Bye Bye Saddlemire

falconman · Post by **falconman** » Thu Nov 02, 2006 10:42 am

Saddlemire will be torn down this summer, just wanted to know what everyone's thoughts are about this.

http://tinyurl.com/ya72ry

It's the Journey... · Thu Nov 02, 2006 10:49 am

I am all for this. It means one of the final hurdles for building the new Wolf Center for the Performing Arts has been cleared. I will miss the building, but having sat on the physical master plan committee as an undergrad this is the right move for the University and will serve the students better. I just wonder where some of the staff from that building who are not so student friendly will run to hide???

Tech83 · Post by **Tech83** » Thu Nov 02, 2006 11:03 am

This is too bad. The circular design symbolized the student being the center focus of the University. I was only in the upper floors a few times, so I can't attest to its functionality, but symbolically, it was an important design.

Unfortnately, I don't think the outdoor spaces such as the "ampitheater" and the north plaza were ever programmed properly. By that I mean, the UAO or somebody has to take that space and program functions for the spaces. Any space is useless if you do not program acitivities for it. I always thought the ampitheater was wasted. Local bands, students, and so on could have been scheduled.

Concerning the renovation costs, estimates can easily be manipulated to reflected the desires of either the architect or the clients. Many architects are basically not creative enough to do a renovation project. Its too easy to say....... "Its cheaper to tear this down that the labor it will take to work with the existing conditions." I hear it all the time.

I would rather see a renovation project at the Ice Arena then it be torn-down and replaced with something new. The ice arena needs new amenties (entry sequence, gift/skate shop, toilet rooms, concessions, video boards), but I would not necessary change the "house". New seating would be nice...... I would like to see us remove all but two sections of benches for backed seats. Leave the benches for the student sections. I would be have to see us reduce our seating number for better seats.

BGDrew · Post by **BGDrew** » Thu Nov 02, 2006 12:42 pm

Saddlemire wil always have a special place in my heart. It's where I've worked for 3 years now and I have some good memories from lit.

With that said, I'm sad to know that we probably won't see another Student Services Building for at least another 10 years because I know how long it takes for this University to get projects going. I know what the article says, but how many feasibility studies have we heard about a Convo?

Also, Saddlemire must have the worst climate control of any building on campus. In the Summer it's either unbearably hot or you have to wear a coat. In the Winter it's at least 80 degrees.

As far as the Ice Arena, what really needs done is a mass renovation. I'd like to see them re-do seating and move the front rows to be higher than the ice surface. Also, a bigger press box is really necessary. Lastly, re-do the South Area to create a "plaza" where you have a full skate shop, "modern" bathrooms, large concession stands, etc. You can renovate the North end to build a new Zamboni room and adjust the boards.

The reason I don't want to see a new Arena is that the locker room/lounge area is still pretty new and a great addition. Tearing that down would just be an awful idea along with a recently renovated locker room.

I don't like the idea of adding seats, because like what the St. Louis Cardinals said about their new field: "You don't build a church for Easter and Christmas."

falconman · Post by **falconman** » Thu Nov 02, 2006 12:57 pm

My only question is, where are they going to put all the offices that are currently located in Saddlemire? It will probably be a couple years before we get a new building and I know how tight we are with a lack of space currently around campus. This might get interesting.

TG1996 · Post by **TG1996** » Thu Nov 02, 2006 1:20 pm

So they're building the new one north of the Commons. Any one know more about the plans on how far that's going to stretch out? And when the build on top of the current Saddlemire site, how far is it going to reach East-West?

I am far less concerned with the loss of a building as I am with the loss of current greenspace and "openness". It started with Olscamp Hall (for me at least), taking away half or two-thirds of the old football practice field. Then East Hall popped up. Now this. I like seeing progress and upgraded facilities on our campus, but I'm not sure if I like it becoming an "urban jungle" because of it.

Tech83 · Post by **Tech83** » Thu Nov 02, 2006 1:39 pm

TG1996 wrote:So they're building the new one north of the Commons. Any one know more about the plans on how far that's going to stretch out? And when the build on top of the current Saddlemire site, how far is it going to reach East-West?

I am far less concerned with the loss of a building as I am with the loss of current greenspace and "openness". It started with Olscamp Hall (for me at least), taking away half or two-thirds of the old football practice field. Then East Hall popped up. Now this. I like seeing progress and upgraded facilities on our campus, but I'm not sure if I like it becoming an "urban jungle" because of it.

This is one of my biggest concerns. The idea of creating quads seems to be lost on the designers. I have looked over the Master Plan that is posted on-line...... I am not impressed ...... AT ALL.......

Olscamp and East are "nice" buildings..... but horribly sited. I don't know which one is worst. I have been in Olscamp, but not in East. So I can't really talk about the interior of East....... The Business Building addition is also a wreck.

