Hideous Architecture on College Avenue

[RUboozer]

Hi all,

I don't post here often, but I have to say I'm really disheartened by some of the newer buildings on College Ave.

The new Theological Seminary Building (I think this is what it is) looks like a suburban bank building in a strip mall. Seriously. I can't even begin to ask enough questions as to who the heck designed, and approved, that thing. I find it hard to imagine a building design that would fit into the surroundings LESS than that building. Ugh. Am I alone on this?

The other eyesore seems to be on the lot where the Grease Trucks used to be. The choice of materials, at least from what I can tell, is incredibly heinous. Particularly on the Hamilton Street side of the building (it's like a cheapo looking white/light grey veneer, in stack-bond). Does anybody have a rendering of what this building is supposed to ultimately be?

I know everybody's tastes are not the same, but these buildings look so obnoxiously out of place, I am having a hard time comprehending it. Unfortunately it looks like we'll have to deal with looking at them forever. I honestly feel like they ruin the College Avenue campus, which should be a treasure as the heart of Rutgers.

Ugh.

 

[mal359]

The final render for the Lot 8 building includes a strip mall (with a Starbucks!) and a giant TV that will blast advertisements 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Milton Friedman and the NCAA's laissez-faire dream of a corporatized university is now progressing towards its next logical incarnation. God bless America.

 

[RUboozer]

This actually makes me hate Rutgers a little bit. The TV is beyond tacky. Just way, way, way beyond tacky. This is a big fail.

 

[Sir ScarletKnight]

The new Theological Seminary Building (I think this is what it is) looks like a suburban bank building in a strip mall. Seriously. I can't even begin to ask enough questions as to who the heck designed, and approved, that thing. I find it hard to imagine a building design that would fit into the surroundings LESS than that building. Ugh. Am I alone on this?

Well, I like it quite a bit more than what was there before. And walking through it's a nice, brick building. I only wish they had put the parking lot below ground.

 

[Sir ScarletKnight]

Also, believe it or not, but students like starbucks near their classes. I'm withholding judgement until it's done, but so far, I haven't felt like The Yard is at all a detriment to the campus.

 

[mal359]

Do you speak for all students?

 

[Sir ScarletKnight]

Do you speak for all students?

Of course not. But the huge line at Dunkin Donuts between classes on Livingston sure gives me a clue.

 

[mal359]

I think you need to look up the term "non-sequitur."

There's nowhere else to get coffee on Livingston that is near classroom buildings, doesn't burn a meal swipe, and doesn't cost an arm and a leg.

You also did a real swell job of missing both mine and the OP's points. So, congratulations, you can whip up one killer ancedote.

 

[Sir ScarletKnight]

I think you need to look up the term "non-sequitur."

There's nowhere else to get coffee on Livingston that is near classroom buildings, doesn't burn a meal swipe, and doesn't cost an arm and a leg.

You also did a real swell job of missing both mine and the OP's points. So, congratulations, you can whip up one killer ancedote.

[eyeroll]
You're awfully sarcastic and condescending over something minor.

Ok, so here's this:
I'm interested in seeing what the TV will be used for beyond "advertisements." Football games, basketball games, etc. There are plenty of options. Maybe it'll suck, maybe it won't. But there are plenty of events which can happen there, like the English Department's movie nights. I really like how the building is set back, and with the right landscaping, I suspect it will be a very nice gateway building to College Ave. Even the fact that the side building, the one that has the screen, is set away from the sidewalk is a nice touch, allowing for a view of the beginning of Voorhees Mall.

Rutgers students like coffee. Starbucks on Livingston is frequently busy. ABP is frequently busy. Dunkin Donuts on Douglass is frequently busy. The coffee shop on Douglass by the music department? Often busy. Students like Starbucks, and a lot of them don't like Rutgers dining hall coffee.

Rutgers students on Livingston can also get cheap coffee from The Rock Cafe, and the retail shop near the entrance. I've lived next to the student center for over a year, I know where the longest lines form.

Starbucks will do well when set up next to a bus stop directly across from a large knot of classrooms.

I have already responded to the OP's point about the theological seminary. I like it. Not as much as the one pre-dixie cup, but I like it.

