OFFICIAL - Performing Arts Center construction

[TheBigChuckbowski]

Agreed with what's posted here. I'm utterly disappointed with what this building looks like at night. It's almost invisible from the north.

How much could LEDs really cost? It has to be a tiny fraction of the overall cost of the building. It's quite a blunder they weren't included because with LEDs, this would easily be the focal point of our skyline at night.

[Midtownkid]

Well who knows that the future holds for the center. Things can, and will be added. A fountain is definitely missing. The area behind the curves was supposed to be a reflecting pool. Now we just have prairie grass or something there. The architect decided putting water above the back-of-house areas was dangerous...probably a good call. Still I wish they could have figured that out. Maybe a fountain will be added somewhere to the south. Lighting can always be added too.

[chaglang]

I'm not too bothered by the lack of LEDs or lighting on the back of the shell. When I put in my time on the project, neither the LEDs or the pool were ever mentioned that I can remember. Those must have fallen by the wayside early on in the design process. They were worried about the amount of water coming off the roof and the thinking was that having a water absorbing material at the bottom was a good thing, as opposed to a pool. Even though the details were tricky, the LEDs probably would have been doable - I think that was an aesthetic decision as opposed to budget or constructability.

It might have been mentioned elsewhere, but the quality of the metal panels on the exterior is pretty disappointing. They're dull and kind of clunky looking.

[FangKC]

A lot of design features had to be cut out of the original plan, because of escalating costs, to get the structure built.

[chaglang]

A lot of design features had to be cut out of the original plan, because of escalating costs, to get the structure built.

Fortunately the bright red carpet made it into the final design.

[IraGlacialis]

The fortunate things is that it seems that most of the desires for the exterior design could probably easily be implemented in the future as the place matures.
The cladding can be replaced, accent lighting be installed, and a good-sized fountain could probably be put along the front. And I take it that expansion is still a possibility in the future?

[chaglang]

The fortunate things is that it seems that most of the desires for the exterior design could probably easily be implemented in the future as the place matures.
The cladding can be replaced, accent lighting be installed, and a good-sized fountain could probably be put along the front. And I take it that expansion is still a possibility in the future?

I don't know what the clearance on a good-sized fountain would be. Stuff is packed in pretty tight under that side of the building.

[im2kull]

The fortunate things is that it seems that most of the desires for the exterior design could probably easily be implemented in the future as the place matures.
The cladding can be replaced, accent lighting be installed, and a good-sized fountain could probably be put along the front. And I take it that expansion is still a possibility in the future?

I don't know what the clearance on a good-sized fountain would be. Stuff is packed in pretty tight under that side of the building.

It's a fountain, not a swimming pool. I don't see what the big deal is.

[IraGlacialis]

The fortunate things is that it seems that most of the desires for the exterior design could probably easily be implemented in the future as the place matures.
The cladding can be replaced, accent lighting be installed, and a good-sized fountain could probably be put along the front. And I take it that expansion is still a possibility in the future?

I don't know what the clearance on a good-sized fountain would be. Stuff is packed in pretty tight under that side of the building.

That park area above the parking lot? There seems to be quite a bit of yard space that could be partially allocated for a fountain or several. Not necessarily some huge one like at the Plaza or on Pershing, but one that accents the structure.
If not a centerpiece fountain there, it still looks like one could easily make a string of small fountains possibly alternating with the base of the cables. Also the area right in front of the parking lot could be used.

[chaglang]

The fortunate things is that it seems that most of the desires for the exterior design could probably easily be implemented in the future as the place matures.
The cladding can be replaced, accent lighting be installed, and a good-sized fountain could probably be put along the front. And I take it that expansion is still a possibility in the future?

I don't know what the clearance on a good-sized fountain would be. Stuff is packed in pretty tight under that side of the building.

It's a fountain, not a swimming pool. I don't see what the big deal is.

Like I said, it's very, very tight in there. If you have to cut thru the deck for the fountain, or have to reinforce it, or run plumbing underneath, it may not fit. That's all.

[Midtownkid]

Maybe a nice fountain could go on 17th street, in front of the new garage. There is some awkward sloped grass there now...

[FangKC]

I think a good location for a fountain would be the corner of 16th and Broadway.

[KCPowercat]

Agreed. That would be a great location. South of the building too could work as a long Bellagio style fountain of smaller scale.

[Midtownkid]

The only think about south of the building, above the parking structure, is that they want to use the grassy area for outdoor performances etc in nice weather. Read that in a Star article at some point.

[moderne]

I think the only location in the area where a fountain would be operable is in the lawn on the south side of the Bartle Ballroom. The south side of Kauffman Center would not work due to the open hilltop site. When the BMA(now Park
Place)opened in the early sixties on a similar KC hilltop they had some small low bubbler fountains on the plaza in front of the building. They could not keep water in them as the wind would blow the spray right out onto the pavement. They finally gave up and filled them in. I think the south side lawn would look good with a massive colorful sculpture along the lines of the Chicago Civic Center Picasso.

[FangKC]

I think the south side lawn would look good with a massive colorful sculpture along the lines of the Chicago Civic Center Picasso.

[KCKev]

What did they do with the old fountain fron Barney Allis Plaza?

[earthling]

I think the south side lawn would look good with a massive colorful sculpture along the lines of the Chicago Civic Center Picasso.

]

I like it but would draw attention away from the PAC building. How about a waterfall that hides the front face of the garage and you have to drive through the water to enter! Or perhaps shuts off when car enters.

[chaglang]

I think the south side lawn would look good with a massive colorful sculpture along the lines of the Chicago Civic Center Picasso.

]

I like it but would draw attention away from the PAC building. How about a waterfall that hides the front face of the garage and you have to drive through the water to enter! Or perhaps shuts off when car enters.

You could very easily do both on the east side of the PAC, on that empty lot on Wyandotte. Plenty of space, wouldn't distract from the building itself, would leave room for outdoor concerts on the garagetop lawn, would help connect with the Crossroads on the south side of 17th. What plans are there for that lot? Who owns it?

[IraGlacialis]

You could very easily do both on the east side of the PAC, on that empty lot on Wyandotte. Plenty of space, wouldn't distract from the building itself, would leave room for outdoor concerts on the garagetop lawn, would help connect with the Crossroads on the south side of 17th. What plans are there for that lot? Who owns it?

Well the hope is that the area across the street from Wyandotte ultimately gets filled with development.

If they want to leave the area above the garage free, and there are logistical reasons for not putting a water feature on the north side, the area that would make the most sense would be the spot along the front of the garage.
Besides the idea for a water curtain to mask the garage itself (which would just be plain awesome, especially with the potential at night to create lighting features), it would make sense to have a line of fountains along the front. Even better, you have two sizable spaces to the immediate west and north of the Webster House for good-sized fountains to be installed.

Unless of course, something, other than grass, was put in there and I wasn't aware of it.