I thought it would be fun to share past projects now and then on this blog, so here is my second installment...
Project: University of Minnesota - Duluth Weber Music Hall
While working on this project I was at a firm called SJA Architects, which is now part of
TKDA - see their project highlights page here. An exciting aspect of this project was it having been designed by the world famous architect César Pelli from Pelli Clark Pelli Architects in New Haven, CT USA. Pelli has designed many architectural wonders including...
the Petronas Towers in Malaysia. A few years after this project I was thrilled to get a sketch (of a different project) from Mr. Pelli to include in one of my architectural hand sketching books.
The project architect, from Pelli's office, was Anne Gatling Haynes. She was great to work with, and I think she liked us as well... even if we played a little prank on her towards the end of the project. As the firm of record, SJA Architects was responsible for the final construction documents. We sent Anne a set of drawings that had some modified exterior elevations! Enough lightning protection rods so the building looked like a porcupine and a few stadium-type light poles round the perimeter. The "Drawn By" field in the title block said I.M.Joker. From what I recall, she did not get to those pages until the weekend and get a little excited:)
I did not know this at the time, but Phil Bernstein, former VP at Autodesk, was working at Pelli's office during this time. Talking to him a few years later, he said he wrote the contract for this project. Small world! I wrote a post about Phil and Carol Bartz signing my first Revit book back in 2003: Carol Bartz and Phil Bernstein Signed my First Revit Book.
Normally, one would not expect a world famous architect to design a small 350-seat music hall. But, from what I understand, thanks to Chancellor Kathryn A. Martin's previous post as dean of the College of Fine and Applied Arts at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, she met many influential architects in association with projects and the school of architect, and personally ask and Pelli accepted the commission!
Building History:
I was at the university this past weekend, which is only 10 minutes from my house, and decided to take a few photos to share here. They are not in any particular order, other than exterior, interior and then the hall. Enjoy!
Lower enter... at level one.
Upper entry... at level two. The round vents to the right are from the music halls mechanical room. which where careful positioned/detailed next to the existing building and its windows.
Notice the narrow skylight along the ridge line of the dome roof. A unique feature in a music hall space.
Lots of brick vents... need to keep those cavities dry!
This dome offers many surprising views from around the campus as one is shown here.
BTW, here is one of those 7'-2" doors with a non-typically 2" head door frame in a masonry wall I talk about in this Enscape blog post: HOW TO REALITY CHECK YOUR PROJECT.
I helped detail this entry sign. It is clad with custom prefabricated 1/8" aluminum panels with all seams welded and ground flush and smooth.
The Interior
Door into adjacent mechanical room with high STC rating (55, if I recall correctly).
Dutch door at the coat check...
This small rehearsal space was also part of the project.
This project is nestled in between two existing buildings. Due to our cold climate, the 10,000 student campus is completely accessible without needing to go outdoors. So this beautiful building's foyer space, at both levels, is also a pass though for students during the day... as the next two images show.
One of the adjacent buildings is the Humanities Building which hoses the music programs including soundproof practice rooms. I had a few drum lessons here back in the day:)
The Hall
Again, notice the skylight, from the inside, in the next two iamges.
For a 16 year old building it is still looking very elegant!
Previous Past Projects:
For BIM Chapters updates, follow @DanStine_MN on Twitter or connect on LinkedIn
Project: University of Minnesota - Duluth Weber Music Hall
While working on this project I was at a firm called SJA Architects, which is now part of
TKDA - see their project highlights page here. An exciting aspect of this project was it having been designed by the world famous architect César Pelli from Pelli Clark Pelli Architects in New Haven, CT USA. Pelli has designed many architectural wonders including...
the Petronas Towers in Malaysia. A few years after this project I was thrilled to get a sketch (of a different project) from Mr. Pelli to include in one of my architectural hand sketching books.
The project architect, from Pelli's office, was Anne Gatling Haynes. She was great to work with, and I think she liked us as well... even if we played a little prank on her towards the end of the project. As the firm of record, SJA Architects was responsible for the final construction documents. We sent Anne a set of drawings that had some modified exterior elevations! Enough lightning protection rods so the building looked like a porcupine and a few stadium-type light poles round the perimeter. The "Drawn By" field in the title block said I.M.Joker. From what I recall, she did not get to those pages until the weekend and get a little excited:)
I did not know this at the time, but Phil Bernstein, former VP at Autodesk, was working at Pelli's office during this time. Talking to him a few years later, he said he wrote the contract for this project. Small world! I wrote a post about Phil and Carol Bartz signing my first Revit book back in 2003: Carol Bartz and Phil Bernstein Signed my First Revit Book.
Normally, one would not expect a world famous architect to design a small 350-seat music hall. But, from what I understand, thanks to Chancellor Kathryn A. Martin's previous post as dean of the College of Fine and Applied Arts at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, she met many influential architects in association with projects and the school of architect, and personally ask and Pelli accepted the commission!
"Before UMD, Martin was dean of the College of Fine and Applied Arts at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where her love of architecture grew." Duluth News Tribune September 7, 2018The small building, who's stage can accommodate up to 70 orchestra and 75 chorus members, required a unique space to properly handle the acoustic power. Thus, the dome shape was developed in conjunction with the accoustitian. This dome is covered with Italian made copper clad shingles. There were a lot of interesting wood panel details, as well as careful STC-rated doors and windows I remember being involved in.
Building History:
- General Contractor: Johnson Controls
- Electrical Installation: Thompson Electric
- Construction Start Date: May 2001
- Architect: Stanius Johnson
- Designer: Cesar Pelli
- Project Cost: $9,240,000
- New Space: 25,475 gross sq ft
- Completion Date: Fall 2002
"Weber Music Hall was named for Ron and Mary Ann Weber who were instrumental in the creation of the building. Both were students at the University, and have sponsored many Music Scholarship endowments at UMD."Photos
I was at the university this past weekend, which is only 10 minutes from my house, and decided to take a few photos to share here. They are not in any particular order, other than exterior, interior and then the hall. Enjoy!
Lower enter... at level one.
Upper entry... at level two. The round vents to the right are from the music halls mechanical room. which where careful positioned/detailed next to the existing building and its windows.
Notice the narrow skylight along the ridge line of the dome roof. A unique feature in a music hall space.
Lots of brick vents... need to keep those cavities dry!
I returned a few hours later, and the building looks different due the how the sunlight interacts with the multitude of surfaces as various angles. Compare the next image with the previous...
This dome offers many surprising views from around the campus as one is shown here.
BTW, here is one of those 7'-2" doors with a non-typically 2" head door frame in a masonry wall I talk about in this Enscape blog post: HOW TO REALITY CHECK YOUR PROJECT.
I helped detail this entry sign. It is clad with custom prefabricated 1/8" aluminum panels with all seams welded and ground flush and smooth.
The Interior
Door into adjacent mechanical room with high STC rating (55, if I recall correctly).
Dutch door at the coat check...
This small rehearsal space was also part of the project.
This project is nestled in between two existing buildings. Due to our cold climate, the 10,000 student campus is completely accessible without needing to go outdoors. So this beautiful building's foyer space, at both levels, is also a pass though for students during the day... as the next two images show.
One of the adjacent buildings is the Humanities Building which hoses the music programs including soundproof practice rooms. I had a few drum lessons here back in the day:)
The Hall
Again, notice the skylight, from the inside, in the next two iamges.
For a 16 year old building it is still looking very elegant!
Previous Past Projects:
For BIM Chapters updates, follow @DanStine_MN on Twitter or connect on LinkedIn