And I still like The Yard. If the OP wants to create a whole new thread, disregarding the one we already have going about it, to complain, fine by him. But having been by it multiple times in the past few weeks, seeing as I have class on College Ave directly next to it, I still feel that it will be an advantage for the student body. The lounges, food options, and open space will be a nice replacement for the parking lot which was previously there, and we need more housing anyway.

@Cofifa would you care to comment on the type of programming which will be on the TV?

 

[sct1111]

The new Theological Seminary building is light years better than what was there beforehand. It's a simple modern brick building with no bells or whistles. It's probably all they can afford at this point. It's a shame that the original Theological Seminary campus isn't still intact because THAT was a beautiful old campus. I wish Rutgers bought it out years ago and renovated the campus to prevent them from tearing down such beautiful buildings. The site of Hertzog Hall across from Old Queens would be a serene view for the college ave campus.

Imagine this adjacent to Vorhees Mall:

At this point we just have to look ahead to our beautiful new Honors College and academic buildings along with this future plan for College Ave:

 

[Cofifa]

[eyeroll]
You're awfully sarcastic and condescending over something minor.

Ok, so here's this:
I'm interested in seeing what the TV will be used for beyond "advertisements." Football games, basketball games, etc. There are plenty of options. Maybe it'll suck, maybe it won't. But there are plenty of events which can happen there, like the English Department's movie nights. I really like how the building is set back, and with the right landscaping, I suspect it will be a very nice gateway building to College Ave. Even the fact that the side building, the one that has the screen, is set away from the sidewalk is a nice touch, allowing for a view of the beginning of Voorhees Mall.

Rutgers students like coffee. Starbucks on Livingston is frequently busy. ABP is frequently busy. Dunkin Donuts on Douglass is frequently busy. The coffee shop on Douglass by the music department? Often busy. Students like Starbucks, and a lot of them don't like Rutgers dining hall coffee.

Rutgers students on Livingston can also get cheap coffee from The Rock Cafe, and the retail shop near the entrance. I've lived next to the student center for over a year, I know where the longest lines form.

Starbucks will do well when set up next to a bus stop directly across from a large knot of classrooms.

I have already responded to the OP's point about the theological seminary. I like it. Not as much as the one pre-dixie cup, but I like it.

And I still like The Yard. If the OP wants to create a whole new thread, disregarding the one we already have going about it, to complain, fine by him. But having been by it multiple times in the past few weeks, seeing as I have class on College Ave directly next to it, I still feel that it will be an advantage for the student body. The lounges, food options, and open space will be a nice replacement for the parking lot which was previously there, and we need more housing anyway.

@Cofifa would you care to comment on the type of programming which will be on the TV?

actually we have been focuseing on the programing aspect of The Yard both from a screen and non screen perspective. Of course large events will be a focus of the screen, Rutgers Football and basketball as well as the NFLl, we will have cameras so it will be a perfect place for Pep Rallys etc. we also assume that the World Series, World Cup, olympics , NHL and NBA playoffs will all attract a following. We are currently looking for sponsors for some regular programming such as movie night , we anticipate movie night will be a regular event with special add on movie nights for Halloween etc. We would welcome the ability to work with various departments to do special film nights (English Department, Italian Cinema,Bollywood ,etc)
We have already worked through the ability to air the Metropolitan Opera once or twice a season and anticipate airing some Shakespeare and Classical concerts that are made availabe from places like tanglewood in the summer months.
We assume that there will be shows that are the next "In" show (Survivor, Bachelor ) that will be popular for group watching .
We are hoping to commission short programs that will air on a regular basis in conjunction with Department of Communications. I envision providing grants to students to create original programing. We would hope that we can produce Highlight like shows with Mason Gross that arts on campus get exposure.
I assume that we will have a partnership with R Vision.
With a non screen focus, we anticipate having lunch time live music in the good weather, morning yoga, chess tables, and outdoor table tennis. We will continue to solicit students and others to understand what type of programming would be of interest. We are working with our technical advisors to be able to run "gaming" events that could be played on the big screen both in the park and potentially with gamers in other parts of the country .
Basically we want this to be a social and collegial space that is not only for students but a place where students, staff, faculty, and the greater community can interact, these space are currently few and far between.

