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Architect Resigns in Protest over UCSB Mega-Dorm

independent.com

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Re: Architect Resigns in Protest over UCSB Mega-Dorm

#181

Post by banannaise »

phatboyslim wrote: post #139
theroqwpeo wrote: post #75

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Reviews of this residence: https://www.veryapt.com/ApartmentReview-a7222-munger-graduat...

I had the same initial reaction as most here when reading the article. This data has caused me to think more critically about the concept, thank you.

A lot of the reviews amount to "well at least it's cheap" which is not really a ringing endorsement. When you build living spaces that are terrible to live in, they become inexpensive relative to the horror that is the current rental market.

But that seems like a bad solution to rent inflation.

Re: Architect Resigns in Protest over UCSB Mega-Dorm

#182

Post by noyeastguy »

Munger obviously cares for young people and education if you read or listen to him. I feel like the people complaining about economical living conditions are going to turn around and propose erasing college debt, without ever addressing the cause. This is one way to make college more affordable and allow students a better chance of meeting people.

Re: Architect Resigns in Protest over UCSB Mega-Dorm

#183

Post by proteal »

I think I understand where they’re coming from by designing such a large, on-campus dorm. There’s limited space at UCSB to physically house kids nearby. If you look at the map, there’s only one walkable community to UCSB and that consists of rented single family homes (2,000 sqft shacks) that you cram 20-30 students in. I would argue that living in the dystopian mega dorm might make more sense for lots of students who want to be on campus but can’t afford nearby rentals. However, after living in a windowless apartment during lockdown, I would strongly suggest they revise their proposal. The toll on mental health that no natural light takes is an insidious threat and should be avoided.

Re: Architect Resigns in Protest over UCSB Mega-Dorm

#184

Post by raldi »

giarc wrote: post #122
mindcrime wrote: post #91

From my point-of-view as a former firefighter, I would say this: A building meant to house 4500 students, with only two entrances? There's a word for that: deathtrap. Building this is setting UCSB up to be the site of the next Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire[1], Station Nightclub fire[2], or Hamlet Chicken Processing Plant fire[3]. At a first glance, based only on the information provided in the article, I'd say tha…

As point out elsewhere, 2 entrances doesn't mean 2 egress points. There are likely lots of one way doors out of the building.

I count ten emergency stairwells on every floor: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FC1jlGjVEAIvAG8?format=jpg

Re: Architect Resigns in Protest over UCSB Mega-Dorm

#185

Post by londons_explore »

hnxs wrote: post #133
londons_explore wrote: post #92

I'm going to depart from the norm here... And announce I'd actually like to live in that building. I really value communal shared space, and very few types of housing provide it - usually dedicating 90%+ of space to individuals to live a gloomy existence mostly alone requiring Netflix for company. Shared space should be 'tiered' - Ie. Personal space, space shared with near neighbors, space shared with a wider neighbo…

The toilet:person ratio is 1:4 It’s like sharing a bathroom with 4 people, but worse no thanks

You know most offices have a much worse ratio...?

Re: Architect Resigns in Protest over UCSB Mega-Dorm

#186

Post by falcor84 »

gt565k wrote: post #28

Glad he had the balls to step down and call them out. The other committee members and people in charge of the project should be embarrassed as they failed to represent the best needs of the university and its students. Windowless dorms, crazy 97 year old billionaire amateur architect and a bunch of corrupt university staff and committee members who would do anything to save a few bucks. What could go wrong? Humanity…

Not to dispute any of your arguments, I'm really surprised at your referring to the consideration of whether to accept a gift of $200M as "save a few bucks".

Re: Architect Resigns in Protest over UCSB Mega-Dorm

#187

Post by yaacov »

vmception wrote: post #168
ajross wrote: post #142

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Surely building codes mandate a comprehensive evacuation design. There are clearly aesthetic complaints many people will have here, but realistically safety shouldn't be a problem. This is simply not a "large" building by skyscraper standards, and those can be built safely. Honestly... I think this is very much a taste thing. Is it so weird that I don't think this looks so bad at all? Yeah, yeah, no windows. But dens…

False dilemma. They could make the first floor have food courts and gyms, while having windows or simply not having a 97 year old billionaire donor dictate taste with zero input just because money. You are assuming a lot about whether the safety designs exist, or are adequate .

> just because money

Money is really important, probably the single most important constraint for state universities.

Re: Architect Resigns in Protest over UCSB Mega-Dorm

#188

Post by mindcrime »

ldoughty wrote: post #158
mindcrime wrote: post #101

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Which history shows us tend to be locked or barricaded when they're not supposed to be, or obstructed in some other way, or otherwise unavailable. Sure, there are other egresses available in principle. Hell, you can sledge-hammer your way through a wall in a pinch. But in any practical sense? Having two primary ingress/egress points is a horrible idea.

I can't recall the last time I saw a fire exit blocked... Feels like one of those things people keep repeating because of a handful of newsworthy events a year...

Feels like one of those things people keep repeating because of a handful of newsworthy events a year...

People keep talking about that handful of newsworthy events because we don't want there to be more of them. Or at least we want them to become less frequent, and less deadly when they do occur.

Re: Architect Resigns in Protest over UCSB Mega-Dorm

#189

Post by rootusrootus »

mindcrime wrote: post #101
macinjosh wrote: post #70

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Entrances != Egresses. Do you ever notice those doors that say emergency exit only?

Which history shows us tend to be locked or barricaded when they're not supposed to be, or obstructed in some other way, or otherwise unavailable. Sure, there are other egresses available in principle. Hell, you can sledge-hammer your way through a wall in a pinch. But in any practical sense? Having two primary ingress/egress points is a horrible idea.

My office building is inspected a couple times a year. They flip out if you get anywhere near blocking the operation of an interior fire door (like auto closing metal doors), much less egress doors. Hell, until recently they wouldn't even let us have fans because of the possibility it could impact the design of the air handling for the building effectively removing smoke.

So I think maybe we've progressed beyond the bad old days of the early 20th century.

Re: Architect Resigns in Protest over UCSB Mega-Dorm

#190

Post by epistasis »

colinmhayes wrote: post #127
gt565k wrote: post #28

Glad he had the balls to step down and call them out. The other committee members and people in charge of the project should be embarrassed as they failed to represent the best needs of the university and its students. Windowless dorms, crazy 97 year old billionaire amateur architect and a bunch of corrupt university staff and committee members who would do anything to save a few bucks. What could go wrong? Humanity…

What I don't understand is how this shithole costs so much? 1.5 billion for 4,500 residents comes out to 333,333 per resident. It feels like they could probably build normal dorms for that price.

Sadly, that's not over the top when it comes to institutional building. Particularly in Californian costs.
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