclear power plant and hydroelectric thanks to Niagara Falls. BTW, earlier this afternoon, I noticed one of the workmen appeared to be grinding down one of the concrete panels presumably to help make it fit in place. Finally, as I write this at4:05 pm, not a workman in sight so I'm curious if they just like to work at 10:00 pm and will come back later!
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Post by Deleted on Jul 14, 2021 18:34:16 GMT -5
Might be that it's cooler at night to work.
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Post by sader1970 on Jul 14, 2021 19:41:07 GMT -5
Well, as I write this, the floodlights are on the other side (northeast?) and while the building blocks the view of construction on that side it would look like they might be doing what they did last night on this opposite side.
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Post by mm67 on Jul 14, 2021 19:55:17 GMT -5
Agree with everyone. Obviously, this building is a statement. Once again HC is reinventing itself. Welcome to the new 21st c.College of the Holy Cross.
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Post by Pakachoag Phreek on Jul 14, 2021 20:07:48 GMT -5
The workers were finished on the NW section around 2 PM. So no overtime tonight. ____________ The cream colored facade material looks to be limestone. The brown panels are pre-weathered steel, and will not rust further. This particular steel may be good for 120, 150, 200 years with very little maintenance. I am quite sure the design was approved by the lead donor, Mr. Prior. The collage conducted a design competition, and Diller Scofidio + Renfro won. One of the other designs, IIRC, half buried the structure into the hillside. I suspect that those favoring brick would be disappointed with this building if it were constructed of such. It would look like a large cold storage warehouse with very large windows on several sides.
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Post by Pakachoag Phreek on Jul 14, 2021 20:10:45 GMT -5
Well, as I write this, the floodlights are on the other side (northeast?) and while the building blocks the view of construction on that side it would look like they might be doing what they did last night on this opposite side. The big crane is not operating tonight.. It was used to hoist the top panels on the NW wide.
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Post by sader1970 on Jul 19, 2021 20:22:12 GMT -5
This rendering was posted by Phreek on page 2 or 3 of this thread. Looking at the webcam tonight from just a slightly different angle looks pretty authentic (sans snowstorm).
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Post by Pakachoag Phreek on Jul 20, 2021 8:19:44 GMT -5
Only in Worcester does the sun shine as it is snowing. Note the tree shadows, which are correct for the sun's position.
There is another rendering from Hogan looking southeast, in which the sun is rising, and academically eager and gregarious HC students are already up and about and jocular at 7 AM.
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Post by Ignutz on Jul 20, 2021 12:03:46 GMT -5
Ya see, there's the problem presuming your reference to "grotesque modern eyesores" is to PPAC. Just about all of us 'cepting maybe NAD and the visitors from other schools never took an architectural course and know nothing about the subject and we're all limited to a version of the old definition of pornography for the looks of the PPAC, "I'll know it when I see it." It's all subjective. I like the curved concrete (is that the material?) but don't like the rusted look. Reminds me of the very first house we bought outside Syracuse with siding called "barn board" that looked poor but they made up for it with about 24" of insulation which really came in handy all things considered. House was all-electric thanks to nuclear power plant and hydroelectric thanks to Niagara Falls. BTW, earlier this afternoon, I noticed one of the workmen appeared to be grinding down one of the concrete panels presumably to help make it fit in place. Finally, as I write this at4:05 pm, not a workman in sight so I'm curious if they just like to work at 10:00 pm and will come back later! Between the on-line renderings, the webcam view, and an in-person walkaround when I was in the Woo for the Cousy statue dedication, I like what I see. I don't imagine there was any intent to blend the structure into any part of the campus, rather, the building is meant as a statement - an expensive statement that what occurs within its walls may be very different than what has historically occurred elsewhere on our beautiful campus. With gratitude to Cornelius Prior, I rise from my seat and say "Bravo!"