 

[e5fdny]

I loathe the name.

Union Place...Union Place...Union Place! (I am holding my breath until you change it - lol)

 

[Sir ScarletKnight]

The new Theological Seminary building is light years better than what was there beforehand. It's a simple modern brick building with no bells or whistles. It's probably all they can afford at this point. It's a shame that the original Theological Seminary campus isn't still intact because THAT was a beautiful old campus. I wish Rutgers bought it out years ago and renovated the campus to prevent them from tearing down such beautiful buildings. The site of Hertzog Hall across from Old Queens would be a serene view for the college ave campus.

Imagine this adjacent to Vorhees Mall:

At this point we just have to look ahead to our beautiful new Honors College and academic buildings along with this future plan for College Ave:

Beautiful as those buildings were, we'd then have to deal with the old buildings. I'm a history major, and I love the design of the old seminary. Absolutely gorgeous. But it was old, and we'd probably get to enjoy looking at window AC units like old queens, and a faded, peeling cupola like Murray Hall. Unfortunately I don't think it would be overly practical.

It was indeed quite beautiful. (Credit Lawrence Gettleman, RC '62)

actually we have been focuseing on the programing aspect of The Yard both from a screen and non screen perspective. Of course large events will be a focus of the screen, Rutgers Football and basketball as well as the NFLl, we will have cameras so it will be a perfect place for Pep Rallys etc. we also assume that the World Series, World Cup, olympics , NHL and NBA playoffs will all attract a following. We are currently looking for sponsors for some regular programming such as movie night , we anticipate movie night will be a regular event with special add on movie nights for Halloween etc. We would welcome the ability to work with various departments to do special film nights (English Department, Italian Cinema,Bollywood ,etc)
We have already worked through the ability to air the Metropolitan Opera once or twice a season and anticipate airing some Shakespeare and Classical concerts that are made availabe from places like tanglewood in the summer months.
We assume that there will be shows that are the next "In" show (Survivor, Bachelor ) that will be popular for group watching .
We are hoping to commission short programs that will air on a regular basis in conjunction with Department of Communications. I envision providing grants to students to create original programing. We would hope that we can produce Highlight like shows with Mason Gross that arts on campus get exposure.
I assume that we will have a partnership with R Vision.
With a non screen focus, we anticipate having lunch time live music in the good weather, morning yoga, chess tables, and outdoor table tennis. We will continue to solicit students and others to understand what type of programming would be of interest. We are working with our technical advisors to be able to run "gaming" events that could be played on the big screen both in the park and potentially with gamers in other parts of the country .
Basically we want this to be a social and collegial space that is not only for students but a place where students, staff, faculty, and the greater community can interact, these space are currently few and far between.

That sounds awesome! I know of a few clubs that would definitely be interested in the gaming aspect.

 

[Jim_from_RU]

Hi all,

I don't post here often, but I have to say I'm really disheartened by some of the newer buildings on College Ave.

The new Theological Seminary Building (I think this is what it is) looks like a suburban bank building in a strip mall. Seriously. I can't even begin to ask enough questions as to who the heck designed, and approved, that thing. I find it hard to imagine a building design that would fit into the surroundings LESS than that building. Ugh. Am I alone on this?

The other eyesore seems to be on the lot where the Grease Trucks used to be. The choice of materials, at least from what I can tell, is incredibly heinous. Particularly on the Hamilton Street side of the building (it's like a cheapo looking white/light grey veneer, in stack-bond). Does anybody have a rendering of what this building is supposed to ultimately be?

I know everybody's tastes are not the same, but these buildings look so obnoxiously out of place, I am having a hard time comprehending it. Unfortunately it looks like we'll have to deal with looking at them forever. I honestly feel like they ruin the College Avenue campus, which should be a treasure as the heart of Rutgers.

Ugh.

It is INFINITELY better than it was! The "dixie cup" building alone was a huge eyesore.

 

[Korbermeister]

It is INFINITELY better than it was! The "dixie cup" building alone was a huge eyesore.

