I was able to go visit the architect who did the renovation on Memorial Hall in 1997. I was given free reign to go through the archived files that he has. I received a lot of information seeing the blueprints evolve from the first proposed plans, to the latest plans that he had available. He also allowed me to take a few blue prints as well as a sketch of the hall.
He and I also had a conversation about the the renovation; at the time Pratt gave no charge as to what they wanted to do with the hall. Mr. Pettit had also said that it seemed like there was no direct department that would be overseeing the facility. Without any direction Mr.Pettit and his staff had free reign to design the space. The first thing that he cut out was the balcony. This isn't a direct quote from him, but a general idea - Nothing good comes from having an open balcony. You know the things college kids do or don't in empty dark balconies? --- It's a valid point. Having no knowledge of what the balcony space looked like, I think it is interesting that that was the first cut to be made. Working large events in the facility, I see the need for extra seating capacity.
Pettit was also able to locate photographs for the facility before, during, and after the project was completed. I will be picking them up Thursday to take a gander at them. I will also be working with the Library archivist to see if we can digitize some of them for the school.
Now I really have to push myself to get those questions together in regards to what each person / department would like to see come of the facility, what they can see as a use for their department in relation to the community at Pratt as well as at large. However, at the moment, I can only thing of two questions - What would you like to see done to Memorial Hall? Why?
He and I also had a conversation about the the renovation; at the time Pratt gave no charge as to what they wanted to do with the hall. Mr. Pettit had also said that it seemed like there was no direct department that would be overseeing the facility. Without any direction Mr.Pettit and his staff had free reign to design the space. The first thing that he cut out was the balcony. This isn't a direct quote from him, but a general idea - Nothing good comes from having an open balcony. You know the things college kids do or don't in empty dark balconies? --- It's a valid point. Having no knowledge of what the balcony space looked like, I think it is interesting that that was the first cut to be made. Working large events in the facility, I see the need for extra seating capacity.
Pettit was also able to locate photographs for the facility before, during, and after the project was completed. I will be picking them up Thursday to take a gander at them. I will also be working with the Library archivist to see if we can digitize some of them for the school.
Now I really have to push myself to get those questions together in regards to what each person / department would like to see come of the facility, what they can see as a use for their department in relation to the community at Pratt as well as at large. However, at the moment, I can only thing of two questions - What would you like to see done to Memorial Hall? Why?
No comments:
Post a Comment