{"id":9110,"date":"2014-10-15T21:48:41","date_gmt":"2014-10-16T01:48:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.rochestersubway.com\/topics\/?p=9110"},"modified":"2015-03-03T09:03:58","modified_gmt":"2015-03-03T14:03:58","slug":"rochester-museum-and-science-center-expansion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rochestersubway.com\/topics\/2014\/10\/rochester-museum-and-science-center-expansion\/","title":{"rendered":"Rochester Museum and Science Center Expansion"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a title=\"The Rochester Museum and Science Center is planning an expansion to link the main museum building on East Avenue with the Strasenburgh Planetarium next door.\" rel=\"lightbox-rmscExpansion\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rochestersubway.com\/images\/photos\/rochester-museum-and-science-center-expansion-01.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"margin:0px 0px 6px 0px;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rochestersubway.com\/images\/photos\/rochester-museum-and-science-center-expansion-01.jpg\" border=\"1\" alt=\"The Rochester Museum and Science Center is planning an expansion to link the main museum building on East Avenue with the Strasenburgh Planetarium next door.\" width=\"100%\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<small><i>By <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rochestersubway.com\/topics\/2009\/01\/contributors\/#about-mike-governale\">Mike Governale<\/a><\/i><\/small><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.rmsc.org\/\" target=\"_new\">Rochester Museum and Science Center <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"position:relative; top:2px;\" alt=\"external link\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rochestersubway.com\/images\/icon_link.gif\" width=\"15\" height=\"11\" border=\"0\"><\/a> is planning an expansion to link the main museum building on East Avenue with the Strasenburgh Planetarium next door. The $7 million project will be paid for with the help of private donations and a variety of grants. <\/p>\n<p>Now, most people seem to agree the link between the two buildings is greatly needed. However,  since renderings were released last spring, the design aesthetic has been a hotly debated topic&#8230;<\/p>\n<p><!--more--><a title=\"How do you successfully connect two historic buildings, each with very distinct architectural styles? Many people feel that the proposed solution from Labella overpowers the planetarium.\" rel=\"lightbox-rmscExpansion\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rochestersubway.com\/images\/photos\/rochester-museum-and-science-center-expansion-02.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"margin:0px 0px 6px 0px;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rochestersubway.com\/images\/photos\/rochester-museum-and-science-center-expansion-02.jpg\" border=\"1\" alt=\"How do you successfully connect two historic buildings, each with very distinct architectural styles? Many people feel that the proposed solution from Labella overpowers the planetarium.\" width=\"100%\" \/><\/a><br \/>\nThe first design (above) put forth by RMSC and <a href=\"http:\/\/labellapc.com\/\" target=\"_new\">Labella Associates <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"position:relative; top:2px;\" alt=\"external link\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rochestersubway.com\/images\/icon_link.gif\" width=\"15\" height=\"11\" border=\"0\"><\/a> in the spring and again in September was turned down by the Preservation Board, saying the new addition was &#8220;too strong&#8221; and should not compete with the existing buildings, rather it should be as transparent as possible.<\/p>\n<p>So the question was, how to successfully connect two historic buildings, each with very distinct architectural styles, while not detracting from either of them. Labella went back to the drawing board and came back on October 1 with this&#8230;<\/p>\n<p><a title=\"Revised concept for the Rochester Museum and Science Center expansion after the Preservation Board denied Labella's first plan.\" rel=\"lightbox-rmscExpansion\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rochestersubway.com\/images\/photos\/rochester-museum-and-science-center-expansion-07.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"margin:0px 0px 6px 0px;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rochestersubway.com\/images\/photos\/rochester-museum-and-science-center-expansion-07.jpg\" border=\"1\" alt=\"Revised concept for the Rochester Museum and Science Center expansion after the Preservation Board denied Labella's first plan.\" width=\"100%\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a title=\"Revised concept for the Rochester Museum and Science Center expansion after the Preservation Board denied Labella's first plan.\" rel=\"lightbox-rmscExpansion\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rochestersubway.com\/images\/photos\/rochester-museum-and-science-center-expansion-08.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"margin:0px 0px 6px 0px;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rochestersubway.com\/images\/photos\/rochester-museum-and-science-center-expansion-08.jpg\" border=\"1\" alt=\"Revised concept for the Rochester Museum and Science Center expansion after the Preservation Board denied Labella's first plan.\" width=\"100%\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a title=\"Revised concept for the Rochester Museum and Science Center expansion after the Preservation Board denied Labella's first plan.