Metro Jacksonville

I haven't heard of any updates about renovations/expansion since the 700k dollar study of the riverwalk back in 2007, so I wrote the Times Union and Ron Littlepage wrote back.

Here's what he had to say:

the mayor's office still has grand plans but is still looking for money. they may try for some of the stimulus money for the Southbank. we need to do something soon. it's getting in bad shape.
ron

It is in pretty bad shape lately. I believe the previous study said it only has 5-7 years left before conditions really get bad, and that was from 2007.

Hard to spend money on the Southbank, when we can save 200 million dollars over 100 gazillion years if we allow Waste Management to pickup garbage......Peyton could care less.

Did anyone see the incredible aquatics center proposal at Artwalk last night? It was in the old library and is supposed to be beside the Duval County school building.

Really?  Haven't heard anything about that.

Sounds like something that would be better suited for Friendship Park

No I missed that. Do you have anymore details? Sounds pretty interesting!

I didn't get a chance, but that was the work of students in FAMU's Master of Architecture program.  Its not a real project.

I just wish I could remember it's name, it started with a N.

The design is very modern, heavy use of glass and a sleek, curved metal roof. A very nice metal roof, sort of like Nashville's new convention center roof.

I saw it... very nice.  Unfortunately I think it was a class project or something like that. 

QuoteFAMU architecture students design ‘iconic landmarks’ on Southbank

05/04/2009

by Max Marbut

Staff Writer

It looked like a miniature Art Walk Friday afternoon at The Library at 122 Ocean St. The creations tacked to display boards weren’t fine art or watercolor, though, as they were the designs of a group of graduate students studying architecture at Florida A&M University.

The students took part in the Jacksonville Chapter of the American Institute of Architecture’s “2009 FAMU Jacksonville Studio.” The annual project started more than a decade ago, when architecture students present a design assignment for a project in Jacksonville. Students take a day away from classes in Tallahassee to survey a site and tour Jacksonville to gain inspiration for what they will ultimately design. A few months later, the students bring their completed designs back to Jacksonville and present them to a jury made up of Jacksonville Chapter AIA members.

Past Studio projects include a maritime museum at Metropolitan Park and a master plan for Brooklyn. It was fitting that the Studio was held at The Library, as another previous assignment was the adaptive reuse and reinvention of the Haydon Burns Library Building â€" now The Library.

This year’s project was a health and fitness facility that included a natatorium, a facility dedicated to swimming and diving, that would be located on the Southbank near the Duval County School Board Building.

Architecture Professor Michael Alfano, who has advised students in the Studio since its inception, said: “The challenge for the students is for the design to be an iconic architectural landmark. My challenge as a professor is to let the students have their space. They are doing their building, not my building. I know I have been successful when the designs are all different.”

He also noted that one of the strengths of the Studio process is that it offers his students a “real world” experience â€" with one important exception.

“Budget wasn’t an issue. It’s a pure design exercise,” said Simone English, who earned a degree in architecture in Jamaica before enrolling at FAMU.

Jose Luis Aguirre earned a degree in Mexico before he decided to go graduate school at FAMU. His design ws inspired by the physical aspects of diving.

“It’s about compression and tension and torsion,” he said. “My design is very organic and it has curves. The body doesn’t have straight lines.”

One student’s design incorporated vertical green space into the exterior structure of the facility.

“It’s a vertical garden,” said student Liesel Smith. “The walls have trays with mulch medium in them and the pool is outdoors because I love Jacksonville’s weather.”

Alfano said the Jacksonville Studio has been a tremendous teaching and learning tool he believes has not only contributed to the careers of many FAMU architecture graduates, but to the local architecture community as well.

“AIA Jacksonville has been incredibly supportive and we have alumni in Jacksonville because of this experience,” said Alfano.

mmarbut@baileypub.com

http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=52307&text=Southbank&type=

If it was a class project, then I'm so very pissed. I got really excited . Who knows, it may be a legit proposal that has not been formally announced yet.

Edit: That's some bullshyt, I'm kicking someone's azz for getting my hopes up like that.

^Sorry reednavy.  I'm an architectural graduate of FAMU.  That's what we do during our years in school.

QuoteI just wish I could remember it's name, it started with a N.

I think it was called a Natatorium.

I thought it was the work of the MetroJax poster who did the redesign of the bonds building a week ago.

By why tease Jacksonville, do it to some place south of here.  >:(

Even worse? Yeah... When Good Wife Libby was in OSU studying Victim Services, they had to do a ton of law enforcement, criminal law, but most of all Psychology and Criminal Psychology. A project EVERY student must do is on a given day, they come into an airport and make people question their intent, behavior, etc... The school and the Airports and law enforcement all work together on this and they have pretty strict guidelines.

Ever sit with a laptop in the lounge while someone carry's on like their NUTZ? Ever see the reaction to someone pacing back and forth while talking out loud "shut up, all of you just shut up!", or the gal next to you is reading your laptop screen? How about selling Krishna stuff? Begging for money? Playing with an invisible cat?

It might have been a student, their partner was hidden and taking notes... You've been OSU'ed! Some of the funniest shit I ever saw.  

OCKLAWAHA

Quote from: Deuce on May 07, 2009, 05:17:35 PM

QuoteI just wish I could remember it's name, it started with a N.

I think it was called a Natatorium.

I thought it was the work of the MetroJax poster who did the redesign of the bonds building a week ago.

If the name seems weird here it is:

From the Latin. In Spanish, To swim would be: Nadar and one swims in the piscina Pool (common usage) though it really means more like a small lake!  

OCKLAWAHA