I wouldnt call them unattractive. The sides that face euclid are nice. And the inside siding will be hidden by the new buildings

 

So the student residences will line Euclid Ave at that point and have essentially zero setback.

Great!

I couldn't figure out how they were going to build on this land 'til now.

I thought they were going to just extend the other side of Euclid Commons down to Euclid Ave. (how the Prospect side looks).

 

Here is how it will look on euclid

 

Unattractive is being kind.

Is that real brick? 

Is that real brick? 

 

i believe it is

Does Cleveland State still plan on doing this to the main classroom building. It sure would make it more connected and look better from Euclid Avenue.

 

I could be wrong but I believe that is the Chester side of the CSU campus and it already has been done.

Yeah your right that is chester. I dont know how I missed that. But on their master plan it shows something like that on the euclid side

I know they enclosed the entire "breezeway" area underneath the building from Chester to Euclid, slightly remodeled the Euclid entrance, and added another glass entrance off of the courtyard by the clock tower.  Other than that, I think they are done with the remodeling the MC.

If you look at the master plan it looks like they plan on doing something else on euclid though. Page 20

 

www.clevelandstate.edu/offices/architect/masterplan.pdf

 

 

Anyone know what's happening with the North Campus Neighborhood (Varsity Village) project?  It doesn't appear that the RFP was ever concluded.

 

http://www.clevelandstate.edu/offices/architect/projects/northcampus/

I'm not totally sure what that would be.  But looking at the other projects that are colored purple, I'm guessing it's not anything imminent.  More of a long-term blueprint.

That kind of looks like what they did with the Euclid side of the law school.  I really liked what that project did for the interaction of the law building with Euclid.

yeah that was what i was thinking. it would be a good addition

another view from euclid

 

Well, we have moved our offices to the second floor of 1938 Euclid.  Here is the view from my cubicle.

 

 

They have started concrete work for the plaza next door.

 

 

 

 

As previously mentioned, Jimmy John's is in and Moe's construction has started.  We still have 4,300 sf left for retail or office so let me know if you know anyone interested.  It's going to look real nice come spring once the plaza is done.

Whats being done in that empty lot?

Long term plans are for a pedestrian walkway to connect CSU's main campus to the Wolstein Center.  Parking lot behind is not owned by CSU, so right now it will be turned into a public plaza/park with patios for the restaurant tenants in our building.

Is this what they refer to as the "19th Street spine"

New Student Center and Julka Hall at Cleveland State University add life to Euclid Avenue

Published: Sunday, October 17, 2010, 9:00 AM

Steven Litt, The Plain Dealer Steven Litt, The Plain Dealer

 

The buildings big visual signature consists of glassy facades framed by yellowish panels of glass-fiber-reinforced concrete arranged to create strong vertical stripes. The panels give the building a snazzy, assertive look and make a handsome contribution to Euclid Avenue.

 

http://blog.cleveland.com/architecture/2010/10/new_student_center_and_julka_h.html

Weird.  Litt douses the Student Center with unwavering praise, but (kind of) takes the Education building to task.  The consensus on here is quite the opposite, IIRC.

Yeah, I thought Litt was going to tear the student center apart.  Surprise, surprise. 

there was something in the csu newspaper a couple of weeks ago that said it was awarded and is supposed to begin next summer.  Just phase 1 though

Weird.  Litt douses the Student Center with unwavering praise, but (kind of) takes the Education building to task.  The consensus on here is quite the opposite, IIRC.

Litt's philosophy is basically that the further from Cleveland, the better the architect.  He likes Gwathmey but can only tolerate LBBJ because they are from New York versus Ohio.  He didn't like the old building, because the architect was local.  And he loves the fact that an architecture firm from Norway that is designing a building at BGSU.  The merits of the buildings themselves don't always matter to him.  He should ask does it function well, provide ammenities that students want, fit into the context of it's surroundings, was it within budget/schedule, etc.  But instead it's more important to him that a famous name from somewhere else designed it.

^Ouch, I don't he's quite that bad.

 

I still haven't seen the building in person since it's been 100% finished and occupied, but the front lawn of the new student center looks ridiculous, IMHO.  Maybe CSU is waiting for a donor to fund a hardscape front plaza.

at least it is more active than it was before. There are always a lot of students walking down euclid avenue and using the student centers front door.

This area is getting very active with pedestrians well into the late evenings. Great to see. A trip along Euclid from East 40th to Public Square at just after dark (especially this time of year when it gets dark earlier) is very encouraging to see all of the activity.

From the Downtown Cleveland Alliance Fall newsletter:

 

"Next Spring construction will begin on 320 new housing units on its North Campus.  The new $40 million North Campus neighborhood will be a mixed-use neighborhood that will feature housing aimed at graduate students, faculty members, staff and young professionals.  The buildings along Chester between East 21st and East 24th Streets will have retail space at street level and apartments above.  There is even the possibility of a new CSU baseball field."

