Notes 10/15/2003 

Landscape Architect for the courtyard:

MIG
Susan McKay
845.7549
527.0765 cell

 

Specific changes were requested by MIG, but compromises were made.   

Changes requested by MIG

Final result

Get rid of a couple of trees by the western façade of natatorium

 

Requested a grad change where raised plaza ends and the courtyard begins

 

Color of the concrete.  MIG had used a specific color which does not resemble any colors of the campus.

A change in the distance of the tree placements

 

Due to the need to follow codes, the changes were not quite necessary but everything fell into place

The same color was used for the concrete that extends to the south side of the natatorium

 

MIG created a sort of a small mound of grass area by the natatorium.  The western façade of the natatorium has a raised plaza that gradually steps down as a transition from the indoor pool to the outside.  MIG thought the raised plaza could be used as a stage while the grass area is used as a sitting area.  Therefore they didn’t want the trees to be planted.  On the other hand, ELS thought the grass area could be used as a stage and the raised platform as a sitting area.  The trees were necessary for the natatorium in order to reduce direct sunlight and glare.  Also, ELS had used trees as a circulation route.  As one enters from the north side, there is a line of trees which becomes replaced by the edge of building C and then back to the line of trees that leads to the southern end of the campus.  

  

The Old Gym

There wasn’t much design influence that came from the old gym.  There was no mimicking of the style of the old gym for continuity or a mirror effect.  However, the new pool and the gym have the same height and scale as the old gym.  The design of the additions, especially the windows and color, relates more to buildings G and H.  The Old Gym will be renovated to smaller classrooms although it is unknown when it will actually take place.  The idea of having smaller classrooms came about due to the idea of having smaller, specialized classes that focuses on certain subject that students are especially interested  (newspaper article).

 

Jud Owens may have 1937 Master Plan and other accompanying documents.  However it is not certain.  No one requested that ELS follows the Master Plan, but ELS chose to do so. 

 

Building B

The fire was in 2000.  The decision to get rid of the building B and to renovate the Old Gym was in May 2001.  It was demolished in July 2001 which was when the west façade of the natatorium was redesigned.  At that time, a lot of underground work had been done but no walls were put up yet except maybe the curved wall near the library.  The entries to Building C were redone because they used to be connected to Building B.