Rice University to build new student center, selects Adjaye Associates to lead design

Houston Business Journal

https://www.bizjournals.com/houston/news...iates.html

Quote:The project is moving forward thanks to a $15 million gift from the Brown Foundation, said Kathi Dantley Warren, vice president for Development and Alumni Relations.

Quote:Rice plans to retain a few elements of the Rice Memorial Center, such as the chapel and the cloisters, but most of the RMC will be demolished. Adjaye Associates has designed a three-story, 80,000-square-foot structure that incorporates the functions of the RMC and adds a multicultural center and a rooftop auditorium. It will also incorporate a memorial to 10 Navy ROTC students who died when their transport plane crashed in 1953 and for whom the RMC is named. However, the design is very preliminary, said University Architect George Ristow.

(10-30-2020 03:43 PM)georgewebb Wrote:  Rice University to build new student center, selects Adjaye Associates to lead design

Houston Business Journal

https://www.bizjournals.com/houston/news...iates.html

Quote:The project is moving forward thanks to a $15 million gift from the Brown Foundation, said Kathi Dantley Warren, vice president for Development and Alumni Relations.

Quote:Rice plans to retain a few elements of the Rice Memorial Center, such as the chapel and the cloisters, but most of the RMC will be demolished. Adjaye Associates has designed a three-story, 80,000-square-foot structure that incorporates the functions of the RMC and adds a multicultural center and a rooftop auditorium. It will also incorporate a memorial to 10 Navy ROTC students who died when their transport plane crashed in 1953 and for whom the RMC is named. However, the design is very preliminary, said University Architect George Ristow.

Long overdue--- thks Brown!

I'm glad they're saving the cloister. I'm going to miss the mid-century style of the Grand Hall. I don't like much of the rest of the student center, but I don't know how to put my issues into words.

I’m guessing no more Pub? Doesn’t fit with the current administration.

For those who didn't clink on George's link, here's the architect's conceptual rendering of the new student center:

(10-31-2020 12:55 PM)cr11owl Wrote:  I’m guessing no more Pub? Doesn’t fit with the current administration.

One of the Pub people in the "Millions" Facebook group says that there will be a Pub. They're not sure what floor it will be on, yet.

(10-31-2020 12:55 PM)cr11owl Wrote:  I’m guessing no more Pub? Doesn’t fit with the current administration.

Back in 2010ish, there was a conversation about redoing the RMC, and some initial plans were being drafted of what it would include. That iteration included being Pub up from the basement and giving it an outdoor patio area.

(11-01-2020 09:06 AM)RiceLad15 Wrote:  

(10-31-2020 12:55 PM)cr11owl Wrote:  I’m guessing no more Pub? Doesn’t fit with the current administration.

Back in 2010ish, there was a conversation about redoing the RMC, and some initial plans were being drafted of what it would include. That iteration included being Pub up from the basement and giving it an outdoor patio area.

There was a time when the Pub was temporarily closed (I don't remember if it was because of flooding, or the c. 1985 building renovation, or the 1995 fire), and so the Pub operated a few evenings a week in the RMC courtyard. It was called "Pub on the Patio" and it was quite fun!

(10-31-2020 09:16 PM)Almadenmike Wrote:  For those who didn't clink on George's link, here's the architect's conceptual rendering of the new student center:

That is horrendous.

(11-02-2020 04:14 AM)Latenite Wrote:  

(10-31-2020 09:16 PM)Almadenmike Wrote:  For those who didn't clink on George's link, here's the architect's conceptual rendering of the new student center:

That is horrendous.

In this rendering, at least, it seems to have a certain state university 1970s feel.

(11-02-2020 04:14 AM)Latenite Wrote:  

(10-31-2020 09:16 PM)Almadenmike Wrote:  For those who didn't clink on George's link, here's the architect's conceptual rendering of the new student center:

That is horrendous.

That is one hideous building. I'm usually a big supporter of functional design, but I don't see how that is particularly functional, just ugly. Perhaps someone can explain the functional parts better.

LeBron did say that this wasn't the final design but this is the design that helped in winning the bid...

(11-02-2020 05:29 PM)dragon2owl Wrote:  LeBron did say that this wasn't the final design but this is the design that helped in winning the bid...

OMG, how bad must the others have been? This is hideous and doesn't fit with anything else on campus.

(11-02-2020 09:44 PM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote:  

(11-02-2020 05:29 PM)dragon2owl Wrote:  LeBron did say that this wasn't the final design but this is the design that helped in winning the bid...

OMG, how bad must the others have been? This is hideous and doesn't fit with anything else on campus.