\" rel=\"lightbox-rmscExpansion\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rochestersubway.com\/images\/photos\/rochester-museum-and-science-center-expansion-09.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"margin:0px 0px 6px 0px;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rochestersubway.com\/images\/photos\/rochester-museum-and-science-center-expansion-09.jpg\" border=\"1\" alt=\"Revised concept for the Rochester Museum and Science Center expansion after the Preservation Board denied Labella's first plan.\" width=\"100%\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a title=\"Revised concept for the Rochester Museum and Science Center expansion after the Preservation Board denied Labella's first plan.\" rel=\"lightbox-rmscExpansion\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rochestersubway.com\/images\/photos\/rochester-museum-and-science-center-expansion-10.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"margin:0px 0px 6px 0px;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rochestersubway.com\/images\/photos\/rochester-museum-and-science-center-expansion-10.jpg\" border=\"1\" alt=\"Revised concept for the Rochester Museum and Science Center expansion after the Preservation Board denied Labella's first plan.\" width=\"100%\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a title=\"Revised concept for the Rochester Museum and Science Center expansion after the Preservation Board denied Labella's first plan.\" rel=\"lightbox-rmscExpansion\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rochestersubway.com\/images\/photos\/rochester-museum-and-science-center-expansion-11.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"margin:0px 0px 6px 0px;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rochestersubway.com\/images\/photos\/rochester-museum-and-science-center-expansion-11.jpg\" border=\"1\" alt=\"Revised concept for the Rochester Museum and Science Center expansion after the Preservation Board denied Labella's first plan.\" width=\"100%\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a title=\"Revised concept for the Rochester Museum and Science Center expansion after the Preservation Board denied Labella's first plan.\" rel=\"lightbox-rmscExpansion\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rochestersubway.com\/images\/photos\/rochester-museum-and-science-center-expansion-05.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"margin:0px 0px 6px 0px;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rochestersubway.com\/images\/photos\/rochester-museum-and-science-center-expansion-05.jpg\" border=\"1\" alt=\"Revised concept for the Rochester Museum and Science Center expansion after the Preservation Board denied Labella's first plan.\" width=\"100%\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a title=\"Revised concept for the Rochester Museum and Science Center expansion after the Preservation Board denied Labella's first plan.\" rel=\"lightbox-rmscExpansion\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rochestersubway.com\/images\/photos\/rochester-museum-and-science-center-expansion-06.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"margin:0px 0px 6px 0px;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rochestersubway.com\/images\/photos\/rochester-museum-and-science-center-expansion-06.jpg\" border=\"1\" alt=\"Revised concept for the Rochester Museum and Science Center expansion after the Preservation Board denied Labella's first plan.\" width=\"100%\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Eh. I&#8217;d give it a &#8220;E&#8221; for effort. This one may not be detracting too much, but it certainly isn&#8217;t winning any awards for creativity.<\/p>\n<p><strike>I&#8217;m not sure if the Preservation Board has made it&#8217;s decision yet, as nothing has been posted to the City&#8217;s web site. But while we wait for a verdict, <\/strike><\/p>\n<p>Just posted to the City&#8217;s web site after this article was posted, the Preservation Board HAS decided to approve the building addition. The fountain, plaza, and restaurant will be decided on at a future meeting. In any event&#8230;<\/p>\n<p>I wanted you to see <a href=\"http:\/\/www.swbr.com\/sites\/default\/files\/case-studies\/RMSC%20Case%20Study_0.pdf\" target=\"_new\">a third concept <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"position:relative; top:2px;\" alt=\"external link\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rochestersubway.com\/images\/icon_link.gif\" width=\"15\" height=\"11\" border=\"0\"><\/a> from SWBR Architects.<\/p>\n<p>This one was NOT chosen by RMSC. Check it out&#8230;<\/p>\n<p><a title=\"Rochester Museum and Science Center expansion. Concept by SWBR Architects.\" rel=\"lightbox-rmscExpansion\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rochestersubway.com\/images\/photos\/rochester-museum-and-science-center-expansion-20.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"margin:0px 0px 6px 0px;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rochestersubway.com\/images\/photos\/rochester-museum-and-science-center-expansion-20.jpg\" border=\"1\" alt=\"Rochester Museum and Science Center expansion. Concept by SWBR Architects.\" width=\"100%\" \/><\/a><br \/>\nThe building appears to gently lift up out of the earth like tectonic plates! Very poetic \u2013\u00a0and quite brilliant. The gradually sloping green roof is almost undetectable from the front.