21 Jul 2004 | Martin Mes said...

Reminds me I missed the recent Koolhaas exhibition and events in and around NAi (Netherlands Architecture institute) and Museumpark and the Content exhibition at the Kunsthal... all around the corner in my (and Koolhaas/OMA's) hometown of Rotterdam... :(

22 Jul 2004 | Brad Lauster said...

I visited the McCormick Tribune Campus Center at IIT when was in Chicago for HITS 2003 last year. I enjoyed the space very much...and not because it was new and shiny, but because it felt comfortable. Highly recommended.

22 Jul 2004 | Brian Sweeting said...

The new Salt Lake City is a beautiful building as well. It's nice to see these publicly funded buildings are getting quality design.

22 Jul 2004 | Dan Bogus said...

I recently toured the library... and while I think it's a very beatiful and interesting building, I fear that it's style will become instantly dated. Maybe I was thrown by all the frosted plastic and day-glow yellow-green. I definitely felt Star Trek envy. I don't want to say that I didn't like it... I just think less can be more. Time will tell and who am I to say.

Oh, and it took 15 minutes to find the books.

23 Jul 2004 | Urbanchords said...

I don't like it. Through the design phase it seems like the original concept has been compromised. I liked the original images of it, but I am not a big fan of the final product. I have seen IIT in person and I like it, a lot because of the graphics from 2x4. And the giant tube for the El. I have been a fan of Koolhaas/OMA for years. I even own S, M, L, XL. One of his residences in one of my top 10 favorite buildings, but for some reason this one missed it. Koolhaas is starting to be like Eisenman, better in theory than practice.

FYI. Form DOESN'T follow RAM.

28 Jul 2004 | Dan said...

It's a nice building, but the signage is poor. The librarians have had to tape up laser-printed signs on the walls directing patrons around. Maybe it's an organic thing, in that they designed it without adequate signage to see where it would really be needed? Probably not, but it's an interesting approach.