8:27 Procrastination: More Kravis Center Renderings

By Josh S. | May 11, 2009 at 8:27 pm | News | 25 comments | |

 

Rafael Vinoly Architects–the company tasked with designing The Kravis Center–has released new renderings of what West Campus should like when construction is finished. They explain, “This LEED-certified Silver facility… includes a series of four terraced floors that step back from the quad as the building rises: this limits the building mass to a scale appropriate to the low-rise character of the campus and adjacent community, but also augments interior spaces with exterior terraces that can be used for classes or informal meetings.”

kravis-center1kravis-center2kravis-center3

From http://www.rvapc.com/

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Josh S.

In late 2007, Josh started the website CMCForum.com. It has since grown into this fine publication today. He is a senior at CMC and is not looking forward to graduating, after which he will move back to NYC and take over.

 
 
 
 
  • meh

    It looks nice, but is it worth two years of obstructive construction and noise? Not to mention losing in my opinion some of the nicest old building on campus and green space? Maybe…

  • meh

    It looks nice, but is it worth two years of obstructive construction and noise? Not to mention losing in my opinion some of the nicest old building on campus and green space? Maybe…

  • Tina

    Will someone explain the large glass cube in the center of the quad? It looks like something that someone will break during 6:01.

  • Tina

    Will someone explain the large glass cube in the center of the quad? It looks like something that someone will break during 6:01.

    • Josh Siegel

      It’s the Board Room, which looks like a pretty awesome lounge area once it’s built. See pictures here:

      “”The campus gathering space maximizing glass and light will be located on the green between Roberts North and South. In recognition of 100 percent participation of this important building initiative by the Board of Trustees, this space is being named The Board Room.”

  • Michael

    Hi meh,

    what a strange comment. construction takes time. and makes noise, but… well, that’s how buildings appear. and it’ll be around for a while. like, WAY more than two years.

    and no buildings at CMC are particularly nice. Vinoly’s kind of a big deal, so Pitzer Hall doesn’t really compare.

    Hi Tina,

    It’s a living room for students to hang out or study in, similar to the space in Smith Campus Center. Actually, in the most recent plan, the “Board Room” (the board of trustees is paying for this one part of the design out of pocket) will be surrounded by a reflecting pool.

  • Michael

    Hi meh,

    what a strange comment. construction takes time. and makes noise, but… well, that’s how buildings appear. and it’ll be around for a while. like, WAY more than two years.

    and no buildings at CMC are particularly nice. Vinoly’s kind of a big deal, so Pitzer Hall doesn’t really compare.

    Hi Tina,

    It’s a living room for students to hang out or study in, similar to the space in Smith Campus Center. Actually, in the most recent plan, the “Board Room” (the board of trustees is paying for this one part of the design out of pocket) will be surrounded by a reflecting pool.

  • When

    When is this supposed to be finished? It looks pretty incredible.

  • When

    When is this supposed to be finished? It looks pretty incredible.

  • rafael is the man

    i hear it includes a four story waterfall above a semi-underground rainforest cafe.

    and the cube is a set of lcd panels that can show cnn and bloomberg news 24/7

    and a sushi roku next to a trovata store

  • rafael is the man

    i hear it includes a four story waterfall above a semi-underground rainforest cafe.

    and the cube is a set of lcd panels that can show cnn and bloomberg news 24/7

    and a sushi roku next to a trovata store

  • not so hot

    What is this? Am I the only one who thinks this is a tad hideous/over-the-top and way out of place (all glass and concrete)?
    And what about that huge vent on top of the building facing the library? Straight out of 70s architecture.. what happened to this being modern?
    Clearly it will be used and useful but I don’t think so stylish.

  • not so hot

    What is this? Am I the only one who thinks this is a tad hideous/over-the-top and way out of place (all glass and concrete)?
    And what about that huge vent on top of the building facing the library? Straight out of 70s architecture.. what happened to this being modern?
    Clearly it will be used and useful but I don’t think so stylish.

  • Doug

    Not so hot- I think ‘Rafael is the man’ was making your point, albeit in a sarcastic manner. I agree, this building is an albatross that will be ridiculously out of place around here. And yea, exactly what this campus needs; a giant glass cube that serves as a “a living room for students to hang out or study in”…. I don’t usually like to utilize this acronym, but WTF? It seems to me like this building is a ridiculous waste if we’re in the dire financial situation that they’ve told us we’re in. Would anyone else prefer free take out containers over a glass “living room”? I’m not one who’s flipping about that $.50 charge, but shouldn’t our expansion plans reflect reality ? This is a college campus, not the deYoung, new buildings can be stylish without looking like a Jetson’s knock-off. The only explanation is that Dartmouth must have just gotten Vinoly to do their new campus center????