<\/p>\n<p><a title=\"The building appears to gently lift up out of the earth \u2013\u00a0it's gradually sloping green roof is hardly noticeable from the front.\" rel=\"lightbox-rmscExpansion\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rochestersubway.com\/images\/photos\/rochester-museum-and-science-center-expansion-21.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"margin:0px 0px 6px 0px;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rochestersubway.com\/images\/photos\/rochester-museum-and-science-center-expansion-21.jpg\" border=\"1\" alt=\"The building appears to gently lift up out of the earth \u2013\u00a0it's gradually sloping green roof is hardly noticeable from the front.\" width=\"100%\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a title=\"A waterfall would cascade down the front of the incline, down from a giant multimedia screen.\" rel=\"lightbox-rmscExpansion\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rochestersubway.com\/images\/photos\/rochester-museum-and-science-center-expansion-24.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"margin:0px 0px 6px 0px;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rochestersubway.com\/images\/photos\/rochester-museum-and-science-center-expansion-24.jpg\" border=\"1\" alt=\"A waterfall would cascade down the front of the incline, down from a giant multimedia screen.\" width=\"100%\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a title=\"The view from above.\" rel=\"lightbox-rmscExpansion\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rochestersubway.com\/images\/photos\/rochester-museum-and-science-center-expansion-22.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"margin:0px 0px 6px 0px;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rochestersubway.com\/images\/photos\/rochester-museum-and-science-center-expansion-22.jpg\" border=\"1\" alt=\"The view from above.\" width=\"100%\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a title=\"The most indication that this is even a building at all comes when viewed from the rear.\" rel=\"lightbox-rmscExpansion\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rochestersubway.com\/images\/photos\/rochester-museum-and-science-center-expansion-23.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"margin:0px 0px 6px 0px;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rochestersubway.com\/images\/photos\/rochester-museum-and-science-center-expansion-23.jpg\" border=\"1\" alt=\"The most indication that this is even a building at all comes when viewed from the rear.\" width=\"100%\" \/><\/a><br \/>\nThe most indication that this is even a building at all comes when viewed from the rear.<\/p>\n<p>My guess is this concept may have been too pricey for RMSC. But as the adage goes, you get what you pay for. If I were king of the science museum, I would have sprung for this one.<\/p>\n<div style=\"font-size:9px;\">Thanks to Christopher Brandt and Matthew Denker for help with this post!<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By Mike Governale Rochester Museum and Science Center is planning an expansion to link the main museum building on East Avenue with the Strasenburgh Planetarium next door. The $7 million project will be paid for with the help of private donations and a variety of grants. Now, most people seem to agree the link between [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":10702,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_s2mail":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1573,4,242,114,79],"tags":[60,2844,119,91,2842,1643,53,1568,696,151,2412],"class_list":["post-9110","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-rochester-art-culture","category-opinion","category-rochester-destinations","category-rochester_news","category-urban_development","tag-architecture","tag-christopher-brandt","tag-development-plans","tag-east-avenue","tag-labella-associates","tag-matthew-denker","tag-rochester","tag-rochester-museum-and-science-center","tag-rochester-museums","tag-rochester-ny","tag-swbr-architects"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rochestersubway.com\/topics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9110","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rochestersubway.com\/topics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rochestersubway.com\/topics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rochestersubway.com\/topics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rochestersubway.com\/topics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9110"}],"version-history":[{"count":20,"href":"https:\/\/www.rochestersubway.com\/topics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9110\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10880,"href":"https:\/\/www.rochestersubway.com\/topics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9110\/revisions\/10880"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rochestersubway.com\/topics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10702"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rochestersubway.com\/topics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9110"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rochestersubway.com\/topics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9110"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rochestersubway.com\/topics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9110"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}