Goucher College’s LEED-certified Athenaeum
The first time I went to college my choice was Goucher, located in Towson, Maryland. I was a theater major. Since then, I’ve gone back to school (The College for Creative Studies) to earn a degree in Interior Design. But I never forgot my first Alma Mater. I’ve been a faithful class agent (begging for money from classmates) since graduation. And I’m still close friends with many of my Goucher buddies.
I met last week with Nancy Turner, the Director of Development and Alumnae Affairs, and was thrilled to hear first-hand about Goucher’s new library and cultural center – The Athenaeum. It’s a green building with a silver rating from LEEDs. Let’s take a little tour.
When I attended, Goucher was an all women’s college. We were fairly ticked when they started admitting men. But you have to roll with the times. I am no longer ticked, but enthused about their international approach to education. Every student must spend at least 3 weeks studying in another country. They’re the first college to dedicate themselves to the global village, so to speak.
The exterior is constructed from Butler stone, redwood and copper.
Part of the environmental design includes 2 grass-covered roofs. Grass acts as an insulator to keep heating costs low. The large windows are light sensitive and change throughout the day to make the best use of the natural energy.
The Forum is the central feature of the new Athenaeum. It’s modeled after the amphitheaters of Europe. The cool thing is that the character can change according to what happens to be oging on. The steps leading up from the stage can accommodate crowds of varying sizes.
There’s more!
One Cool Staircase
I found this staircase in a Grange catalog and my eyes almost popped out of my head. Grange?
Anyway, let’s all fly to France to have dinner wtih this guy and walk up those stairs for afters.
Me first.
Objects of Desire: by George Simons, Jr.
George Simons, Jr., is an architect, product designer and personal friend. He is currently a principal at nbbj and 1:1 in Seattle, Washington. In George’s brilliant career, he has hung his hat at Ideo (Studio Leader) and Steelcase (in charge of Future Design). He designs all kinds of things – both for work as well as fun. He likes to wear black, but has a mostly white house. Best of all, he’s a really nice guy.
I asked George to contribute to my casual (yet also brilliant) series on Objects of Desire. I’m wondering what my fellow designers, and other creative thinkers, tip their hats to. What is beautiful? What is so perfectly designed that our eyes glaze over when we think about or look at them? Here is George’s reply.
Holtey Classic Hand Plane
“I do not own a Holtey as they cost upwards of $8000, yes that is thousands. I love the fact that this guy in a tiny town in the UK spends his life making the finest of objects that look back to a day when woodworking was a hand-based craft. He has taken an object that is simple in concept, but extremely complex in its use and performance requirements, and engineered them to levels of artwork, built to the exacting tolerances of a Ferrari engine.
Tensioning Strap
This is simply a tensioning strap [kind of like a bungie cord - but more professional] that is beautifully executed and to be enjoyed as an object unto itself. Too bad somebody had to invent the coil spring, nylon strapping, and ratcheting buckles. Oh yeah, I love the chrome!
Paul Smith Shoes
I love these for many reasons – the quality of material, sewing, craft, old world batch dying, fit and the fact that somehow they, from day one, seem to have a history. But mostly, I really enjoy the fact that Paul Smith does two things that others do not. First, he often decorates the inside of the shoe, which to me is like having my own personal and hidden piece of art. This also makes the shoes enjoyable even when they’re laying in my closet. Second, his shoes are often asymmetrical in some detail.
Thanks, George! Isn’t it interesting to see what different people drool over? I would never choose a tension strap. But I see why George likes this one.
What’s on your list?
Guy Nordenson’s Glass Staircase
Yesterday morning I wrote about a staircase designed to resemble a ribbon. It reminded me of a project my brother told me about. He worked with the architect, Guy Nordenson, on a different project, but thought this was an amazing feat of engineering. It happens to be beautiful, too.
The staircase is cantilevered. Each tread is built into the glass wall and overlaps the treads above and below. The treads support each other to disperse the torque caused when walking up and down the stairs. Tri Pyramid engineered Guy’s design.
The stairs were built using laminated, tempered glass. Steel tubes and aluminum plates make up the risers. The effect creates the illusion of floating in space. I think it’s a great example of beauty that actually works. The ribbon stairs are beautiful, but not functional.
Which would you rather climb?
Interior Design Eye Candy: Ribbon Staircase by HSH Architects
What do you think of this? It’s a steel staircase designed by HSH Architects. Ribbon was the obvious inspiration here.
Personally, I think it looks beautiful. But I think it would be awfully difficult to actually use – especially when coming home at night after tossing back a few. Thanks to Bemz for posting this on Twitter.
Thoughts please.
