A more "modern" Jacksonville.

[Singejoufflue]

I voted other.  Architecture is about personal preference/aesthetic and "fit".  Hamstringing developers into requiring a modern design is silly.  I like that the new Courthouse LOOKS like a Courthouse and would have a panic attack walking into the Seattle Library.  But, I'm hopelessly traditional.

[CS Foltz]

I don't see anyone "Hamstringing" developers into anything! What ever is built in Springfield and the surrounding historical area has to be approved but whatever goes in should meld with the existing styles......just a matter of being ascetically pleasing. I ,for one, will keep stepping on JTA's toes until they see the light, the bovines! BRT for Philips is a waste of resources, time and money .....a stand alone system that will be hard put to dovetail with the existing bus's and their schedules! I don't see it working efficiently at all!

[ZacharyMease]

NOT cheesy historical look-a-likes (blank walls, visible concrete posts, lack of grandeur, the personality of a Walmart)
Avoid stucco at all costs.
Post-modern buildings are too much like anywhere else.

Prairie School and things like the old library downtown are winners in my book.
Anything with character really...

[thelakelander]

I get more caught up on urban design than I do the architectural style.  The new courthouse, Omni Hotel, Haydon Burns Library and Robert Stern's new library are all different architectural styles.  However, they all blow when it comes to pedestrian scale street level interaction.  On the other hand, there's nothing special about the Ed Ball Building but those ground level shops on Hogan and Adams help the pedestrian scale environment.

[simms3]

I actually love love love Bob Stern's design for our Main Library downtown, but then again he/his firm is my favorite architectural firm today.  It looks like an old world design on first look, but is actually quite modern.

Sure the faux stucco looks the same through and through, but I guess because I live in a city where modern glass LEED designs are commonplace they all look the same, too.  I think sleek modern designs mix well with classic designs and break up the texture, they can be overwhelming when there is an abundance of them.

[simms3]

And I can't think of one central library that "addresses the street."  Same with courthouses.  (institutional buildings mainly)

[Singejoufflue]

Check out the Harold Washington Library.  They have an entire first floor section dedicated to a teen area, with clear windows and plasma screens.  Additionally, they have their "popular library" and customer holds just off the main entrance on the first floor. 

[simms3]

Seen it and I love it though it's a little creepy imo.  I used to think it was some magnificent old building and didn't realize until a year or two ago that it is only 2 decades old.  It doesn't really "address" the street though.  No worries, neither does NYC's Main Library or Philly's or Boston's or the Library of Congress, etc.

[thelakelander]

I actually love love love Bob Stern's design for our Main Library downtown, but then again he/his firm is my favorite architectural firm today.  It looks like an old world design on first look, but is actually quite modern.

Sure the faux stucco looks the same through and through, but I guess because I live in a city where modern glass LEED designs are commonplace they all look the same, too.  I think sleek modern designs mix well with classic designs and break up the texture, they can be overwhelming when there is an abundance of them.

The inside and exterior look of Stern's library (from Hemming Plaza) look great.  However, Duval and Monroe Streets were virtually ignored creating two blocks of dead space.  Other than parallel parking on those streets, there's absolutely no reason to walk down those blocks.  Then they had the audacity to paste the remains of historic buildings demolished for it all along the stucco along Monroe Street.  What a way to piss in the face of historic preservation. In addition, the ground level retail shops don't have their own openings to the street, leaving them subject to the library's hours.

[thelakelander]

I like the Indianapolis Central Library.  Its a nice blend of historic preservation and modernism and well integrated with the adjacent public park.

[arb]

I actually love love love Bob Stern's design for our Main Library downtown, but then again he/his firm is my favorite architectural firm today.  It looks like an old world design on first look, but is actually quite modern.

Sure the faux stucco looks the same through and through, but I guess because I live in a city where modern glass LEED designs are commonplace they all look the same, too.  I think sleek modern designs mix well with classic designs and break up the texture, they can be overwhelming when there is an abundance of them.

Yeah, I happen to agree with the library situation, its fits the area quite nicely, and I agree that modern designs mix well with classic designs. Perhaps look at DT Chicago, so many different types of architectural designs, and somehow they all fit together like a puzzle. Thats what I would like to see, not just that stucco boring design that almost all newer houses in our Southside area has.

[thelakelander]

And I can't think of one central library that "addresses the street."  Same with courthouses.  (institutional buildings mainly)

How about Redwood City, CA's courthouse?

[simms3]

Love that Indy library and wow what a courthouse.

[Ocklawaha]

I voted 'other' as styles are like opinions and ....... ...... 'everyone has one!'  MIX EM UP AND KEEP EM INTERESTING.

Lake, how about we tweak those courthouse renderings to reflect our own concept for the historic railroaders plaza at the Jacksonville Terminal's oldest segment? How cool would that oldest part of the station be with the arbors, flowers, fountains, food court, curio shops, and bronze historic railroad titan statues?

Flagler is a great example of our court of railroad heroes.

Hopefully WE will put a proper railroad hammer in his hands!

OCKLAWAHA

[urbaknight]

I want to see more highrises reguardless, I want to see a blend of oldtime as well as modren arecetecture in our buildings, as long as they're at least 20 stories or more.