The actual Lakeland stop is still in the air but I would not be suprised if it ends up outside of the city at USF Poly.
(http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=LL&Date=20091028&Category=NEWS&ArtNo=910285007&Ref=V6&Profile=1338)
http://www.theledger.com/article/20091028/NEWS/910285007/1338/NEWS00?Title=Architect-Unveils-Vision-for-Polk-s-USF-Campus#
(http://www.usforacle.com/polopoly_fs/1.2040514!image/3921187178.jpg)
http://www.usforacle.com/usf-polytechnic-unveils-new-campus-site-plans-1.2040513
QuoteArchitect Unveils Vision for Polk's USF Campus
By Robin Williams Adams
THE LEDGER
TAMPA | From the shimmering light and open spaces of a new train station to unfolding white wings above a museum, renowned Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava took a seemingly spellbound audience on a visual architectural tour Tuesday.
The overview of his projects ended in a tree-covered property alongside Interstate 4 where the University of South Florida Polytechnic plans to build its new Lakeland campus. It's an undeveloped site whose first building Calatrava will design and whose master plan he's redone.
Because the tour was on an overhead screen at the main USF campus in Tampa, and because Calatrava sees the future campus as a mini-city, the USF Poly images he showed weren't the site as it is now.
What Calatrava showed was what he envisions - a narrow lake three-fourths of a mile long, with the first academic building at one end and a large plaza at the other. Dorms and other campus buildings, including an amphitheater, would surround the lake on either side.
"I'm speaking to you of a city and a future," he told the USF Board of Trustees members. "It's very important to have interaction between the students. We have to create a city."
Architectural students and others crowded into the room to hear his presentation, which came after the USF trustees unanimously approved an updated version of USF Poly's strategic plan.
The strategic plan includes developing and implementing new degree programs in five areas: applied health sciences, mathematics and science education, manufacturing engineering and technology, business and entrepreneurship, and information technology.
Classes would be taught in the framework of three colleges: a College of Technology and Innovation, a College of Human and Social Sciences, and a College of Applied Arts and New Media.
Students in a polytechnic work together in applying research to solve problems and implement solutions, USF Poly Chief Executive Officer Marshall Goodman said.
"The polytechnic model is multi-disciplinary," Goodman said.
"It is very inclusive. It's a fusion. It's a new blend."
Calatrava incorporates similar qualities into the master plan, which shows the layout and design of the site, including where buildings would be placed.
The master plan will undergo further review by the USF trustees.
In addition to images on the screen, Calatrava unveiled a series of architectural models, depicting steps he took in determining how the buildings and the lake would blend together harmoniously.
He said he envisioned putting the buildings "like jewels in the axis of the pool."
The artificial lake, in addition to being the campus's center, would be part of a "total wet land living machine," recycling water and having the ability to heat and cool buildings.
"Your vision is just remarkable," said Rhea Law, chairwoman of the USF board. "I think everyone in this room felt the emotions you were trying to impart to us."
Gene Engle, chair of the USF Poly board and a trustee on the main USF board, was equally
enthusiastic.
"His vision is outstanding," Engle said. "What he's proposing to bring to the university is something that's going to be known for many, many years."
He said Calatrava is listening to what USF Poly officials want, and working with them as he designs the campus and the first building.
"I am very pleased and proud to be working on this project," Calatrava said after the meeting.
The USF Poly campus and its first building, projected to be 80,000 square feet, are scheduled to open in summer 2012.
The campus is at I-4 and the Polk Parkway near Auburndale.
The strategic plan shows a total cost of $62 million for the first facility, but Goodman said that includes the cost of preparing the land with infrastructure such as utilities. The budget for the building is $46 million.
Carole Philipson, a USF Poly board member, said the polytechnic's impact will extend far beyond the campus.
"I'm not sure people really grasp what an economic stimulus to the region this is going to be," she said.
The full extent of its economic impact hasn't been calculated, but officials with the Central Florida Development Council predict higher paying jobs, a more educated workforce and companies interested in new technologies.
