FEEDBACK ON CARS PROTOTYPE DESIGN CONCEPTS A AND B
 Subject: RE: CARS Feedback and Suggestions
 
Author: Edwin Knapp(D223)
Date:   10/29/2010 12:41 am PDT
First, I must congratulate the CARS Committee on coming up with a coherent, attractive design which will significantly improve the appearance of our hallways, and thus our experience at Watergate. (I use the singular advisably, since we do not have two designs, simply one "design concept" with two color palettes. It would have been nice to have a choice between two really different designs.)

That said, I like both schemes. "A" is warmer, "B" is more sophisticated; there is little to choose between them, other than one's color preference. My personal preference is "B", but I could happily live with either.

Which raises the question: Why choose? The complex has been rightly criticized for its institutional look, fostered by the interminably-long, undifferentiated hallways and the difficulty of orienting oneself inside the buildings. A step toward the de-institutionalization of the complex was taken several years ago when the buildings were painted different colors. Why not continue that on the inside? For example, three buildings could have color scheme "A", three could have "B". Or differentiate by quadrant (e.g., in D building, 2 Commodore and 3 Captain would have "A", while 1 Captain and 4 Commodore would have "B"). Or (my favorite) differentiate by compass orientation (e.g., E-W hallways get "A", N-S hallways get "B"). Any of these approaches would help to avoid the institutional look presented by the complex today.

As to a few specifics:

Lighting: I think this is a particularly successful solution. I would not have believed that so much light could have been provided within the cross-hallway pattern of the original lighting design, but this re-imagining of the fixtures simply works. I also like the lobby fixtures and the doorway sconces, and appreciate the much-larger unit numbers which will help visitors find me! I did feel that lobby "A" was dimmer than lobby "B"; can additional lighting be provided? And what is the implication for operating costs (i.e., our electric bill)?

Sprinkler System: The pipes certainly need to be hidden. $1M is $800/unit, a not-inconsiderable cost, but affordable for most of us when amortized over (say) ten years. (Note: I am not suggesting a special assessment; I assume this would come out of reserves.) But is a metal enclosure the best solution? What is the cost of constructing a plywood or drywall box around the pipes? -- either would look better.

Fire Doors: These have not received any attention, so far as I could tell. Has any thought been given to providing mechanical means of keeping them closed: either standard top-of-door closers, or (better) bottom-hinge devices such as are found on the laundry-room doors (at least in D building)? Keeping these doors closed would not only improve fire safety, but appearances as well, by shortening the apparent length of the hallways.
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 Topics Author  Date      
 CARS Feedback and Suggestions   new  
Watergate Admin 9/29/2010 9:37 am PDT
 RE: CARS Feedback and Suggestions   new  
Kathleen Cross 10/3/2010 8:32 am PDT
 RE: CARS Feedback and Suggestions   new  
Sam Foushee 10/15/2010 5:35 pm PDT
 RE: CARS Feedback and Suggestions   new  
Tenant 11/19/2010 3:14 pm PDT
 RE: CARS Feedback and Suggestions   new  
Klaus Lange 10/3/2010 8:43 am PDT
 RE: CARS Feedback and Suggestions   new  
Tenant 10/31/2010 2:46 pm PDT
 RE: CARS Feedback and Suggestions   new  
Colleen Downing 10/14/2010 8:37 pm PDT
 RE: CARS Feedback and Suggestions    
Edwin Knapp(D223) 10/29/2010 12:41 am PDT
 RE: CARS Feedback and Suggestions   new  
John Albrecht 10/31/2010 10:24 pm PDT
 RE: CARS Feedback and Suggestions   new  
Slava Balashov 11/3/2010 5:38 pm PDT
 RE: CARS Feedback and Suggestions   new  
Steve Fleming 11/5/2010 9:13 pm PDT
 RE: CARS Feedback and Suggestions   new  
russ Bankson 2/7/2011 6:25 pm PDT
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