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Post by Ignutz on Jul 20, 2021 15:16:55 GMT -5
Ya see, there's the problem presuming your reference to "grotesque modern eyesores" is to PPAC. Just about all of us 'cepting maybe NAD and the visitors from other schools never took an architectural course and know nothing about the subject and we're all limited to a version of the old definition of pornography for the looks of the PPAC, "I'll know it when I see it." It's all subjective. I like the curved concrete (is that the material?) but don't like the rusted look. Reminds me of the very first house we bought outside Syracuse with siding called "barn board" that looked poor but they made up for it with about 24" of insulation which really came in handy all things considered. House was all-electric thanks to nuclear power plant and hydroelectric thanks to Niagara Falls. BTW, earlier this afternoon, I noticed one of the workmen appeared to be grinding down one of the concrete panels presumably to help make it fit in place. Finally, as I write this at4:05 pm, not a workman in sight so I'm curious if they just like to work at 10:00 pm and will come back later! Between the on-line renderings, the webcam view, and an in-person walkaround when I was in the Woo for the Cousy statue dedication, I like what I see. I don't imagine there was any intent to blend the structure into any part of the campus, rather, the building is meant as a statement - an expensive statement that what occurs within its walls may be very different than what has historically occurred elsewhere on our beautiful campus. With gratitude to Cornelius Prior, I rise from my seat and say "Bravo!" On the other hand, has anyone else been keeping tabs on the new Hogan parking lot? Are there renderings anywhere? I've looked at the Webcams a few times over the past few weeks, and am wondering what they're doing. I mean, tear up the old lot, smooth the dirt, and put down some new blacktop, right? Voila, a parking lot! There sure is a lot of time and effort going into it. In all seriousness, I'm sure that with plantings, etc., it will be very nice, but I wouldn't want these folks to re-do my driveway!
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Post by Pakachoag Phreek on Jul 20, 2021 16:35:21 GMT -5
There are no published renderings that I know of. The college had to go before the Worcester Conservation Commission on March 1 for approval of the work, to wit:
As I recall coverage of the agenda item discussion, there will be a net loss of a handful of spaces, and no net loss of trees. Most of the work to date is stormsewer related, as the college, under the city ordinance, is now required to reduce the amount stormwater flow during major rainstorms. There will be a dozen or so electric charging stations. There was much discussion among the commission members on the paint color for the curbs on the parking islands.
I believe because the parking area is being reconfigured with new access roads and traffic aisles, the construction had to go before the commission. The remaining lot by the Hart rink is probably not being done this year, and it appears to be a simple milling and repaving, at most. The college does appear to be expanding a parking pad to the north of the construction-type trailers on the west side of the Hart rink. What those trailers are now used for, I know not.
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Post by sader1970 on Jul 20, 2021 19:36:01 GMT -5
Looks like after perhaps a dinner break that 5-6 workmen are back with the floodlights on and I think they'll be up working on the roof facade again. Probably more comfortable temperature and humidity at this hour.
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Post by Ignutz on Jul 21, 2021 7:38:46 GMT -5
There are no published renderings that I know of. The college had to go before the Worcester Conservation Commission on March 1 for approval of the work, to wit: As I recall coverage of the agenda item discussion, there will be a net loss of a handful of spaces, and no net loss of trees. Most of the work to date is stormsewer related, as the college, under the city ordinance, is now required to reduce the amount stormwater flow during major rainstorms. There will be a dozen or so electric charging stations. There was much discussion among the commission members on the paint color for the curbs on the parking islands. I believe because the parking area is being reconfigured with new access roads and traffic aisles, the construction had to go before the commission. The remaining lot by the Hart rink is probably not being done this year, and it appears to be a simple milling and repaving, at most. The college does appear to be expanding a parking pad to the north of the construction-type trailers on the west side of the Hart rink. What those trailers are now used for, I know not. Thank you, Phreek. That's great information. I'm sure the end product will be nice. It's amazing to see what goes into a parking lot - the different soils, etc., the grading and re-grading. I wonder why the City would care what color the parking island curbs are painted on private property. Would they balk at a purple and white color scheme??
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Post by newfieguy74 on Jul 21, 2021 8:45:57 GMT -5
PP's information is a good snapshot of some of the hoops HC often has to jump through when they do projects on campus, even innocuous ones like parking.
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