Next building to go that sits on the mall is Scott Hall. That building looks like it wandered over from Browser Commons, got lost and decided to stay because it liked the view

 

[Cofifa]

Next building to go that sits on the mall is Scott Hall. That building looks like it wandered over from Browser Commons, got lost and decided to stay because it liked the view

thats pretty funny

 

[sct1111]

Next building to go that sits on the mall is Scott Hall. That building looks like it wandered over from Browser Commons, got lost and decided to stay because it liked the view

Being serious here, are there actual plans for that? I didn't see anything about that in the physical master plan document. I would bring a lawn chair and a bag of popcorn and watch that demolition.

 

[Sir ScarletKnight]

Being serious here, are there actual plans for that? I didn't see anything about that in the physical master plan document. I would bring a lawn chair and a bag of popcorn and watch that demolition.

I highly doubt it. That's more money than necessary.

 

[derleider]

Well, I like it quite a bit more than what was there before. And walking through it's a nice, brick building. I only wish they had put the parking lot below ground.

That should not be the criteria. For both the theological seminary and lot 8, they started fresh. Both could have been good. Apparently neither is (I didnt take notice of the theological seminary). As Ive said before - "The Yard" will be to future generations what Hickman was to ours. Just a WTF were they thinking kind of building.

Scott Hall isnt goin anywhere. In fact I still I am in believe it when I see it mode for the demolition that will be required for the new quad. I just doubt we ever get the money for it.

 

[FanuSanu52]

Are people seriously complaining about having a huge big-screen TV and an extra coffee shop on campus? I'm no Starbucks fan, but I stillwould have loved having one right across the street from campus, especially when I had to walk down Hamilton, past no coffee shops, to class. The TV sounds like a great addition as described by cofifa. Even the advertisements could be useful if some of them tie into student life.

You can't make all the people happy all the time, but when it comes to Rutgers, you'll have to be content making a couple people happy once in a while.

 

[Scarlet16E]

The Seminary get's to design their own building. They have not been part of Rutgers for a couple hundred years.

 

[derleider]

Are people seriously complaining about having a huge big-screen TV and an extra coffee shop on campus? I'm no Starbucks fan, but I stillwould have loved having one right across the street from campus, especially when I had to walk down Hamilton, past no coffee shops, to class. The TV sounds like a great addition as described by cofifa. Even the advertisements could be useful if some of them tie into student life.

You can't make all the people happy all the time, but when it comes to Rutgers, you'll have to be content making a couple people happy once in a while.

Yes - having a huge big screen TV isnt a great addition its tacky. Cofifa is offering a rosy take.

We live in an era where kids dont even watch TV because they are watching their phones. And they are going to sit outside in the weather to watch a big screen? Without booze?

LOL. Good luck with that. After that its just an electronic billboard for stuff people dont care about - afterall - how much did you watch RUTV when you had it in your dorm room?

This whole project seems like a project from 2000 - the TV, the interior plaza, weird exterior that matches neither itself nor the surrounding.

The extra coffee shop is fine. Having a commercial/residential situation on that corner is not a bad idea - but the execution is miserable.

 

[Scarlet Pride]

I think the seminary building is nice. I don't have any problems with it. Is it a stunning addition to the area? No but it's a quality addition to the area.

**********************************

 

[RUSK97]

No, no, no, no. Cofifa, everyone on this board is a grumpy white, male octogenarian who missed taking his Metamucil this morning and doesn't like anything that smells of progress. Level everything on the CAC that was built after 1930 and make everything rectilinear, symmetrical and let's pretend it was built circa 1850.

 

[RUSK97]

Hi all,

I don't post here often, but I have to say I'm really disheartened by some of the newer buildings on College Ave.

The new Theological Seminary Building (I think this is what it is) looks like a suburban bank building in a strip mall. Seriously. I can't even begin to ask enough questions as to who the heck designed, and approved, that thing. I find it hard to imagine a building design that would fit into the surroundings LESS than that building. Ugh. Am I alone on this?

The other eyesore seems to be on the lot where the Grease Trucks used to be. The choice of materials, at least from what I can tell, is incredibly heinous. Particularly on the Hamilton Street side of the building (it's like a cheapo looking white/light grey veneer, in stack-bond). Does anybody have a rendering of what this building is supposed to ultimately be?