Law told students who attended that they were fortunate to see Calatrava's presentation, which included quick sketches he drew to illustrate the earliest phases of his planning,
"You've seen history in many ways and gotten some insight into the thought processes of an architect," she said.
http://www.theledger.com/article/20091028/NEWS/910285007/1410?Title=Architect-Unveils-Vision-for-Polk-s-USF-Campus#
Will there be a Starbucks?
The model seems a bit spread out, and less dense than I would imagine it could be. I like the Tomorrowland design, but the campus as drawn is 3/4 of a mile end to end. Certainly not unwalkable, but walking 3/4 of a mile in Florida during any of our 9 month summer can require a shower. It could be denser, and retain an open feeling IMO.
I have to agree. Its a unique architectural design but certainly not walkable given Central Florida's climate. I imagine it will get pretty uncomfortable walking across that lake in 100 degree weather.
Love most of Calatrava's work, and if this campus gets built using a Calatrava design, it will certainly be a tourist destination for architecture fans. And I'll certainly visit the campus if its built and walk the grounds. I agree with above sentiment also, I'd love to walk it once, but numerous times in this climate? No thanks.
Also need to note, I find his sculptural abilities much more fascinating than his spatial abilities, which may be one of the reasons he's incorporated all of those bridges. He's famous for those....
Quote from: jason_contentdg on October 29, 2009, 09:15:36 AM
Also need to note, I find his sculptural abilities much more fascinating than his spatial abilities, which may be one of the reasons he's incorporated all of those bridges. He's famous for those....
Also might explain why he's an architect, not an urban planner
Quote from: tufsu1 on October 29, 2009, 09:42:46 AM
Quote from: jason_contentdg on October 29, 2009, 09:15:36 AM
Also need to note, I find his sculptural abilities much more fascinating than his spatial abilities, which may be one of the reasons he's incorporated all of those bridges. He's famous for those....
Also might explain why he's an architect, not an urban planner
Architects deal with spatial issues all of the time, not to the scale of an urban planner, but to say that an architect doesn't deal with space would be wrong.
Calatrava is my favorite, and it looks beautiful, but I agree with the comments above. That design just would work in this climate.
I will say I've never been a fan of any architect's imagining of a city, either built or not. From Corbusier's Chandigarh and Garden City to Wright's Broadacre City. Talk about sprawl.
Quote from: thelakelander on October 29, 2009, 06:49:31 AM...............The artificial lake, in addition to being the campus's center, would be part of a "total wet land living machine," recycling water and having the ability to heat and cool buildings.
http://www.theledger.com/article/20091028/NEWS/910285007/1410?Title=Architect-Unveils-Vision-for-Polk-s-USF-Campus#
Easier said than done. The problem is that the lake will heat up in summer when the heat is transfered from the buildings to the lake. Higher temps in the lake often equal the "green monster" algae growth. The hotter the lake the lower the effeciency on the system. The engineering solution may not follow his vision.
Of a practical nature the added fountains could cool the bridges enough to make the 100 degree walk feel more like 90 degrees.
IMO, I surprised Calatrava put his name on that proposal....
I'm even more surprised that USF went to Calatrava for a design. Very eager of them but I have to say that I don't think they got their money's worth.
Quote from: Jason on October 29, 2009, 10:52:27 AM
IMO, I surprised Calatrava put his name on that proposal....
I'm even more surprised that USF went to Calatrava for a design. Very eager of them but I have to say that I don't think they got their money's worth.
I agree. Quite a pricey choice for a university like that.
Quote from: jason_contentdg on October 29, 2009, 09:59:52 AM
I will say I've never been a fan of any architect's imagining of a city, either built or not. From Corbusier's Chandigarh and Garden City to Wright's Broadacre City. Talk about sprawl.
and that would be the spatial planning I was referring to!
I agree with the general line of thought regarding 3/4's of a mile walk..........not practical in Florida's climate unless he was planning on an inhouse people moving system........moving sidewalks or something similar! Maybe a LRT.....donno but what is there is not practical......looks good but not in real life! Makes me wonder what he charged them for the proposal!
Not to be a contrarian (which of course I am) but let's think about this....the historic core of the UF campus, which is quite walkable, is over 1/2 mile square....and FSU's campus (smallest of the state universities) is more than 1 mile from end to end...so what's the big deal here?