    As for the timing of this construction, are we seriously to believe that the massive crater will be turned into this building (in working condition) within two years? WOW, no way. Anyone notice how long it took them to get the new Montclair Police Department built on Arrow Hwy? Yea…

    • Kim

      No: I’d rather CMC make a long-term investment on our campus and take advantage of the soft prices in the construction market over getting free containers. When I refer family to CMC, they will have an awesome building to have their classes. I will have an impressive alma mater. And those containers will be biodegraded.

  • Doug

    Not so hot- I think ‘Rafael is the man’ was making your point, albeit in a sarcastic manner. I agree, this building is an albatross that will be ridiculously out of place around here. And yea, exactly what this campus needs; a giant glass cube that serves as a “a living room for students to hang out or study in”…. I don’t usually like to utilize this acronym, but WTF? It seems to me like this building is a ridiculous waste if we’re in the dire financial situation that they’ve told us we’re in. Would anyone else prefer free take out containers over a glass “living room”? I’m not one who’s flipping about that $.50 charge, but shouldn’t our expansion plans reflect reality ? This is a college campus, not the deYoung, new buildings can be stylish without looking like a Jetson’s knock-off. The only explanation is that Dartmouth must have just gotten Vinoly to do their new campus center????

    As for the timing of this construction, are we seriously to believe that the massive crater will be turned into this building (in working condition) within two years? WOW, no way. Anyone notice how long it took them to get the new Montclair Police Department built on Arrow Hwy? Yea…

    • Kim

      No: I’d rather CMC make a long-term investment on our campus and take advantage of the soft prices in the construction market over getting free containers. When I refer family to CMC, they will have an awesome building to have their classes. I will have an impressive alma mater. And those containers will be biodegraded.

  • Did it get uglier?

    The depictions of the Kravis Center released earlier in the year (http://cmc.edu/campaign/campus/) make the Kravis Center look less industrial and more attractive…

  • Did it get uglier?

    The depictions of the Kravis Center released earlier in the year (http://cmc.edu/campaign/campus/) make the Kravis Center look less industrial and more attractive…

  • Not so hot

    oops, missed that.
    honestly, the giant glass cube seems like fun (minus the oddly pointless patch of grass on its ceiling….unless it’s turned into a green roof!) but the Kravis Center itself is yes, a Jetson’s knock off. I think the one part of the problem lies with the flying glass staircases at the side.
    Can’t wait to visit in 10 years when that crater is finally filled.

  • Not so hot

    oops, missed that.
    honestly, the giant glass cube seems like fun (minus the oddly pointless patch of grass on its ceiling….unless it’s turned into a green roof!) but the Kravis Center itself is yes, a Jetson’s knock off. I think the one part of the problem lies with the flying glass staircases at the side.
    Can’t wait to visit in 10 years when that crater is finally filled.

  • Josh

    I think it’s kind of ridiculous not to show gratitude to the Board of Trustees, especially Henry Kravis, for paying for this project out of pocket at no cost to students. If I were Kravis or any other trustee and I read this comment thread, I would be pissed that students don’t appreciate the thousands or millions of dollars I give back to CMC.

  • Josh

    I think it’s kind of ridiculous not to show gratitude to the Board of Trustees, especially Henry Kravis, for paying for this project out of pocket at no cost to students. If I were Kravis or any other trustee and I read this comment thread, I would be pissed that students don’t appreciate the thousands or millions of dollars I give back to CMC.

  • Doug

    Ok fine if the glass cube is of no cost to students than it is just a silly expense by Mr. Kravis. Doesn’t change the fact that the rest of the building is ludacrisssssss. The point wasn’t that there shouldn’t have been a new building, or that I am ungrateful for the extremely sizable donation. And since you apparently speak for the vaunted alumnus, I apologize to you.

    I still think that this project reflects poorly on the school especially in light of other recent actions taken by the administration in terms of cost cutting, price raising, etc.

  • Doug

    Ok fine if the glass cube is of no cost to students than it is just a silly expense by Mr. Kravis. Doesn’t change the fact that the rest of the building is ludacrisssssss. The point wasn’t that there shouldn’t have been a new building, or that I am ungrateful for the extremely sizable donation. And since you apparently speak for the vaunted alumnus, I apologize to you.

    I still think that this project reflects poorly on the school especially in light of other recent actions taken by the administration in terms of cost cutting, price raising, etc.