THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, October 13, 1994 TAG: 9410110129
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 13 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LARRY W. BROWN, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 61 lines
They passed the miniature model around the table and nodded their heads in approval.
This new design of the Tidewater Community College science building was definitely what they were looking for.
After weeks of disagreement over the design, members of the Planning Commission and Design Review Board last week voted unanimously in favor of the changes.
The two groups met in a special session just two days after demolition began on the site of the science building that will be built on Granby Street, just north of College Place.
The new design was met with wide smiles and praise.
``I think it's a strong response to the concerns that came forward,'' Henry Shriver of the Design Review Committee said.
``It makes me feel more comfortable,'' Robin Ingram of the Design Review Committee said, referring to the group's concerns about the building's design. ``I'm delighted.''
Construction is scheduled to begin in January on the four-story, 50,500-square-foot science and student services building. Initial plans were rejected after some commissioners and design review members said the building looked like a jail or a motel.
Ray Gindroz, of UDA Architects, said they wanted the building to blend with others on Granby Street, such as the former Smith & Welton building.
After board members opposed the original design and the first set of changes, they literally went back to the drawing board and changed direction on the design.
``We felt their was a missing ingredient,'' Gindroz said. ``It needs to be a substantial institution. The new design has more solidity and stability to it.''
Designers opted for paired windows with white headers on the Granby Street side of the building, while the south side will have a large ground floor and the look of boxed windows. The corner piece of the building - one of the hotly disputed elements - was redesigned, and the height of the concrete base around the building was raised.
But the most evident change from previous designs is the color of the exterior, from yellow to brown. Gindroz said they wanted a series of bricks in brown, stonelike tones.
``We wanted to keep the quality of our original design and refine the architectural expression of that,'' he said.
Commissioner Donald Williams said the city was never in danger of having to pay fees for any construction delays. It appears the new design will actually save money, he said.
``This is the system working,'' Williams said. ``They didn't like (the first plans) and nobody got their nose out of joint.''
The two groups voted on the changes without any opposition. Planning Commission chairman William L. Craig said the new design seems to satisfy everyone.
``It's the kind of thing you look at ... and wonder, why didn't I think of that,'' he said. by CNB