Lisa Kelly and I were privileged to get back on campus earlier today to catch up with noted architect and Irish alum, Jim McManus, to get a professional’s take on the Campus Crossroads project. You may recall Lisa’s photographic essay from earlier in the year. Well, take it from us, things are really moving along!
With completion expected in November of 2017, the first thing Jim stressed to us is that we’re going to start seeing a lot more work going on inside the stadium. “Most of what has been done to date is what we architects call ‘outside work,'” he explained. “This was a brilliant decision on the part of the project professionals and the University, because by completing the things like walls and floors first, you have a place to put the chairs and chalkboards and all the trappings of a modern classroom or whatever the hell these buildings will wind up being.” “The challenge, had they decided to do it from the ‘inside’ out, would have been keeping the carpets and drapery dry in our notoriously rainy, South Bend summers.”
The Duncan Student Center is going to be spectacular. Named for the founder of the Duncan Donut empire, this new “student life center” will feature, you guessed it, a bunch of coffee shops and munchkin machines. Like one on for each of the forty interview rooms.
If you think that’s impressive, though, the real key to the thing is the sustainability. Again, Jim McManus: “whenever and wherever possible, the planners have attempted to utilize recycled or repurposed materials on this project. That’s why, for example, most of the vaulting in the South Building is made from shredded 2013 National Champions t-shirts and ballcaps. Similarly, they’ve just received clearance to start cladding some of the buttresses in Corbett Family Hall with 2016 ACC Championship banners and bumperstickers, all ground down to their essence of glue, and regret.”
Continuing this theme, we’re very excited to report that a lot of the planned surfacing and finishing work has been scrapped in favor of leaving open pits. “With the Department of Anthropology close by, the leadership felt that leaving open earth in which to dig, scrape and whatever the hell else anthropologists do would be an excellent visual cue to visitors and students alike. There are now plans to partner with the Potowatomi Zoo to have them let some spider monkeys roam around and see if they’ll start using tools.”
Noting that the Blue Gold game is set to kick in just a couple of weeks, Jim hinted at more surprises to come. “Expect a lot of changes on April 16. First, I understand that the game itself is going to be adapted beyond what accommodations were made last year. They’re going to play in the construction site itself. Coach Kelly recognizes that all the jersey barriers and sand piles are basically ready-made obstacle courses, so he and Coaches Sanford and VanGorder have decided to incorporate those into the experience of the game itself. Coach VanGorder especially was a huge fan of American Gladiators, so he’s installing some tennis ball cannons throughout the site and you can expect to see the gold team and blue teams competing with each other to get through the obstacles without getting popped!”
If what we saw is any indication, fans arriving for the game, and for the 2016 season, are in for a treat!
- Finding Flaws in a Diamond: Clemson’s Rushing Offense - December 17, 2018
- Why Nobody Will Cotton to Notre Dame - December 3, 2018
- Irish Finish Regular Season Perfect 12-0 - November 26, 2018