H-Town Man Posted September 21, 2004 Share Posted September 21, 2004 Texas A&M has announced a new campus master plan over the summer. The plan will guide campus development over the next fifty years. It essentially condemns most of the building practices of the last forty years, during the school's "crisis period of growth," calling them sprawling and non-contributive towards the traditional campus. The buildings that A&M students love and cherish, the "campus of memory," is said to be found among the older, more urban-style buildings. Future development will be a return to this urban style. The plan calls for new quads, defining of new spaces (and redefining of the old, like O.R. Simpson drill field), removal of parking to the perimeter of campus, and a major increase of density in the historical parts of campus. There are also recommendations on how to improve the quality of architecture; and a landscape plan, which includes turning major arteries such as Wellborn and University Dr. into tree-lined boulevards and preserving natural areas such as the White Creek Greenway. The plan is exciting, as anyone who looks at some of the drawings will attest. It has already won awards from the Boston Society of Architects and a similar Austin-based society, which says that this is the first time they have given their award to a plan instead of a building. It contains interesting discussions of the history and values involved in campus planning, including references to the principles of the French Ecole des Beaux Arts. Anyone interested in the architectural future of one of the nation's five largest universities would enjoy skimming through. www.tamu.edu/campusplan As I looked up this link, I noticed that just yesterday the University President dedicated 16 historic campus buildings as "worthy of preservation," citing them as evoking the values and traditions of the school. Also, a new building in the planning stages, the landmark $100 million Life Sciences Center, is to "rigorously adhere" to the principles set forth in the campus plan. It looks like the school is excitedly adopting this vision. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mls1202 Posted September 21, 2004 Share Posted September 21, 2004 Hey, if you look at the bottom left corner of the link picture above, you can actually seem my old dorm, Hart Hall.Oh the memories of that non-airconditioned building. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Talbot Posted September 21, 2004 Share Posted September 21, 2004 sounds exciting. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GovernorAggie Posted September 21, 2004 Share Posted September 21, 2004 The school is heading in the right direction, however, they are planning on demolishing an INSANE amount of buildings. The one I'd hate to see go the most on their list is the Pavilion. One that I wish would disappear is the oogly Harrington Tower and building. My favorite buildings on campus without a doubt, though, are Jack K. Williams and the Chemistry Building. If anyone hasn't been inside of Jack K. Williams, I suggest the effort to see this beautiful structure--even though the elevator is nowhere near as elegant.I also hate the Meteorology building (tallest on campus) and ironically the Architecture buildings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GovernorAggie Posted September 21, 2004 Share Posted September 21, 2004 Here's the article on the Historic designations H-Town Man mentioned. Sixteen distinguished buildings on the Texas A&M campus were recognized for historical importance to A&M heritage and for being models for the Campus Master Plan in a ceremony held outside the Jack K. Williams Administration Building Saturday. "These 16 buildings all embody the character of Texas A&M University," said Executive Vice President and Provost David Prior. The Campus Master Plan is set to take place over the next 40 years at A&M and would greatly increase the size and scope of the A&M campus. "As part of A&M's Campus Master Plan, these 16 buildings' markers illustrate the quality of people that came before us and how they still inspire us today," said A&M President Robert M. Gates. The Jack K. Williams Administration Building was built in 1932 in honor of Williams, the 17th president of Texas A&M. It faced the then-new Highway 6 to symbolize the shift from train-to-automobile travel. Other buildings recognized include the Chemistry Building, which was built in 1929 and has Mexican-American influence in its color schemes and ornamentations, Nagle Hall, which was built in 1909 and is one of the oldest buildings at A&M; Bolton Hall, where, on Nov. 24, 1921, William A. "Doc" Tolson, Class of 1923, and Harry M. Saunders, Class of 1922, produced the first live play-by-play football game broadcast on the radio in the nation (A&M vs. Texas); and the YMCA Building, which was financed by students, alumni and the John D. Rockefeller Foundation. Construction of future buildings on campus is said to be based on these distinguished buildings. "What's great about the Campus Master Plan is that it recognizes buildings on campus that model for future buildings, and we intend to create a harmony amongst new buildings by drawing inspiration from the old ones," Gates said. The celebration of the historic significance of the buildings will celebrate A&M's emphasis and continuation of tradition. "Of all the universities in the world, Texas A&M has the heart of tradition