Quote from: tufsu1 on October 30, 2009, 08:09:07 AM
Not to be a contrarian (which of course I am) but let's think about this....the historic core of the UF campus, which is quite walkable, is over 1/2 mile square....and FSU's campus (smallest of the state universities) is more than 1 mile from end to end...so what's the big deal here?
I think each of those schools have a much denser campus, in spite of their overall campus size.
Looking again, perhaps if someone needed to go end to end of this campus, the walker would do much of the foot travel indoors, as the buildings along the length of the lake seem to be conncted. Walking across the lake would possibly be the only gauntlet. Perhaps about 150-250 yards?
or maybe there could be a covered arcade for all the buildings, like at the University of Virginia!
What about if a student or visitor wanted to walk across the street to an "off-campus" bookstore, bar or restaurant? What about if someone wanted to walk from their off campus apartment to a class on this campus?
I agree with that issue....but sadly, none of the universities developed in Florida from 1950 on have taken that into consideration...they have all started with buildings in the center of a large piece of land....only now is UCF reaching its campus edge.
Quote from: thelakelander on October 30, 2009, 08:31:52 AM
What about if a student or visitor wanted to walk across the street to an "off-campus" bookstore, bar or restaurant? What about if someone wanted to walk from their off campus apartment to a class on this campus?
Students will find a way to the off campus bar.
When I went ot UNF you could walk from your off campus apartment to class. ...............with connecting car travel.
When I went to a great northern institution the winter was a bit grim. However I mapped my route to go through several
warming buildings and a couple of tunnels. You can do that with airconditioning too.
^of course they will. They will drive.
Some people here need to visit a college and refresh what its like to be student.
First, student unions, admin buildings, bookstore, registrar, rec center, and other central services, eateries, etc. that appeal to everyone are typically (or should be) located in the center, especially on a newly planned campus. That cuts nearly all 3/4 mile walks down to 3/8 mile. Classes around a given discipline/department/school are usually in the same or adjacent buildings. So the only real walk is mostly likely the entry level students taking the core curriculum spread across various departments. Consider that classes meet at intermittent times across the day and week, and I doubt there will be many straight walks, without stops for food or back to the dorm, of 3/4 mile (don't ever underestimate the ingenuity of students to engineer their schedules for their own convenience :D ). Also, don't forget, many students use bikes, which all college campuses today strive to cater to, for longer travel.
The most important question is where the dorms will be, in the center or around the edges.
Overall, this will be a piece of cake for college age students. They can use the exercise and are not the wimps we, who are showing our age, make them out to be. Heck, people walk a lot further at the theme parks with babies and kids in tow. This is nothing.
I went to college up north and walked these distances and more in the winter with below freezing temps, ice, and snow, and once you get used to it, it can actually be invigorating. Often, I wished I lived in a city where you do the same.
We sure are getting soft around here.
^Except that this campus is supposed to anchor a new urbanist community and possibly a HSR stop. It looks like the architect forgot about everything outside of official campus borders. I'll see if I can find a site plan for the Williams DRI.
Here is the master site plan for the college and the surrounding property. An urban village center is supposed to be developed adjacent to the college campus. From the looks of the design, this center will be separated from the actual college by it's oval surface parking areas. Anyway, regardless of urbanity and walkability, it should be an architectural masterpiece in an area dominated by strip malls, cheap tract homes and stucco boxes.
College campus (Polk Parkway is to the right)
(http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=LL&Date=20091028&Category=NEWS&ArtNo=910285007&Ref=V6&Profile=1338)
DRI master plan (Polk Parkway is to the right)
(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/photos/697383543_SwbMp-X3.jpg)
Quote from: stjr on October 30, 2009, 11:11:40 AM
Some people here need to visit a college and refresh what its like to be student.
We sure are getting soft around here.
I just graduated in May. The physical ability to walk that far is not the issue, but nothing ruins your chances with the ladies more than sitting down next to them in class drenched in sweat. UF has plenty of lengthy walks, but it is mainly for freshman, as you stated.