TG is correct...... it's not the buildings, but the spaces they create between themselves that is important. The best space on campus is Old Campus and those type of "figural spaces" need to be extended into campus.

Concerning the Wolf Center for Performing Arts....... what is wrong with the current spaces in Moore and University - other than age? The performance spaces in Moore are pretty much state-of-the-art and slightly over 25 years old.

TG1996 · Post by **TG1996** » Thu Nov 02, 2006 1:44 pm

Tech83 wrote:TG is correct.....

And let me tell ya.. THAT never gets old.

Even if they build the new student services building entirely on parking lot, it still encloses the "old football field area" into almost a complete courtyard. I don't like it. I like walking through campus and seeing between buildings and having the green areas open up. And why is the technology building still so isolated? Yeah, it's a hell of a walk from about anywhere, but we've got oodles of space out that way, why not build out there and establish our campus north instead of tightening up what we already have.

Flipper · Post by **Flipper** » Thu Nov 02, 2006 1:55 pm

That is not a building!!!! It's my spaceship that is going to take me back to my celestal home in the crab nebula in 2050! I hope the University can pony up the gajillion dollars it's going to cost to build me a new one.

Godamnit!!! Why wasn't I consulted!

BGDrew · Post by **BGDrew** » Thu Nov 02, 2006 2:28 pm

falconman wrote:My only question is, where are they going to put all the offices that are currently located in Saddlemire? It will probably be a couple years before we get a new building and I know how tight we are with a lack of space currently around campus. This might get interesting.

The rumor is that Conklin North will not be a residence hall next year and that offices will be re-located to there.

Also, the Centrex building is scheduled to be torn down as well. The goal is to not eliminate any green space with the new SSB. If anything, the SSB will be built primarily on the parking lot/centrex area between East Hall and the Education Building.

TG1996 wrote:Yeah, it's a hell of a walk from about anywhere, but we've got oodles of space out that way, why not build out there and establish our campus north instead of tightening up what we already have.

They want to build the new SSB there because for the most part, it's central to the rest of campus. The idea is that your SSB's are supposed to be in the middle (or at least as close as you can get).

TG1996 · Post by **TG1996** » Thu Nov 02, 2006 2:54 pm

BGDrew wrote:They want to build the new SSB there because for the most part, it's central to the rest of campus. The idea is that your SSB's are supposed to be in the middle (or at least as close as you can get).

I get that, but by building everything in the "center of campus", you get a muddled mess of concrete. What's next, putting something in front of University Hall?

The Centrex Building is the weird shaped one just SW of the Ed Bldg, right? Where the phone offices are located? Seems to me from my reading that was the original physical plant for the school. (Or original enough to be 70 or so years old.) A minor loss if they take it down, but a loss nonetheless.

bgsuman · Post by **bgsuman** » Thu Nov 02, 2006 3:15 pm

noooooo! not the Slide Projector!

Tech83 · Post by **Tech83** » Thu Nov 02, 2006 3:23 pm

TG1996 wrote:
Tech83 wrote:TG is correct.....
And let me tell ya.. THAT never gets old.

Don't worry..... it won't last....... I give you a week after the wedding and you will never be correct again, except amoungst us guys

If a man speaks in the woods and there are no women around to hear him..... Is he still wrong?

transfer2BGSU · Post by **transfer2BGSU** » Thu Nov 02, 2006 3:53 pm

Tech83 wrote:Concerning the Wolf Center for Performing Arts....... what is wrong with the current spaces in Moore and University - other than age? The performance spaces in Moore are pretty much state-of-the-art and slightly over 25 years old.

What you are seeing is the formation of a new undergraduate college on the main campus - The College of Fine Arts (or something similar).

It will be comprised of what is now the College of Musical Arts, the School of Art, and the Departments of Theatre and Film. Everything will line up - School of Art, Wolf Center, and Moore Musical Arts Center.

The faculty in the Theatre and Film were clamoring for Saddlemire to be torn down. They felt the initial architects renderings were too small. By taking down Saddlemire, they could have the additional space they needed.

Also, Saddlemire was not the healthiest building on campus. It recirculated the air in the building. Many people had long lasting colds and coughs because of the air quality in Saddlemire.

Tech83 · Post by **Tech83** » Thu Nov 02, 2006 4:58 pm

I am not against tearing the building down. I just think its design was unique for its representational form. I hope that the new building will do the same.....

And I do not have a problem with a new performng arts center, but was wondering what the analysis was concerning the existing spaces..... I am not really impressed with the Fine Arts Building.

Several people have mentioned the mechanical system. Too Hot, Too Cold, Not enough fresh air....... This is a simple mechanical problem that could have been easily resolved during the life-cycle of the building. It really is not a good excuse to bulldoze a building......

either way, Let the bulldozers roll