From:	Tom Blahak
Sent:	Monday, September 21, 2009 6:37 PM
To:	Don Orr; Susan Cousins
Subject:	FW: Comments on last night's presentation

Follow Up Flag:	Follow up
Flag Status:	Flagged

FYI.

Tom Blahak
Sr Project Manager
Boulder Valley Schools
office: (720) 561-5791  NOTE NEW NUMBER


-----Original Message-----
From: Patricia Kenney [mailto:Patricia.Kenney@Colorado.EDU]
Sent: Wednesday, September 16, 2009 9:54 AM
To: Pharamond, Anne-Claude
Cc: Tom Blahak; Scott Rodwin; Weber Williams, Anne
Subject: Comments on last night's presentation

Hello, I attended last night's meeting and want to thank the architects for 
their listening skills and patience throughout this sometimes difficult 
process. Although I thought the questions were handled well, I don't think the 
architects and contractors should be put in the position of defending or 
explaining decisions made by
BVSD-- I was disappointed that neither the school Principal nor someone from 
the District office in a decision-making capacity was there to respond to 
those issues.

That said, I think most of what is planned meets the criteria and restrictions 
that exist with this site in the best possible way. I do have some comments 
about design issues:

1) there was discussion about incorporating public or student art at the site-
-I would suggest that one needs to be careful with this, as art is in the eye 
of the beholder and there have been some issues in the past in Boulder with 
sculpture and murals in public places.
2) I still think the long two-story wall on the north side needs a little 
tweaking to make it look less like the back of a warehouse.  
One idea I had, was some design in the stucco panels. Although it is a 
different material (concrete, I think), the new CU Media Building has some 
"engraving" in the flat, white expanses on the east side of the building, and 
I have seen other things done (again with concrete) that increased the 
interest and detail in a monochromatic expanse.  
Again, I wouldn't want to see a mural or bright colors, but something that 
subtly mitigates the large, totally flat wall look.
3) It was said that the mechanical housing and I believe some roof material 
will be dark brown metal. I hope that the actual color will be selected to 
blend in with the backdrop of trees and flatirons--it is possible that a shade 
of green or taupe might be less visually disruptive than dark brown.

And, lastly, is it possible to produce an image and post it on the website 
that superimposes the plans on a aerial google map of the existing 
site/school? This will help people visualize where parts of the building, open 
spaces, and parking lots will be.

Thanks again for all your effort.

Patricia Kenney

On Jul 1, 2009, at 3:11 PM, Pharamond, Anne-Claude wrote:

> Patricia,
>
> The fill areas we have discussed do not change the building heights we 
> have discussed to date. The floor level for the new media center is 
> actually a little bit lower than the existing school floor level
> - so all elevations previously given to the DAT are relative to that. 
> The peak of the new Media Center roof should be slightly lower than 
> the exiting gym roof.
>
> The additional fill is needed to bring the site up to the bottom of 
> the building, if you will, not to raise it higher.
>
> Please let me know if you have any additional questions.
> Thanks.
>
> Anne Pharamond
>
> Bennett Wagner & Grody Architects PC
> 1301 Wazee Street . Suite 100      Denver . Colorado . 80204       
> 303.623.7323      fax 303.623.2836      www.bwgarchitects.com
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Tom Blahak [mailto:tom.blahak@bvsd.org]
> Sent: Wednesday, July 01, 2009 10:30 AM
> To: Scott Rodwin; Weber Williams, Anne; Pharamond, Anne-Claude
> Cc: Patricia.Kenney@Colorado.EDU
> Subject: FW: Question re Columbine construction
>
> Anne / Scott,
>
> Can you provide an answer to Patricia's question?
>
> Thank You.
>
> Tom Blahak
> Project Manager
> Boulder Valley Schools
> office: (303) 245-5791
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Patricia Kenney [mailto:Patricia.Kenney@Colorado.EDU]
> Sent: Friday, June 26, 2009 9:41 AM
> To: Tom Blahak
> Subject: Question re Columbine construction
>
> Hi Tom, I was at last night's meeting and have a question about the 
> grading of the site. They showed a graphic illustration of where the 
> site will need to be built up before construction. My question is, how 
> much will this affect the height of the building relative to the 
> current grade? For example, we have been told the Media Center will be 
> the same height as the current gym, but if the site is graded higher, 
> how much will that add to the effective height, there and to the east 
> where the two-story wing will be?
>
> Thanks for any clarification you can provide, and for your open and 
> helpful participation in the DAT meetings.
>
> Patty Kenney
> 2065 Glenwood Drive
> 303-440-4491