Kennedy & Violich have run into some strange roadblocks down at Clemson. The issue, oddly: many residents decried the plan for its modern design and for its impact on the neighboring condos. | cpost
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sadly, this doesn't really surprise me at all. and stupid charleston paper wants me to pay to read this... Can you post more details than what's in you intial post?
Clemson University is reworking the design and size of its planned George Street architectural center.
Charleston Mayor Joe Riley met earlier this week with Historic Charleston Foundation officials, and Clemson President James Barker also spoke with the group by speakerphone. Barker expressed a willingness to look at moving the proposed center away from the southern property line and creating a space between it and a condo building close by, according to those in attendance.
Building the center on the southern property line would entail bricking up the windows on that condo building. That issue has become the most contentious aspect to the center's proposed size. The building's owners previously received a city variance to build windows on a structure right at the lot line.
Historic Charleston Foundation director Kitty Robinson agreed. "We feel if the size is reduced, that would be such a positive step forward," she said. "We had a great conversation, and we look forward to the positive outcomes that we hope that meeting might bring forth."
The foundation is one of several groups that expressed concern about the design. It's unclear when the university and its architects, KVA Associates of Boston, will present a revised design, Clemson spokeswoman Cathy Sams said.
"We're firmly committed to the location," said Sams, who also listened in during the meeting. "Anything related to the size of the building is going to affect the programming of the building. Something
may have to come out. What should that be, and how do we accommodate that and still make sure it's providing what we need for the students? I don't know how long that's going to take to answer those questions."
When the design went before the city's Board of Architectural Review earlier this month, it won approval for its basic height, scale and mass, but many residents decried the plan for its modern design and for its impact on the neighboring condos, among other reasons.
Barker said both he and the architects took notes during that meeting. "We heard very clearly the concern and the praise that was given to the building," he said. "We wouldn't be going through these meetings if they were just token.
"Believe me, the toughest critic on this project is not in Charleston. He's right here in this office," he added. "Imagine what could be worse than having an architect for the client?"
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sadly, this doesn't really surprise me at all. and stupid charleston paper wants me to pay to read this... Can you post more details than what's in you intial post?
Charleston Mayor Joe Riley met earlier this week with Historic Charleston Foundation officials, and Clemson President James Barker also spoke with the group by speakerphone. Barker expressed a willingness to look at moving the proposed center away from the southern property line and creating a space between it and a condo building close by, according to those in attendance.
Building the center on the southern property line would entail bricking up the windows on that condo building. That issue has become the most contentious aspect to the center's proposed size. The building's owners previously received a city variance to build windows on a structure right at the lot line.
Historic Charleston Foundation director Kitty Robinson agreed. "We feel if the size is reduced, that would be such a positive step forward," she said. "We had a great conversation, and we look forward to the positive outcomes that we hope that meeting might bring forth."
The foundation is one of several groups that expressed concern about the design. It's unclear when the university and its architects, KVA Associates of Boston, will present a revised design, Clemson spokeswoman Cathy Sams said.
"We're firmly committed to the location," said Sams, who also listened in during the meeting. "Anything related to the size of the building is going to affect the programming of the building. Something
may have to come out. What should that be, and how do we accommodate that and still make sure it's providing what we need for the students? I don't know how long that's going to take to answer those questions."
When the design went before the city's Board of Architectural Review earlier this month, it won approval for its basic height, scale and mass, but many residents decried the plan for its modern design and for its impact on the neighboring condos, among other reasons.
Barker said both he and the architects took notes during that meeting. "We heard very clearly the concern and the praise that was given to the building," he said. "We wouldn't be going through these meetings if they were just token.
"Believe me, the toughest critic on this project is not in Charleston. He's right here in this office," he added. "Imagine what could be worse than having an architect for the client?"
thanks, Mason...
I'm fairly sure KVA can come up with a good revised solution. It would be nice for SC and Clemson to have a well designed building associated with it.
if anyone can, it would be KVA. i just love the idea that public architecture is "compromising condos" ... its usually the other way around.
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