I know everybody's tastes are not the same, but these buildings look so obnoxiously out of place, I am having a hard time comprehending it. Unfortunately it looks like we'll have to deal with looking at them forever. I honestly feel like they ruin the College Avenue campus, which should be a treasure as the heart of Rutgers.

Ugh.

My neighbor painted his front door a shade of green that doesn't agree with me. I can bitch about it all I want, but it's not my door to decide what color it should be. The New Brunswick Theological Seminary is an institution independent of Rutgers, so it can do whatever it wants, including paint all that brick pink.

 

[Cofifa]

I am certain the "The Yard" will be an extraordinary addition to the campus and the City. Rutgers has lacked a sense of place ...this will be a place where students, faculty , staff, people who work and live in the City can meet, enjoy a cup of coffee or a fat sandwhich. I am hopeful that maybe just maybe watching a movie together, an away game from Ann Arbor, a Presidential Inauguration, or a Premier League game early on a Saturday may encourage a spirit of camaraderie and community.

 

[RUPartisan]

I agree that the new buildings look a little ugly especially the stupid looking modern clock tower. In 20-30 years people will think these honors college buildings are ugly 1950s through 1980s construction. Why couldn't they do a clock tower similar to something at unc chapel hill? They missed an opportunity to make this a beautiful focal point of the campus. Why couldn't they make the buildings in the old Queens mold? Now they are stuck with more mismatched unappealing personalityless buildings at a university known for this.

 

[Cofifa]

I agree that the new buildings look a little ugly especially the stupid looking modern clock tower. In 20-30 years people will think these honors college buildings are ugly 1950s through 1980s construction. Why couldn't they do a clock tower similar to something at unc chapel hill? They missed an opportunity to make this a beautiful focal point of the campus. Why couldn't they make the buildings in the old Queens mold? Now they are stuck with more mismatched unappealing personalityless buildings at a university known for this.

I often to not comment on criticisms of the architecture but is you want a disneyfication of the Campus go to Epcot. Archetecture evolves it often takes respects the past while looking toward the future. Much of the material used in Honors College finds its origin on the Voorheese Mallif you like the clock at UNC you can visit it in Chapel Hill.

 

[RUSK97]

I agree that the new buildings look a little ugly especially the stupid looking modern clock tower. In 20-30 years people will think these honors college buildings are ugly 1950s through 1980s construction. Why couldn't they do a clock tower similar to something at unc chapel hill? They missed an opportunity to make this a beautiful focal point of the campus. Why couldn't they make the buildings in the old Queens mold? Now they are stuck with more mismatched unappealing personalityless buildings at a university known for this.

Umm...UNC's clock tower was dedicated in 1931. Ridiculous. Let's just continue to look to the past and forget we live in modern times. While we're at it, let's all wear powdered wigs, knee britches and rescind womens' right to vote?

 

[Korbermeister]

I agree that the new buildings look a little ugly especially the stupid looking modern clock tower. In 20-30 years people will think these honors college buildings are ugly 1950s through 1980s construction. Why couldn't they do a clock tower similar to something at unc chapel hill? They missed an opportunity to make this a beautiful focal point of the campus. Why couldn't they make the buildings in the old Queens mold? Now they are stuck with more mismatched unappealing personalityless buildings at a university known for this.

If you view the Honors College building from Johnson Park or from a NJ Transit train heading to Trenton, it will become evident that it works well with the adjacent J&J building and even the River dorms and Clothier Hall. Yes there could be more ornamentation on the building but that look isn't Rutgers IMHO.
The Honors College is a great addition to College ave and if I had to change ANYTHING about it, I would make the clock face more prominent/bigger.
The Johnson/Cofifa(!)/Gandolfini/Grease Truck dorms currently being constructed, I am in favor of although they don't compliment any building currently on CA..

 

[FanuSanu52]

Yes - having a huge big screen TV isnt a great addition its tacky. Cofifa is offering a rosy take.

We live in an era where kids dont even watch TV because they are watching their phones. And they are going to sit outside in the weather to watch a big screen? Without booze?

LOL. Good luck with that. After that its just an electronic billboard for stuff people dont care about - afterall - how much did you watch RUTV when you had it in your dorm room?

