takebacktaubman:

HENRY COBB + PRESTON SCOTT COHEN / 04/10/2015

Below is an informal Henry Cobb scorecard detailing some of the praise and criticism following the joint review of the addition proposal. Do note that the floor plans shown here are the most current iteration and supercede the first set posted on this blog.

FORM (+)
HC is taken by the strong “gesture” the diagonal makes in relation to the building itself, as well as the entire campus.
11:30 / (+) Discussion regarding the building’s diagonal situation on site and the significance of the oblique.
20:15 / (+) Extended canopy establishes strong frontage, continue “gesture”

ATRIUM (+)
HC believes the multi-use atrium is successful in that, among other things, it continues the dynamism of the diagonal established through the exterior form.

COLUMNS (-)
Column design is admittedly unresolved due to budgetary restrictions.
55:30 / PSC: “I hate that they’re on the edge here, ugh, terrible.”

STAIRS (-)
Although lauding the “discontinuity” the stair presents conceptually, he voices issues of bottlenecking and inadequate width. (Note: the stairs are now shown as suspended).
28:45 / Regarding student circulation through the building: “They’re not going to bother with your inadequate… very complicated stair.”
44:30 / The “discontinuity” is an appropriate design feature that articulates the occupants’ relationship to ground.
44:15 / Stairs are not “generous enough” to act as the primary route through the addition.
47:30 / “I’m a little worried about whether that stair can accommodate the pressure, the traffic.”

GALLERY (-)
The ground floor gallery space at the foot of the main stair is too small.
52:45 / “This isn’t really an exhibit gallery, this is a foyer.” “It’s not big enough.”

FACADE
25:50 / PSC presents the facade materialty of patterned brickwork and unaligned control joints.
58:50 / PSC explains that the building’s geometry and patterning imply a torus.