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trogers
29-06-2006, 20:23
Location:
To remain anonymous, at the discretion of the client.

Project Type:
Commons Addition to a private Catholic High School

Program:
New 12000 sq.ft. Commons Addition: includes a servery for vendors to bring in catered food that doubles as a concession stand and a spirit store, vending machines, activities director office, restrooms, entry for the sports/events side of the building, storage for all fold-up tables, display for all sports awards. The commons should be flexible for other types of events (fundraising, banquets, awards, etc) as well as potential study halls, etc.

Materials:
red=brick: match existing
white=hardcoat plaster system to match existing gfrc sun shading components(glass-fiber reinforced concrete)
grey=2nd color of hardcoat plaster
light retaining walls=CIP conc walls
aluminum prefab sunshading system.

Concept:
Sacred/profane tension that results in mingling of typical users and visitors from other public schools at various events. The simplified scheme results from the need to represent the existing structure and its timeline for many past additions(representational of formal bars of space and building), yet resulting from a desire to extend the building south to greet users. This expression is the result of shifting and splitting of the main volume with a volume of space open to structure (preferably to skylights, but costs factor in...) as well as a "drawer" of the front facade that extends out into the exterior plaza. This effectively breaks down the large open commons and extends the landscape into the building, shielding parking from view to boot. The representational formal anchor, the egress stair, has been shifted off center to anchor the commons and shift attention away from the very ugly connection to the rest of the building: at the mechanical and electrical end of the building. The stair becomes an off center beacon to the entry, adding to the tension of the space both inside the building and in the entry plaza just outside the space.

This project is currently in Design Development.

I'd love to hear any comments, realistic or hypothetical.

I apologize for the lack of "site", but the general locale is in the great plains region of the U.S. The building faces south.

Images to follow.

trogers
29-06-2006, 20:24
Overview.

trogers
29-06-2006, 20:25
elevation.

trogers
29-06-2006, 20:26
southeast corner.

trogers
29-06-2006, 20:26
"plan"

trogers
29-06-2006, 20:27
interior

trogers
29-06-2006, 20:28
Last one of the entry area.

Sorry there isn't much more, but I'd be glad to post more as requested...time permitting...

Thanks.

zebedak
29-06-2006, 20:32
i like it - nice and simple - yet effective. i like the way the trusses are partly exposed, just not so sure about the way they pass through into the covered area - just the siomple cutout - would look better if theykinda just 'grew' out of there :)

trogers
29-06-2006, 20:53
i like it - nice and simple - yet effective. i like the way the trusses are partly exposed, just not so sure about the way they pass through into the covered area - just the siomple cutout - would look better if theykinda just 'grew' out of there :)

yeah...I'm attempting to convince my principal that it isn't kosher...but, I have to find an alternative way to keep active high schoolers from tossing garbage up there...

thanks for the comments.

?eter
29-06-2006, 21:08
The first thing I thought when I saw this is that the roof is begging to be inhabited- I realise there are safety concerns, but it would be really cool to have. Maybe it's just my sub-tropical African upbringing but any chance to be under the sky instead of in a building is a good one (weather permitting).

When I look at the plans, this addition certainly adds a lot to the building- you don't say what the current entrance from this side looks like but I like what you have done.

zebedak
29-06-2006, 21:14
The first thing I thought when I saw this is that the roof is begging to be inhabited- I realise there are safety concerns, but it would be really cool to have. Maybe it's just my sub-tropical African upbringing but any chance to be under the sky instead of in a building is a good one (weather permitting).

hey - i thought of this too :) but thought - high school kids + roof = very bad idea :D

wizum
29-06-2006, 21:39
i like it - nice and simple - yet effective. i like the way the trusses are partly exposed, just not so sure about the way they pass through into the covered area - just the siomple cutout - would look better if theykinda just 'grew' out of there :)

this jumped out at me as well Tim...

My first thought was to use "floating" planes to define that lower articulation in the roof... But then you made the comment about kids throwing stuff up on it? I don't know, seems like a pretty trivial concern, but I guess one being forced to consider?

anyhow, I think looking at the way the ceiling is engaging with the trusses has got to be looked at... otherwise I think you have created a nice little addition and it seems from the humbleness of this design that cost is going to be a major factor in this project...

wizum
29-06-2006, 21:41
Also, I wanted to comment on the way you have graphically representated you Sketchup work... I like the way you used no texture on the building itself but just color but then added trees in via Photoshop with realness (some textured trees from a render or image from real trees?) but yet transparent... I think it works nice... nothing too strong... it composes well...

trogers
29-06-2006, 21:51
Also, I wanted to comment on the way you have graphically representated you Sketchup work... I like the way you used no texture on the building itself but just color but then added trees in via Photoshop with realness (some textured trees from a render or image from real trees?) but yet transparent... I think it works nice... nothing too strong... it composes well...

thanks for the comments.

wiz, its pure sketchup. no photoshop done, except for cropping and resizing. trees are downloaded at formfonts, search "NPR" trees, and then adjusted. was concerned about the people not being similar to the trees, but...

major props to Richard and his white peeps...saves me time whiting out my current people components.

btw, the budget is tight. so is the design. the restrained tension is the result of the philosophy of the school.

trogers
29-06-2006, 21:57
When I look at the plans, this addition certainly adds a lot to the building- you don't say what the current entrance from this side looks like but I like what you have done.

?eter, here's a washed out afternoon pic of the current entrance. anything is an improvement to cover up the chiller...

wizum
29-06-2006, 23:34
thanks for the comments.

wiz, its pure sketchup. no photoshop done, except for cropping and resizing. trees are downloaded at formfonts, search "NPR" trees, and then adjusted. was concerned about the people not being similar to the trees, but...

major props to Richard and his white peeps...saves me time whiting out my current people components.

btw, the budget is tight. so is the design. the restrained tension is the result of the philosophy of the school.

Hell, even better then... all sketchup... thanks for the tip... I will check it out... and just curious as to this philosophy? is it the individual school or the school district or county? Or is it just a design responce to what already exists and they just don't want to get to agressive/progressive in design... Just blend in... and obviously the simplicity fits with a more cost effective product :)

trogers
05-07-2006, 05:12
and just curious as to this philosophy? is it the individual school or the school district or county? Or is it just a design responce to what already exists and they just don't want to get to agressive/progressive in design... Just blend in...

all of the above :)

a bit of catholicism, a bit of the district, a bit of the school's adapt even if your school is at 120% room utilization (should be at 6 periods of class, 2 of teacher's prep.) They opt for the overuse of space prior to building more space. So it is of necessity rather than luxury of the church.

It was even stated by the project principal that the design was still too "fussy"...nevertheless, it is my first foray into religious architecture, aside from a cistercian monastery uni project...we find out how close the budget and the GMP is very soon...