It looks like some kind of "woke" design, is all I can figure. I agree that this rendering (and the other one in the article showing the interior) does not seem to fit in any way with campus. Not a fan of this, but I further question, as the RMC wasn't that old, really, exactly why is this considered necessary right now? Also, is the old radio station space still up there, or did they remove it when they sold KTRU off for the thirty silver pieces?

The Rice University that I attended as an undergraduate was an outstanding academic institution that persisted in playing major intercollegiate athletics (and owned victories over TexasU, LSU, and aTm in football during my undergrad years, along with conference championships in basketball, track, and tennis) and was still uniquely Texan. The Rice experience caused me to fall in love with Texas, where I have remained ever since. The university has changed since those days, and I frankly don't care for many of the changes. This just looks like another one that I would not like. I am pretty sure I would choose to go elsewhere if I were a HS senior today.

Guys, the RMC is a pretty, pretty ugly building as is. And it's not exactly in a great state either. I'm not sure why we're drawing sweeping conclusions from a preliminary rendering. And I'm also not sure how choosing an architecture firm that designs modern/unique buildings is in any way counter to what Rice has been for a while. We're literally a school that has professed a desire to be one of the most unique in the country. This firm fits perfectly with the ethos of Rice, regardless of what the design looks like (it admittedly does not look like it will fit in the current campus at all).

(11-02-2020 09:59 PM)GoodOwl Wrote:  

(11-02-2020 09:44 PM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote:  

(11-02-2020 05:29 PM)dragon2owl Wrote:  LeBron did say that this wasn't the final design but this is the design that helped in winning the bid...

OMG, how bad must the others have been? This is hideous and doesn't fit with anything else on campus.

It looks like some kind of "woke" design, is all I can figure. I agree that this rendering (and the other one in the article showing the interior) does not seem to fit in any way with campus. Not a fan of this, but I further question, as the RMC wasn't that old, really, exactly why is this considered necessary right now? Also, is the old radio station space still up there, or did they remove it when they sold KTRU off for the thirty silver pieces?

Agree that from the rendering the proposed design doesn’t look like the surrounding architecture...but it’s really a long range view. Maybe it’ll look better close up?
I’m passingly familiar with the “woke” point of view. Do they have a school of architecture?

Agree that the RMC sucks and needs to be replaced. That said, not a huge fan of the exterior of this building (though I’m sure it will be nice on the inside).

To Owl #’s point, I received my acceptance to Rice 6 years and 11 months ago... So far more recently than him... And I finished in 12/2017.

But even over the last 7 years, the school has changed in negative ways that would likely make me choose to not attend if I were making the same decision today. That said-I see many of the same issues that frustrate me at Rice happening at other schools-so not sure if it’s a Rice thing or a broader societal trend.

(11-02-2020 09:59 PM)GoodOwl Wrote:  

(11-02-2020 09:44 PM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote:  

(11-02-2020 05:29 PM)dragon2owl Wrote:  LeBron did say that this wasn't the final design but this is the design that helped in winning the bid...

OMG, how bad must the others have been? This is hideous and doesn't fit with anything else on campus.

It looks like some kind of "woke" design, is all I can figure. I agree that this rendering (and the other one in the article showing the interior) does not seem to fit in any way with campus. Not a fan of this, but I further question, as the RMC wasn't that old, really, exactly why is this considered necessary right now? Also, is the old radio station space still up there, or did they remove it when they sold KTRU off for the thirty silver pieces?

Lol, what does that even mean? Are there some references to social justice that I'm missing? Like, does that cylindrical amphitheater actually symbolize the will of the oppressed breaking free from their oppressors?

Sorry, but saying this looks like a "woke" design is just too funny. But maybe that is a real thing and I'll eat my words.

To me, it looks like Lovett and Del Butcher had a baby. There are interesting textures and there appear to be a lot of open-air/semi-covered common spaces which will be very nice. When Brochstein opened and students flocked to the outdoor spaces, it was clear that Rice could use a substantially larger number of common spaces like those outside of the residential colleges.

Speaking of Brochstein, this reminds me of the hubbub from alumni or seniors when it was finally revealed. There was a whole lot of hate for the fishbowl, especially with how it clearly did not mimic the architecture around it. I think that hubbub has mostly quieted down, but maybe I'm out of touch with the youths of today...

We'll see more iterations of this design - it will be fleshed out and changed. I'm interested in seeing what the final design ends up being.

(11-03-2020 07:42 AM)ExcitedOwl18 Wrote:  But even over the last 7 years, the school has changed in negative ways that would likely make me choose to not attend if I were making the same decision today. That said-I see many of the same issues that frustrate me at Rice happening at other schools-so not sure if it’s a Rice thing or a broader societal trend.

I'm curious to learn (privately, if you'd prefer) what negative changes you're referring to. It's striking (and concerning) that off-putting trends could be so dramatic and quick in coming that young alums would be upset about them.