Competition Finale...January 31, 2004:
A great event for the Weston community - no "losers" in this group of architects--thank you so much for participating!
Thank you Weston Library for having just the right space for this event (Community Room addition). Winner!


PROLOGUE (1)
Entrance to Community Room at Weston Library @8:30am Saturday, January 31, 2004.  (Stanley Bleifeld sculpture above doorway.)

LEFT (2)
As the finale of the competition began early in the morning Saturday, the first group, "ARO" set up and presented their idea for Beineke Library-like structure (but lower in height), or perhaps more like the Whitney Museum?  Building wraps around auditorium/performance space--all elements of program appear "there."  Fairly close to budget plus Weston Education foundation pledge.

CENTER (3)
"Office dA" had two schemes--the "ultimate" product, with many special features, and a modest one.  Their presentation was extraordinarily complete and detailed;  "About Town" loved the depth of development displayed, links to other arcitecturally historic spaces.  Complex and subtle and very serious entry.

RIGHT (4)
"TEN Arquitectos" was, in my opinion, the most dramatic, inspiring, and symbolic of creating a NEW WESTON as a result of all the school-field projects.  Like Brasilia, the new-town capitol of that country, the architecture here by TEN makes a strong modern statement.  (A number of us in the audience REALLY, REALLY felt this was the right choice.)



Winning design:  Architectural Research Office ("ARO") of N.Y.C.
Stephen Cassell, Partner, ARO, did main presentation;  consultants on theatre design, acoustics present at Finale.


Street-scape.
Students, teachers and just plain walkers walk from southwest between high school and middle school...now in view...a new, really large sugar maple identifies that you have arrived at Weston's new building, part of our PERFORMING & CREATIVE ARTS CENTER!


Trees.
I thought "these guys got the feeling of Weston!"  BIG TREES COUNT FOR A LOT HERE!  (NOTE:  Model below in shadow is on display at Weston Library and will be at SPEAK UP (along with all boards and the other two architecture firms' drawings and models)...


The 450 seat auditorium.  Of the three competitors, ARO stayed closest to budget for the whole project of $4.3 million ($3.1 from Referendum).  Circulation from the several sources of traffic (i.e. from the W.M.S. wing closest to the project site;  from the pool area;  from the street and outside parking [community access]) most clearly defined here.

"Front" and "back" entries sheltered from outside by wrapping of low-angle, simple walls that are themselves an artistic element - having tiny "windows" in various spots (up high) letting in darts of light (like the Whitney Museum).  It is interesting to me that the buildings this solution called up to me were more subtly designed intellectual centers in America (Whitney, Menil Collection [pavillion look], and of course, Beineke Library at Yale.)