This whole project seems like a project from 2000 - the TV, the interior plaza, weird exterior that matches neither itself nor the surrounding.

The extra coffee shop is fine. Having a commercial/residential situation on that corner is not a bad idea - but the execution is miserable.

Says you ... Ad nauseum. I'm more interested to see what the kids that actually attend RU think when it's been up for a while. Pretty sure kids still take a break from their mobiles to watch the HDTV, go to the movies or watch a game at the sports bar. And college kids don't play video games either, I guess?

 

[RUPartisan]

Umm...UNC's clock tower was dedicated in 1931. Ridiculous. Let's just continue to look to the past and forget we live in modern times. While we're at it, let's all wear powdered wigs, knee britches and rescind womens' right to vote?

Well I guess you have never seen clothing trends come back or more to my point builders copying older style homes whether they be "craftsman", "victorian", or "capes". People in general seem to be shying away from modernist styles. Just because we live in modern times doesn't mean we need blocky Jetson styled architecture, but nice work naming all your silly examples that have no relevance to this discussion.

 

[Korbermeister]

Well I guess you have never seen clothing trends come back or more to my point builders copying older style homes whether they be "craftsman", "victorian", or "capes". People in general seem to be shying away from modernist styles. Just because we live in modern times doesn't mean we need blocky Jetson styled architecture, but nice work naming all your silly examples that have no relevance to this discussion.

the Jetsons style of architecture had more curves; not blocky at all.

 

[Sir ScarletKnight]

Says you ... Ad nauseum. I'm more interested to see what the kids that actually attend RU think when it's been up for a while. Pretty sure kids still take a break from their mobiles to watch the HDTV, go to the movies or watch a game at the sports bar. And college kids don't play video games either, I guess?

Fun fact, we do all those things. And we even play video games!

 

[PeteGiam07]

Well I guess you have never seen clothing trends come back or more to my point builders copying older style homes whether they be "craftsman", "victorian", or "capes". People in general seem to be shying away from modernist styles. Just because we live in modern times doesn't mean we need blocky Jetson styled architecture, but nice work naming all your silly examples that have no relevance to this discussion.

Maybe in some suburbs. Modern style is what's happening in cities and guess where millenials are living or prefer to live?

 

[srru86]

I think the seminary building is nice. I don't have any problems with it. Is it a stunning addition to the area? No but it's a quality addition to the area.

**********************************

I don't know that the Seminary is a masterpiece but I think it works. It definitely draws on elements from some of Wright's Prairie Houses.

Frank Lloyd Wright's Heurtley House Oak Park, Ill - 1902

 

[Scarlet Pride]

I don't know that the Seminary is a masterpiece but I think it works. It definitely draws on elements from some of Wright's Prairie Houses.

Frank Lloyd Wright's Heurtley House Oak Park, Ill - 1902

Very interesting comparison. Thanks for posting

 

[RU MAN]

Compared to what was there, this new architecture is beautiful, functional and contemporary. I think is HONORS Rutgers past with a look to the future. I think the honors college quad is what I would have hoped it to be.

 

[derleider]

Says you ... Ad nauseum. I'm more interested to see what the kids that actually attend RU think when it's been up for a while. Pretty sure kids still take a break from their mobiles to watch the HDTV, go to the movies or watch a game at the sports bar. And college kids don't play video games either, I guess?

All indoors - mostly with alcohol involved. This isnt Arizona - outside is not a fun place to be from mid-October to mid-April. And being sober is not a fun thing to be when you could be drinking.

We play Michigan on November 7 this year - how many students do you think will be sitting there thinking - damn, if I only I could watch this outside with a coffee instead of in my warm dorm with a beer.

 

[Sir ScarletKnight]

All indoors - mostly with alcohol involved. This isnt Arizona - outside is not a fun place to be from mid-October to mid-April. And being sober is not a fun thing to be when you could be drinking.

We play Michigan on November 7 this year - how many students do you think will be sitting there thinking - damn, if I only I could watch this outside with a coffee instead of in my warm dorm with a beer.

Outdoors is actually a very nice place to be for April. And if it's done right, a watch party on a fall night could be lots of fun.