Trustees back IAST plans unanimously

University Trustees unanimously approved to continue developing the Institute of Advanced Science and Technology yesterday, marking the beginning of the end for Smith Hall. The overwhelming approval came after a thorough hour-long presentation -- showing the first two phases of the IAST -- by Bob Venturi, the chief architect of the project, and Vice President of Facilities Management Art Gravina. Although several Trustees had questions for administrators and Venturi about specific aspects of the building, the final vote was opposition-free. Phase One of the building would be rectangular in shape and five stories tall with dozens of windows all around the rose-colored brick structure. Phase Two will also involve changes to the Music and Morgan buildings, which are across Smith Walk from IAST, including an annex added on to the back of Morgan. Venturi said in both phases, the architects sought to form a continuum between Locust and Smith Walks through the same colored brick and gentle angles on the buildings. In his presentation, Venturi described the design as "relatively simple and rhythmic in composition." He also explained that his model was trying to avoid detracting from other buildings on Smith Walk. Venturi emphasized three main architectural themes: · He sought to "maintain a sense of community" by expanding the science complex to create a space in which people can easily interact with each other. He said he wanted the building to "create space and not just sit on [the land]." One way he would facilitate this would be to utilize courtyards around the facility. · He wanted to frame the view of the historic Furness Building by the specific placement of Phases One and Two. · He was very concerned that the total scheme of Smith Walk be "maintained," and that the IAST "blend" with both the modern style of the Chemistry Building, and the older architecture of the "early red campus." The proposal came from the Trustee's Design and Review Committee, which unanimously approved the continuing development of the IAST on Wednesday. But James Colgate, the Graduate and Professional Student Assembly representative who sat on the council for the Design and Review Committee, said yesterday that he did not received an invitation to the final meeting and suspected that it was because of his objections to the proposal. Colgate said that Director of Facilities Planning Titus Hewryk was responsible for sending invitations to all the members of the Design and Review Committee. "I have difficulty believing that his [Hewryk's] not sending me notice of this week's Design Review Committee meeting was merely a convenient oversight," Colgate said. Colgate, as the only student representative on the Design and Review Committee, holds voting status. Although Colgate did not attend the meeting, Hewryk said that "I as far as I can recollect, the last time he was there, he did not oppose [the design of the IAST]." Colgate refuted Hewryk's assertions, saying his addition to the committee was a recent one and that GAPSA did not have a student representative on the committee for some time. Colgate, who created his own model for the new IAST, said that while he commends Venturi on his ability to create spatial courtyards, he feels it is possible to fit the IAST more neatly into the Smith Walk scheme by maintaining more of the aesthetics. Colgate said that by continuing Phase One "linearly" along 34th Street, the view becomes one of a "big wall." "I don't think you want to emulate that," he said.

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