Lauinger Renovation?

[thebin]

A while back somewhere on this board I saw some renderings of a pretty massive and impressive overhaul of Lauinger. I got the impression this was not even close to being fast tracked- which at Gtown means decades rather than years. Now I see a pretty random photo of it recently posted to The Hoya but no useful story. Anyone know anything about this, if it is really going to happen, more renderings, etc?

www.thehoya.com/redesign-of-lau-1.2749028

[kchoya]

Feb 15, 2012 11:52:24 GMT -5 thebin said:

A while back somewhere on this board I saw some renderings of a pretty massive and impressive overhaul of Lauinger. I got the impression this was not even close to being fast tracked- which at Gtown means decades rather than years. Now I see a pretty random photo of it recently posted to The Hoya but no useful story. Anyone know anything about this, if it is really going to happen, more renderings, etc?

www.thehoya.com/redesign-of-lau-1.2749028

The effect I heard they're going for is "a 'Living Room' for Future Generations of Hoyas." ;D

The photo you linked to looks like part of an expansion into the parking lot at the back of the library.

[RusskyHoya]

Here are the renderings: www.kmwarch.com/project.aspx?cat=d&id=109

The renovation and expansion of Lauinger was in the 2000 campus plan and has been carried over into the current plan. I've heard rumors that it was supposed to be next on the list after the construction of Regents Hall but was jumped by the IAC, but I don't have any definitive information about it.

[thebin]

Thanks. What is Regents Hall? Is that the science center?

Those renderings are spectacular. Looks like they would almost double the size of the library, pretty badly needed I'd add.

[PhillyHoya]

Feb 15, 2012 15:21:55 GMT -5 thebin said:

Thanks. What is Regents Hall? Is that the science center?

Yes

[DFW HOYA]

My understanding was that 1) the IAC and 2) the Dahlgren renovation were the only major on-campus building projects on the forseeable calendar, with MSF as a one-off because it was previously approved and not an interior project.

The drawing as envisioned would require lots of hurdles, as it would involve knocking out some of the Brutalist concrete facing the river, and doubtless engender some sort of very lengthy, very litigious architecture review which would follow. (Brutalism is rightly despised by the general public but there is a preservationist movment among architects to preserve any and all Brutalist works.)

Here are more drawings, dated 2009. As it is not in the campaign priorities, this does not suggest any imminent movement.

www.kmwarch.com/project.aspx?cat=a&id=109

[thebin]

It also frankly looks like it would cost well into 9 figures.