(09-25-2020 12:19 PM)JMaddy Wrote:  

(09-24-2020 06:21 PM)Longhorn Wrote:  

(09-24-2020 04:18 PM)GaryMatthews Wrote:  

(09-24-2020 02:42 PM)JMU Wrote:  

(09-24-2020 12:34 PM)jmufbs Wrote:  We are going to need some some more " bling" than just those purple lights to cover up those god awful extruding tubes for the HVAC system. why not build a better screen on that side ?

Agree. when Longhorn brought it up a few months ago, I thought they would cover them up, disguise them. Not sure why they would build something so non-aesthetically pleasing on a $100 million facility. Terrible visual.

They do look bad from the cameras which are placed higher up, but does anyone know if you can still see them from ground level?

You can’t really see them from ground level.

I asked about the exposed HVAC pipes with my brother. He’s an architect who has been primarily involved with sports architecture for the last 30+ years, with roles as a managing architect or designer of 24+ major stadia to his credit, including Coors Field, Enron (now Minute Maid Park), the U. of Houston new FB stadium. Most recently he was involved with the new LA Rams FB stadium.

I expressed my thoughts about the ungainly look of the exposed ductwork, and his response was it was likely a cost-cutting decision. He seemed to think Populous (formerly HOK Sport...which he once worked for) was the designer, and extending the outer wall would have been considered but rejected because of the cost.

I then asked about at least painting the damn pipes (there is still unpainted aluminum, or whatever the exposed shiny silver-looking metal is), and again he thought it likely the ductwork that wasn’t painted by now would stay that way because of cost.

In my experience in buying several new built homes in my life, I can say with confidence that builders will try to cut costs where they can to meet certain targets and it is up to the buyer to nitpick during walkthroughs to make sure what was contractually promised is actually what is delivered.

Longhorn you may want to volunteer your unsolicited opinions to those responsible for taking delivery if you have that kind of relationship with the facilities/athletics people. If they say that the pipes were supposed to be painted and need to be, then they will be. If they say nothing, you can rest assured it will not be painted. Sucks that you have to point out stupid things like that but this is often how it goes with construction people.

To elaborate on the ductwork that’s not painted (based on my brother’s response) the unpainted HVAC components would be very expensive to paint (protect). It’s not just a honey-do project like you or I might approach it...head to Lowe’s, but a good grade primary and paint and slap it on. I was frankly shocked that his estimate of painting/protecting the exposed ductwork could run six-figures, and then there would be continuing upkeep. Insane, or at least I thought so, but my brother knows what he’s talking about, so I really couldn’t disagree. He’s 61 and been building stadiums all over the world since his firm in San Antonio partnered with HOK sport to build the Alamodome.

My guess is exactly what has been suggested...the decision makers at JMU were presented with choices as to what to keep and what to cut. It sounds like the decision was to keep the inside goodies, and save on the outside stuff.

Hopefully, as JMU moves forward (and budgets allow), additional funding might be found to address the design ugliness of the exposed ductwork. I know with the Forbes Center (before this project the most expensive single building built on campus) additional funding was allocated to fix certain design flaws, even after 18-24 months after the Forbes Center was occupied.