Ballpark's Financing Arranged

[Gaspar]

just got a funny email.  The grown-ups are watching.  Voice your opinions.  They're listening. []

Quote from someone far more important than me:
"That's godawful. . . I agree, this looks like an aged middle school!"

[MDepr2007]

quote:Originally posted by RecycleMichael

I did hear that the Channel 6 project has slowed.

Griffin made his money through syrup and jelly sales. Let's all go to the store and buy some Griffen's products to make sure he builds his new building.

No thanks, I just replaced a speaker because of their sound on cable.

[MDepr2007]

Interesting

or not

[TheArtist]

quote:Originally posted by Gaspar

just got a funny email.  The grown-ups are watching.  Voice your opinions.  They're listening. []

Quote from someone far more important than me:
"That's godawful. . . I agree, this looks like an aged middle school!"

When I first saw it I didnt like it. Then I decided to be fair, open minded, give it a try, etc.  I talked myself into liking it lol. But now, I am regrettably slinking back to not liking it lol.

If ya have to work so hard TO like something,,, Guess part of me is defeatist and saying "Well there isnt anything I can do about it, whats gonna be there is gonna be there so make the best of it, hope for the best, and learn to be happy with it".

But, if they want suggestions. It depends on how far, how much change, they are willing to consider? There is always a give and take budget wise too. I think a few tweaks here and there and some really good materials choices could still pull it off. Plus again, the entrance, the Elgin and Archer corner, is going to be very important and I have no idea what they have planned there.  The renderings we are looking at are of stuff thats on the back of the building facing the highway, or to the back side. The "gateway" the "money shot" etc that leads to and from Blue Dome and Brady is that Elgin/Archer corner. Thats where you definitely want some eyecatching bling. Thats where the sense of place, is going to be created for the area.

[Renaissance]

They need to rip it up and start over.

[TheArtist]

I do like the idea of doing something contemporary. It can help Tulsa make a unique statement. Just to show what I mean by how even using nice materials can take something from, blah, to oooh niiice. Course it may cost a little more money, but if ya want something nice that makes a statement...

Look closely at this Shanghi World Financial Center pic. Notice the large blocks of stone and the amount of texture it has. That texture is wonderful and makes a great contrast with the sleek steel and glass.

Pic by staffh on flickr, taken from Skyscraper Page forum.



Here is the Getty Museum. Again, simple lines, but the high texture of the stone gives it so much character and interest. pic by Kris Kros on flickr.



Now imagine the ballpark design with a similar kind of stone and texture, plus the steel and glass. I also made some quick tweaks. A curved, stainless steel portico over the ticket counters, cleaned up a few elements, added a little water feature... Ok a BIG water feature lol, plus some more "contemporary" pieces.



Now add some contemporary light fixtures to the outside. They have some amazing stuff out now. Perhaps something like the round floriform, under the silver portico. Then a row of the backlit kind on the stonework to the left of that and some on the stonework on either side of the water feature....





Not trying to say those exact lights, just throwing out the notion that some sort of sculptural lighting elements can be used to enhance and play up the contemporary/artistic design of the structure. Some little tweaks here and there, the right materials and accents,,, and you would definitely get rid of any notion that its a school. May be a bit overly "hip and cool" for RecycleMichael though.[8D]

[OurTulsa]

Artist, you're putting lipstick on it.  I would like to see more articulation particularly on the side that will play key roles in how it relates to the public realm (don't care too much about how it looks from the highway or the backs of other buildings).  If we are lucky enough to create some sort of walking environment around the ballpark between OSU and Brady-Greenwood this face will kill the streetscape.  I fear it will repel people or a least be very un-pleasant to walk by - no matter how many atrocious acorn lights and abstract fountains and sculptures you adorn the sidewalk and obligatory plaza with.  Again, if this is going to be urban, please think about how this building relates at the points it engages the public realm.  Right now, without closer detail, it says 'dull stretches of monotonous lines'.  Remember, buildings, particularly public buildings say alot about the people who use it.  

I'm sorry, it looks like the Edison HS annex right now.

[waterboy]

Since "they're" watching. I agree with Floyd and to some extent, Monsier Gaspar. It looks like an airport complex from the late fifties merged into a replica of Edison High School with THX1138 highlights (show some bald people milling around).

Not a bad image, just not one that elicits a baseball feeling. Might be cool somewhere, but not downtown.

[TheArtist]

I hear what your saying. But just to help visualize things a little better. Basically this...



Is the part of the building that someone may be walking by. (the area in green in these renderings)

This is the latest concourse/ground level rendering.



An older layout.



The area in blue,,, no need to worry too much about since its behind the building and only seen from the highway. The green and blue areas are the "working end" of things, offices, tickets, gift shop, etc. I think the pink areas are actually more important. Thats the area where people will be walking and most likely to be seeing while coming towards the ballpark or in the pedestrian friendly areas (hopefully) around the ballpark. That corner is where I think there should be some sort of "gateway" type structure or look. Something entertaining and lively.

Can the main structure be different? Well of course. But I am still more interested in whats going to happen in the larger area.

I frankly still like the idea of doing something contemporary with the building design. Can anyone else think of a way to "add more articulation" to or completely change this in a way that would still be contemporary? Or would you prefer they abandon the contemporary notion all together and go with an older style?




One possibility I can think of is to perhaps move some of the stuff thats in the back to the side, to give that street facing side greater possibilities for more height, articulation and interest? Cause otherwise, there is not a lot of space and or height there to do much with. No need to be simply slapping random stuff on that little section thats off to the back and behind trees, just to add more stuff.  You may start to make it look cluttery. Especially once they stick trees and lamp posts in front of it. Heck with as many trees as it looks like they have planted in front of that side, its unlikely your going to be able to see much of it anyway lol. I think its fine to keep that small section, clean and simple. Use some nice materials and then focus on the larger pink area and whats around the ballpark.

[Renaissance]

Artist, all your ideas are wonderful.  But I have a question: how many baseball games have you been too?  (I seem to recall your saying the number could be counted on one hand?)

I just realized that the exterior of this stadium was designed by non-fans.  No one who loves baseball could possibly have come up with it.  

If HOK can't give us someone who is a fan and student of baseball to design the thing, fire them and find someone else who appreciates the game and knows what appropriate ballpark architecture is.  The design as it stands is a JOKE.

[RecycleMichael]

quote:Originally posted by Floyd

Artist, all your ideas are wonderful.  But I have a question: how many baseball games have you been too?  (I seem to recall your saying the number could be counted on one hand?)

I just realized that the exterior of this stadium was designed by non-fans.  No one who loves baseball could possibly have come up with it.  

If HOK can't give us someone who is a fan and student of baseball to design the thing, fire them and find someone else who appreciates the game and knows what appropriate ballpark architecture is.  The design as it stands is a JOKE.

Gee floyd. Do you really think the guys at HOK aren't fans of baseball?

These are the same guys who designed Yankee stadium. But of course, you think they know nothing of baseball.

Strike one for your hyperbole.

[Renaissance]

If "they" are listening, I want "them" to understand how badly "they're" about to foul this thing up.

Regarding HOK: new Yankee stadium is an architectural replica of old Yankee stadium with modern amenities.  I know they have a dedicated stadium group.  I just wonder why they think a minor league ballpark should look like a transit terminal. My best guess is that whoever they assigned to the project is more interested in architecture than baseball; hence a rendering that is more Frank Lloyd Wright than Fenway or Wrigley.  

The sooner we all admit the design sucks, the better chance there is that they'll fix it.