Development in Over-the-Rhine: SCPA
While we're on the subject of garages, concert hall renovations and other developments planned for OTR, Covington reader JT Spence reminds me that the new School for Creative and Performing Arts is in the works and he's concerned about its architecture. Spence, a Xavier University prof who trained as a community planner sends these thoughts about design and preserving old buildings instead of tearing them down:
"Supporters of the new school appear to make reference to a 'lack of space' and problems with 'leaking ceilings' as the primary motivations behind supporting the new school. While a lack of space seems legitimate, there would appear to be a large amount of open space on the existing site to create opportunities for expanding the facility - and the leaking ceilings and sheets being used for window dressing would seem to say more about a lack of investment. When the SCPA is sold for new condo development, there will most likely be an article talking about the wonderful architecture and upgraded facilites.
"As to the new school; what an injustice the drawings do for trying to capture a building that is billed as the new home for Cincinnati's Arts School; blank walls along the streetfront, immense vacant space in the interior, protruding support beams limiting access to wall space all add to the picture of a structure more oriented to use as a transportation justice center than an arts center. The whole feel of the building seems to say 'don't care, don't get close... there is no warmth here.' It is another modern industrialized building with no character related to the region or history. One can only imagine what the building will do for the sight lines of the existing neighborhood. It looks cheap and built for the moment.
"It is a shame our society seems constantly steered toward the momentary lust for the new and sparkling at the cost of the old and established. Although I understand that the arts push the envelope for what is good design, the new SCPA building doesn't appear to meet any of the standards that are typical of good design."
JT Spence, PhD, AICP
Comments?
posted by Janelle Gelfand at 5:29 PM
1 Comments:
at 2/12/2007 02:35:00 PM 
Anonymous said...
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Post a Comment*While Dr. Spence makes some fine points he misses the major problems with the current school. You see, I am a current student at SCPA, and the fact is that the building does not function well anymore. For example; this year for the first year in a long time the school held its major musical production in its own theatre (because of a lack of funding and some problems with a sponsor…support school funding!) and the fact is that the school’s theatre was not functional as a modern theatre. The school was not built as an art school, and the auditorium reflects this. What is effected is the size of productions, the size of casts and the number of seats the school can sell (which is another source of revenue). The Tech. Theatre dept. can not use everyone in house, so some kids miss out on their area of study, the cast must be smaller, and the kids who design sets do not have the space to do a large set.
Dr. Spence makes good points about changing the streetscape in the Washington Park Area, but from what I can tell, Washington Park at the moment is filled with homeless people and drug users and a change would be a good thing. He doesn’t mention the change that an addition would make to the Pendleton Neighborhood, which is a much more historic feeling area with wonderful 19th century town homes by adding a large addition on the north side of the current SCPA. It is just not well thought out.
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