Quote:
Originally Posted by Novacek
yeah, its the parts that never have windows that are underground (expo halls)
and the stuff that needs windows (lobby, retail, pre-meeting space) is in upper levels.
I'm not sure I understand the problem/complaint.
The bigger potential issue as I understand it is that the exhibit hall won't be entirely clear space. The plan is for the P3 tower to be over part of the buried hall, so there will be support columns interspersed in it.
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Correct on the exhibit hall. The existing space is columnless, which is a big value for larger exhibit footprints; the new halls will supposedly have load bearing pillars throughout, cutting down on usable space.
In re: natural light in exhibit halls -- everyone's rightly pointed out that these halls are typically without windows, and I'm not suggesting ours necessarily should be. But the prefunction space is where we should all get our vitamin D -- and our current space has plenty of it. But dropping everything below ground necessarily closes that option off.
Are these the end of the world? No absolutely not. Will the center function adequately without them? Yes. Are they unforced errors during a major reimagining of the facility? That also incidentally includes the complete teardown of the existing building? Yes, I think they are.
Incidentally, there are ways around the sunlight thing that I hope get taken advantage of. The ATT Conference Center, for instance, has a grand ballroom that's two floors underground, but has some ingenious skylights that are built to channel and multiply the outside light to make the whole place seem more connected to the upstairs. I'm sure the new designers will be smart enough to add those features in . . .
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