in it," said Director of Historic Resources Imaging Laboratory David Woodcock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dallasite Posted September 21, 2004 Share Posted September 21, 2004 Wow, I had not seen or heard about this. My wife and I drove through campus this past weekend (Sunday after the Clemson game) and really enjoyed it. Given the architectural mistakes of the past, I still love the campus and look forward to future improvements. The new engineering building is pretty sweet by the way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WestGrayGuy Posted September 21, 2004 Share Posted September 21, 2004 Dallasite:If you are talking about the new chemical engineering building (my degree). I have not seen it... I am dying to see what its like.I spent three years in the Zachry building. This was not the most up to date of buildings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dallasite Posted September 21, 2004 Share Posted September 21, 2004 Dallasite:If you are talking about the new chemical engineering building (my degree). I have not seen it... I am dying to see what its like.I spent three years in the Zachry building. This was not the most up to date of buildings.<{POST_SNAPBACK}>Yes, I believe that's the one. It fronts University and stands about 8-9 stories. It's pretty slick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H-Town Man Posted September 22, 2004 Author Share Posted September 22, 2004 I have mixed feelings about the new Chem-E building. It's rather austere, and doesn't mesh well with the other engineering buildings.I too saw that they are planning to tear down the Pavilion. Don't know why. Most of the teardowns I approve of, provided they replace those buildings with something decent. The Student Counselling Center is another building I would hate to see go.The choices they made for the list are interesting. One building that is conspicuously absent is the original Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, with its classical front and stair. The Military Sciences Building ("Honor... The Guiding Star") also seems deserving. Why Bolton, and not Leggett or Milner? Why Hart, and not Walton? Does anyone know the story of some of the buildings they've torn down in the past? You notice that half of the buildings on the Military Walk are gone. Some of those were pretty amazing, although thankfully the best (YMCA) was saved. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aggie0083 Posted June 12, 2005 Share Posted June 12, 2005 June 12, 2005 7:56 AM A&M weighs leases for new facilities ... A&M officials are giving private developers from across the nation the chance to develop this pair of attractively located university properties north of campus. The deal: Any company willing to front the capital can lease the land and develop commercial, residential and academic buildings near campus, said Bill Perry, A&M 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MidtownCoog Posted June 12, 2005 Share Posted June 12, 2005 I'll alert the media. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaserCat Posted June 13, 2005 Share Posted June 13, 2005 I'm currently a grad student at A&M. A person in the Land Development department mentioned that Trammel Crow has expressed interest in that property before. Doesn't seem too far fetched something could happen pretty soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrfootball Posted June 13, 2005 Share Posted June 13, 2005 Interesting, developers are currently re-developing the area across the street from the Texas Tech University campus along similar lines as described above, with the exception that it was a large chunk (326 acres) of privately owned homes & businesses purchased by the developer. The Overton Park project is the largest privately funded urban redevelopment project in the nation. It includes a mix of residential, street-level retail, entertainment, hotels and major retail anchors, here are some recent pics: The Centre I The Centre II City Bank Bldg Corner @ University & Glenna Goodacre Street Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bachanon Posted November 9, 2005 Share Posted November 9, 2005 George Mitchell Lays Groundwork for New Texas A&M Science Initiative With $35 Million GiftThursday November 3, 9:30 am ET Noted Architect Michael Graves Commissioned to Design Two New Buildings for A&M Physics Department HOUSTON, Nov. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- George P. Mitchell of Houston is spearheading the development of a new science initiative at Texas A&M University with a $35 million gift to support an effort to propel the institution into the front ranks of fundamental physics and astronomy.LINK 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aggie0083 Posted February 2, 2006 Share Posted February 2, 2006 (edited) The improvements include a 72-foot-long, 52-foot-tall video board at Kyle Field, along with all new scoreboards and a new sound system; a new eight-sided video board at Reed Arena; and a portable video board. http://www.aggiefans.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5748 Edited July 9, 2006 by aggie0083 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedScare Posted February 2, 2006 Share Posted February 2, 2006 This must be a joke. The scoreboard said the Ags were winning 56-3. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeebus Posted February 2, 2006 Share Posted February 2, 2006 No, its no joke. They were playing Magnolia High. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
