Live data from Hacker News

Architect Resigns in Protest over UCSB Mega-Dorm

independent.com

11–20 of 700 posts

Re: Architect Resigns in Protest over UCSB Mega-Dorm

#13

"The idea was conceived by 97-year-old billionaire-investor turned amateur-architect Charles Munger, who donated $200 million toward the project with the condition that his blueprints be followed exactly." Absolutely amazing

And the university has to stump up the other $1,300 million.

And the investor will probably be dead before anybody can see the effect on students.

Re: Architect Resigns in Protest over UCSB Mega-Dorm

#14

Are there no laws against this in the U.S? In Norway there are building codes that prohibits bedrooms without a real window.

It varies from place to place but, typically for a room in a single-family home to be considered a bedroom, it needs 2 egress points, the second usually being a window. I imagine similar codes are in place for multi-unit buildings.

This proposed building has 2 entrances for 4000 people. I cannot imagine it will pass fire code, or could effectively be evacuated in an emergency. Astounding that someone thought it was a good idea.

Re: Architect Resigns in Protest over UCSB Mega-Dorm

#15
post #3

Interesting collision of the idea with the covid era. During an outbreak you’d want students to have a private airspace to go to and the possibility of ventilation. Update: from another comment, Munger designed a similar building in Michigan. It has great reviews! But, one of the top ones was “great until pandemic”. Adding this to clarify that, contra other comments, I don’t necessarily think Munger was mistaken. But…

No kidding! We just went through 2 years where this building would've been the absolute worst to grapple with. Imagine those 4,500 being told to sit out the pandemic in their rooms.

How can they miss the problem when the worst case scenario for some idiotic design like this happened last year!

Re: Architect Resigns in Protest over UCSB Mega-Dorm

#16

"The idea was conceived by 97-year-old billionaire-investor turned amateur-architect Charles Munger, who donated $200 million toward the project with the condition that his blueprints be followed exactly." Absolutely amazing

>with the condition that his blueprints be followed exactly.

How is this even allowed from an engineering perspective? Unless his design and blueprints are perfect, which I highly doubt, it’s insane that no changes could be made. Is this common practice in architecture? I’ve never seen anything like it.

Re: Architect Resigns in Protest over UCSB Mega-Dorm

#17
No windows? No natural light whatsoever? That's gotta have a serious negative impact on the mental health (and possibly sleep patterns?) of the students.

Not to mention that in case of a fire, all the people rushing to the two exits will get into a stampede, and those who remain in their rooms will suffocate, with no windows to open for fresh air or to be rescued from?

This is the most dystopian thing I've heard of in a while.

Re: Architect Resigns in Protest over UCSB Mega-Dorm

#18

"The idea was conceived by 97-year-old billionaire-investor turned amateur-architect Charles Munger, who donated $200 million toward the project with the condition that his blueprints be followed exactly." Absolutely amazing

We really need a way to protect ourselves against what the rich are doing to the rest of us.
Post reply on HN