Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Mock Up Of Roosevelt Island Cornell Tech Future Campus, Latest Construction Update And Architects Describe Vision For Campus One Year Ago

According to the Roosevelt Island Twitterverse:

From the most recent Cornell Tech Construction Update:
December 5 - December 19 Look Ahead

Foundation removals of Building F and Building C are complete. Approximately 35% of the foundation of Building D has been removed. This work is ongoing. The crushing and backfill operation work is ongoing. The Building F footprint is the furthest along, with backfill approximately 50% complete. All foundation removals and backfilling of Phase 1 buildings will be complete by the end of the year.

In the Phase 2 area, Building G has been demolished. Its foundation will be removed later this winter. Demolition work on Building J, the southernmost building, is underway and approximately 30% complete.

Work on Building E will begin within the next two weeks now that the building has been disconnected from electrical service.

The electrical ductbank work along the west roadway has begun. Crews are surveying the area to determine what work can take place within the current site fence line and what work will require temporary fence relocation into the roadway.
and a fascinating December 2013 hour long panel discussion by architects and planners of the Roosevelt Island Cornell Tech campus including:

8 comments :

CheshireKitty said...

Yes, that is true - a jumble of design styles sometimes doesn't work. Yet, NYC is just that - almost every block in Manhattan, and in many parts of the outer boroughs as well, contains one style after another. In that, it's just the opposite of Paris. Still, that's why NYC is popular.


Walking down a street in NY is like walking through many different architectural eras - there's a dreamlike quality to having a 20s era/pre-war residential building next to a Bauhaus or Miesian inspired structure, followed by a neo-Gothic church, followed by another apartment building with stucco "Mediterranean" detailing. NYC is a jumble of architectural styles but it isn't unsightly - at least not to most people.


At a street level, there are attempts to impose uniformity - with BIDs, and upgrades/plans for parks - or complete overhauls, as with Union Sq and Bryant Parks, or Bloomberg's "reforms" with the more uniform newspaper dispensing boxes, newsstands. The City is always trying to impose some order on the chaos - but there is still plenty of chaos left.


The committee that selected the furniture for the plaza decided on two different designs for the seating. I don't know why they decided on the differing seating - actually, it's a good question - maybe the backless seating also would have worked in the area with the trees, and of course, vice versa, the regular park benches would also have been OK at the S side of the plaza. Is it possible RC actually contributed money to pay for the granite benches in the area near their building - and because RY did not get involved in the project, the regular park benches were installed at the area with the trees?


I'm not sure we can comment on the landscape design of the entire plaza - because we'll only know what it will be like when the grasses/shrubs and so forth are in place, which will be in the Spring. I like the paths in the area with the trees and the additional seating in that area. It is charming. I am always impressed with these upgrades - such as at Union Sq and Bryant Parks, which are miraculous. People appreciate the plants - a lot of thought goes into the plantings, then the urban area "blooms" with increased use, a wonderful cared-for landscape, after the years when it was just another dangerous needle park.


I always liked the area with the trees to the W of the church for hanging out - it always seems breezy and it is shady - so now there will be even more seating there - which is fine with me.


I think the planters - if one likes them or not - will always be a matter of taste. I like them - but others may not. If there is a thoughtful program of plantings - such as the one at the kiosk at the tram - then I promise you we will really appreciate the plaza overhaul; I know we'll all love it!

wadawin said...

Sad man.

Frank Farance said...

wadawin, you're defensive to sound criticism (your cliches) with citations. Google's 76.1 million hits return with key words in your critique:

design exciting daring creative use modern forms materials

Here's an example using the same kind of art critique language at "http://archidesiign.weebly.com" in Architecture & Design Blog:

"Contemporary Home Evoking a Warm Rustic Feel: Singapore. Mimosa Road was recently completed in Singapore by the creative team at Park + Associates. The daring residential complex aimed to “capture modern design through clean straight lines and massive forms compensated by meticulous and creative selection of materials to keep a warm rustic touch to the feel of the house. ... The overwhelming scape of the project is slightly mellowed by the use of wood, brick and inspiring decorating items."


More blah blah blah art criticism cliches. You own words sound like that, right?

YetAnotherRIer said...

"... what a cliche of uninspired art criticism. :-)"


Why the need to criticize wadawin's critique? You have your own opinion about the space and so does he.

YetAnotherRIer said...

You are doing it again. Another example of why people just give on you and don't care what you have to say.

wadawin said...

Frank, you need help, you are crazy.

Frank Farance said...

YetAnotherRIer: it's okay for you to have meta-comments (comments about my comments), but I am not allowed to have comments about others' comments? You have a double standard.

David Enock said...

Frank: sure, everyone can have comments, Just nix the impulse to make personal attacks. They don't illuminate, they just make the attacker look like a fool.