 

Sounds like the north residential complex is moving forward nicely.  And with regards to the new dorms on Euclid, also from the DCA newsletter:

 

"CSU's $500 million master plan envisions building enough dorms and apartments to triple the number of students living on or near the campus.  Currently, 900 students live in CSU's residence halls.  Phase 1 of the Euclid Commons dorms were completed this past summer and welcomed 330 new undergraduate students, while Phase 2will be completed a year from now and will double the amount of students living on campus."

Wow, I had no idea the north campus was getting started so soon!  Keep on pushing north and west, CSU! 

This is great news!  This area will look completely different within the next couple of years- with people on the street, this section of downtown will have a nice vibe to it.

CSU could be huge for the future of downtown, the more residents mean more people walking around downtown and needing places to shop. Euclid avenue has already seen a huge increase of pedestrians in that area, now chester seems like they could see a growth

CSU could be will be huge for the future of downtown, the more residents mean more people walking around downtown and needing places to shop. Euclid avenue has already seen a huge increase of pedestrians in that area, now chester seems like they could see a growth

 

I fixed that for you.

Does this mean CSU reached a deal to move the art department to the Middough (spelling) Building?  I was under the impression that those negotiations hit a snag.  Can though still do Varsity Village if the art building stays where it is?

CSU could be huge for the future of downtown, the more residents mean more people walking around downtown and needing places to shop. Euclid avenue has already seen a huge increase of pedestrians in that area, now chester seems like they could see a growth

 

And hopefully their experience in college will be good enough to make them want to stay downtown when they're done.

CSU could be huge for the future of downtown, the more residents mean more people walking around downtown and needing places to shop. Euclid avenue has already seen a huge increase of pedestrians in that area, now chester seems like they could see a growth

 

And hopefully their experience in college will be good enough to make them want to stay downtown when they're done.

 

If so, we need to get building

Some wooden framework is up on the only new dorm that is not directly on Euclid

Weird.  Litt douses the Student Center with unwavering praise, but (kind of) takes the Education building to task.  The consensus on here is quite the opposite, IIRC.

Litt's philosophy is basically that the further from Cleveland, the better the architect.  He likes Gwathmey but can only tolerate LBBJ because they are from New York versus Ohio.  He didn't like the old building, because the architect was local.  And he loves the fact that an architecture firm from Norway that is designing a building at BGSU.  The merits of the buildings themselves don't always matter to him.  He should ask does it function well, provide ammenities that students want, fit into the context of it's surroundings, was it within budget/schedule, etc.  But instead it's more important to him that a famous name from somewhere else designed it.

 

If you look on the websites of any great architecture firm, their projects are all over the world, not just centered around one city. Architecture has evolved to the point where location is almost a non-factor. Especially in the United States. Cleveland needs better architecture. If there isn't enough design talent or enough design go-getters in the area, it MUST look outside and start letting our firms compete with the other firms in the world. Trust me our firms seek (and get) plenty of opportunities outside of Cleveland, too. KA architecture completed a monsterous urban shopping center in the heart of San Fran, and WRL has completed buildings all over the southwest. They even have offices in NY, Phoenix, Washington, and LA, but are of course based here in Cleveland. It is better for the city as a whole when we pick the right architects for the right projects in order to get better design, which can come from any architectural office in the world.

 

That being said, I still dont really like the student center ;)

If you look at the master plan it looks like they plan on doing something else on euclid though. Page 20

 

www.clevelandstate.edu/offices/architect/masterplan.pdf

 

 

Thanks for posting that. I like just about everything in it except one thing: the looping ramp coming off Chester to I-90 WB. That kills just about any chance of developing the north side of Chester in the vicinity of I-90. Why not make the traffic go north on East 23rd to get on I-90 WB? That will slow down the traffic and open up the north of Chester for development (including possibly a cap over the highway). I hope this will be revised.

Does anyone know what the anticipated date of completion is for the second phase of Euclid Commons?

I think they would like them to be ready by next fall

The second phase of Euclid Commons is scheduled for completion in August before students move-in for the Fall 2011 term.

Thanks guys!

 

 

Thanks for the pics! So how many units will be in the street-fronting portion? And will there be ground-floor retail/commercial along the sidewalk?

Don't forget, there is always the CSU webcam looking at the current dorm construction:

 

http://www.csuohio.edu/offices/architect/webcam/studenthouse.html

Update on the plaza. They are coving the exposed brick on the side of the building

 

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot?  I thought we were trying to get rid of the faux facade skins around this City  :x

I also prefer exposed brick. Me no likey faux facades.

My understanding is that the brick being covered up was in pretty bad shape.

May be wrong but it looks more like a design feature and it is only covering part of the brick.