travelguy_73 Posted February 2, 2006 Share Posted February 2, 2006 Don't get me started on my alma mater's spending priorities. Perhaps a world-class library should have been a tad bit higher on the list? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aggie0083 Posted February 2, 2006 Share Posted February 2, 2006 (edited) Don't get me started on my alma mater's spending priorities. Perhaps a world-class library should have been a tad bit higher on the list?The Athletic Department funds are separate from the University's funds. This $12 million much needed scoreboard upgrade project will be paid for by the advertisements that will be displayed on the screens. You should check out the $300 million in spending for academic buildings that we have going on right now as well and you will see where our priorities lie. Articles from this past Tuesday:http://www.thebatt.com/media/paper657/news...www.thebatt.comhttp://www.thebatt.com/media/paper657/news...www.thebatt.comDo a little research before attacking your own university. Edited February 2, 2006 by aggie0083 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbigtex56 Posted February 2, 2006 Share Posted February 2, 2006 Don't get me started on my alma mater's spending priorities. Perhaps a world-class library should have been a tad bit higher on the list?There's a persistant story that an A&M alum designed a library for their campus, but forgot to factor in the weight of the books. If so, do you know the details? or is this another urban myth? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zaphod Posted February 2, 2006 Share Posted February 2, 2006 (edited) There's a persistant story that an A&M alum designed a library for their campus, but forgot to factor in the weight of the books. If so, do you know the details? or is this another urban myth? that sounds like a aggie joke anyways, holy crap that thing is big. Edited February 2, 2006 by zaphod Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
travelguy_73 Posted February 2, 2006 Share Posted February 2, 2006 There's a persistant story that an A&M alum designed a library for their campus, but forgot to factor in the weight of the books. If so, do you know the details? or is this another urban myth?I have heard that a few times, but am pretty sure it is an urban myth. Still, it's humorous to think about considering Aggie engineers probably built a decent percentage of buildings around the world, LOL. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uncertaintraveler Posted February 2, 2006 Share Posted February 2, 2006 There's a persistant story that an A&M alum designed a library for their campus, but forgot to factor in the weight of the books. If so, do you know the details? or is this another urban myth?Don't know about that...but, in a similar matter and probably as equally untrue, there is a rumor that at Georgia Tech, the school created a huge moving sidewalk to ferry students from one side of the campus to another, but the Tech grads (and engineering faculty) that designed the sidewalk failed to consider the weight of actual passengers on the sidewalk, so now they just have a stationary sidewalk...Its probably just an urban myth, given that the basic details are always the same and just the name of the school and project changes... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WestGrayGuy Posted February 2, 2006 Share Posted February 2, 2006 As an Aggie engineer, we were told that this story was true in engineering school. It was for the design of Evans library. The building was supposed to be 6 floors instead of the existing 4 floors. The difference being the weight of the books. This was a common example of looking at all sides of a design problem.Myth Confirmed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbigtex56 Posted February 2, 2006 Share Posted February 2, 2006 Myth Confirmed. Thanks, WGG (so you're a Mythbusters fan, too?) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WestGrayGuy Posted February 2, 2006 Share Posted February 2, 2006 Yes, I love Mythbusters.Another thing, I thought that the master plan was to enclose Kyle Field into a bowl. I wonder if they decided to scrap those plans? Obviously this scoreboard would be in the way.Anyone know? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dallasite Posted February 2, 2006 Share Posted February 2, 2006 When is this supposed to happen? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aggie0083 Posted February 2, 2006 Share Posted February 2, 2006 (edited) Now Edited July 8, 2006 by aggie0083 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WestGrayGuy Posted February 2, 2006 Share Posted February 2, 2006 Okay, so my memory fades. (Class of 96) Perhaps it is 6 floors and was supposed to be 8. I specifically remember being told that in my ENGR 109 class as an example of not including all the pertinent data in your design. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aggie0083 Posted February 3, 2006 Share Posted February 3, 2006 (edited) In other news, some renderings were found of the new Indoor Athletics Practice Facility today. Looks like it will be pretty massive. 80ft tall. (by comparsion, Kyle Field is 180 ft tall) Edited July 8, 2006 by aggie0083 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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