Photo Friday: Speed |
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| Botanic Gin & Tonic
October 4, 2004
I Retract
Campus Center & John M. Greene Hall; Smith College, Northampton, MA
Main entrance.
Lower level, looking up.
Main floor, looking up.
Those who have had the great frustration of debating architecture (of which I don't know much about-- I'll say that up front) with me know that I maintain a great disdain for mixing classic with modern. The Brooklyn Museum makes me nauseous. I won't get myself started on that one.
There comes a time, however (or many, in my case), when a woman must retract a statement of personal taste. Sometimes, seeing something in person leaves a better impact than a photograph.
I visited my alma mater on Sunday, after a three-year hiatus. I did the trip in one day, heading out of a very creepy Port Authority at 4:30am, catching lunch with my favorite ex-professor and her family, and wandering Smith's campus in between. Several things have been built while I've been away, one of which being the new student/campus center.
From the floor plans, architectural drawings, and photographs that were fed to me via my alumnae quarterly, I was vehemently against the student center design. I agreed that one was needed (Smith never had a real student center until this was built), however it pained me to see such modern architecture being plunked down next to classic campus building built in the late 19th century.
Seeing it up close, however, completely changed my mind. The building is absolutely beautiful-- light, friendly, conducive to student collaboration (oooh-- pool table!), and all around great place for people to congregate, both for work and play. Moreover, it fits far better on the campus than I'd perceived.
Aside from the fact that the Ikea-esque furniture and colors will be out of date in two years (much like my current office, Smith's new student center is great. Plus, you no longer need to log into computers, so I got to check my email and surf the web-- an added bonus (I must note how impressed I was that Smith actually had state-of-the-art technology in the center, as well. When I got there in 1995, you still needed to log into Pegasus or Kermit to check your mail).
Bottom line: I'm mofo jealous.
Oh, and by the way...just in case you were wondering:
(THIS COLUMN IS IONIC)
Posted by callalillie at October 4, 2004 8:14 AM | Visual Musings
i've got to say, it really does stick out quite a bit. it's all about how things blend though and some thoughtful exterior color selection and tasteful materials can usually do that.
Posted by: tien at October 4, 2004 9:46 AM
That was definitely my first impression. There's another building on campus, a dorm, that was also built in a modern style-- in the 70's, I think-- that sticks out, too. My fear was that the student center would be as ugly as Cutter/Ziskind. It comes close, at first glance, but actually follows the lines of the landscape when you see it in person.
The inside is great, though-- which is more than I can say for Cutter/Z.
Posted by: corie at October 4, 2004 9:49 AM
do all the buildings there have dual names/usages that require the use of a "/"?
Posted by: tien at October 4, 2004 9:55 AM
it's really called the campus center...as for cutter/ziskind-- it's one building, but has two "houses" inside it. i think it's the only one, though.
Posted by: corie at October 4, 2004 10:10 AM
Wow, I thought your shot of the main entrance looked familiar-it's the exact same angle as a photo used for an article about the architects, Weiss and Manfredi, in Metropolis magazine (Feb 2004 issue).
Very interesting read. The dean of Smith wanted to give the campus a "heart" and, like you said, a place for students to gather and chill. The building tries to be harmonious with the area by acting a bit like a pathway - emphasized by the skylight which resembles a winding, stone pathway.
Posted by: matt at October 4, 2004 10:23 AM
very interesting, indeed. giving the campus a "heart" brought about some controversy. smith is slowly moving from a house-based system to a more general college campus system. when i was there you had to eat at mealtimes--a after that, nothing was really open that could provide you with food. you ate at your house, congregated at your or someone else's house, etc. the campus center, along with a modified dining system, has changed that. i'm curious to see how it pans out over time. i think it will probably be a good thing, even though the house system was one of my favorite parts of smith. that tradition will remain in one form or another (after all, there will always be houses).
Posted by: corie at October 4, 2004 10:26 AM
you said mofo. that makes me happy.
Posted by: Jason at October 5, 2004 9:41 PM
whenever i say "mofo," i'm thinking of you.
mofo.
Posted by: corie at October 6, 2004 9:34 AM
Oh wow. I'm jealous too. I wish I'd graduated a year or two later, but I'll get to see it when I attend my sister's graduation next May. Your photos made me rather Smith-sick.
Posted by: Shryh at October 6, 2004 9:55 PM
It's really nice up there right now-- leaves just starting to change. Plus, I was there on a Sunday, so no one was awake. Check out the new art museum/center. It looks really nice...though it was closed on Sunday so I couldn't go in and really check it out.
Posted by: corie at October 7, 2004 10:56 AM
