OSU rejects design for beeing "too common"

[sgrizzle]

http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=070928_1_A5_spanc81036

quote:
OSU-Tulsa rejects landscaping plan as too common


By APRIL MARCISZEWSKI World Staff Writer
9/28/2007

Board members who govern Oklahoma State University-Tulsa and its property rejected a landscape architecture proposal for the hill between Cincinnati and Detroit avenues just north of Interstate 244 on Thursday.

"We're looking for something distinctive that says, 'Here's OSU,' " said OSU-Tulsa President Gary Trennepohl.

He said it is a struggle to communicate the identity of OSU without being blatant, such as with a neon sign.

The proposal from Howell & Vancuren Inc. would have built onto an existing concrete wall and added terraces above, along with three flagpoles, a statue and two lines of trees bordering a walking path.

"This looks like an entry to a subdivision," board member Jay Helm said. "You can drive anywhere in town and look at this same entry.

"There's nothing distinctive about it."

Helm suggested having a contest for students in OSU-Stillwater's landscape architecture program to design the hill.

Trennepohl said he would check with the landscape architecture program about that possibility.

Trail to move: Board members also voted Thursday to spend as much as $60,000
to relocate a short span of a walking and biking trail that runs diagonally through a planned parking lot for Langston University-Tulsa.

The Langston campus will be at Greenwood Avenue and King Street, property now owned by Langston's governing board, the A&M board of regents.

It previously was owned by the University Center at Tulsa Authority when the easement for the trail originally was granted and the trail was built.

The trail will be moved to skirt the border of the forthcoming parking lot, officials said.

Hooray for not being mediocre at something!

[Wrinkle]

I second the hooray.

And, particularly like the idea of a student landscape department competition. Actually, maybe an open competition would be good.

[TheArtist]

I had always looked at that area and though a skybridge crossing both streets at the high part of the hill would be neat. They could be built of the same brick as the campus and made to kind of look like arches. Would definitely make an impressive entrance to the campus. And would give you an interesting, pedestrian friendly way to get from the part of the campus that exists now and the parts of the campus that will be built on the other side. I would also put a square gazebo type structure on the top of the hill right in the middle overlooking downtown, perhaps have a belltower on top. I would build a new set of stairs that went down the hill and not overly landscape the rest of it, just keep it a cleaned up, natual looking park space. I really like the old rocks and stuff on that hill.

And yes, thank goodness for not doing same ol same ol.

[MichaelBates]

quote:Originally posted by sgrizzle


He said it is a struggle to communicate the identity of OSU without being blatant, such as with a neon sign.

What's wrong with neon?

How about a 50-foot-high Pistol Pete neon sign, with orange neon tubes and thousands of sparkly lights atop Standpipe Hill, waving his arms, like the neon cowboy on Fremont Street in Vegas, as "Ride 'Em Cowboy" is blasted out over the loudspeakers?

That oughta do it.

[Double A]

quote:Originally posted by MichaelBates

quote:Originally posted by sgrizzle


He said it is a struggle to communicate the identity of OSU without being blatant, such as with a neon sign.

What's wrong with neon?

How about a 50-foot-high Pistol Pete neon sign, with orange neon tubes and thousands of sparkly lights atop Standpipe Hill, waving his arms, like the neon cowboy on Fremont Street in Vegas, as "Ride 'Em Cowboy" is blasted out over the loudspeakers?

That oughta do it.

Sweet!

[dsjeffries]

Good for them--I was happy when I read that article... Seems like they're some of the few in Tulsa that DON'T prefer the common, cookie-cutter subdivision, big-box, Anywhere USA look.. Finally!

[TulsaSooner]

quote:Originally posted by MichaelBates


What's wrong with neon?

How about a 50-foot-high Pistol Pete neon sign, with orange neon tubes and thousands of sparkly lights atop Standpipe Hill, waving his arms, like the neon cowboy on Fremont Street in Vegas, as "Ride 'Em Cowboy" is blasted out over the loudspeakers?

That oughta do it.

Pistol's Firing!!

[]

[cannon_fodder]

I never understood the hesitance of a University to use their own damn departments.  If you have a law school - shouldnt you use it for minor legal issues (I understand you don't want to use it for conflict reasons or specialty cases).  A horticulture department should probably take care of at least SOME of the grounds.  And if you have a landscape architecture program... why in the hell not have them design it?  Argh!

[sgrizzle]

quote:Originally posted by cannon_fodder

I never understood the hesitance of a University to use their own damn departments.  If you have a law school - shouldnt you use it for minor legal issues (I understand you don't want to use it for conflict reasons or specialty cases).  A horticulture department should probably take care of at least SOME of the grounds.  And if you have a landscape architecture program... why in the hell not have them design it?  Argh!

I'm not sure if the university is hesitant or if this was something where regents or regulations wanted them to contract outside. The University is the one suggesting having university students design it.