[PeterParker]

I found this while doing a search on Liberty University Buildings...it's from an architectural site, JEA Architecture, from what appears to be a previously commissioned site plan prior to the ericsson acquisition. In the photo, the Vines is depicted in the far left of the picture and a version of the new DeMoss building is in the far right. It is interesting to note what may have been in the works at one time.




http://www.jea-architects.com/projects.html

[El Scorcho]

Yes, I believe that was the original plan for the student center.

[thepostman]

wow that would've made the campus look so much better....sometimes i wonder if the ericson building is just a big curse....

[El Scorcho]

Why in the world would it be a curse?!? We got over 900,000 square feet of space for FREE. It costs much less per square foot for us to renovate Campus North than it does to start new construction. Don't forget that we've only had that facility for short of three years now. It takes time to convert that place and so far we're moving along quite nicely.

[thepostman]

i know...that is why sometimes i think...then i realize that its in its infant stages at the moment....i am not a fan of walking through a warehouse to get to classes...but maybe in time the buliding will look better then it does....I wonder when/if they are ever going to do anything to the outside of the building and make it look halfway decent

[ATrain]

It'll be spruced up in time Postman...right now, its whats on the inside thats most important.

[PeterParker]

I hear what he's saying; I would put it this way, the low-cost space is quite an asset in this transitional second growth phase of LU**, yet kind of an albatross in the design area as somewhat of an "ugly" space that forces you to adapt your orginial architectural aesthetics to meet the space instead of adapting the space to fit your desired space/design site layout.

It's kind of like when you get that gift from your Grandma, it meets the need and your thankful for it because it definitely helps you, but it's not exactly in sync with your specific purpose/style of what you originally wanted.

The space is definitely an asset and was a fortuitous gift for the school; the space is kind of a hodge podge of stuff at the moment. But perhaps, in the future, if they can raise a considerable endowment, they can go back and revisit the design of the site/space and redevelop it in the third growth phase of the university to a more exacting aesthetic standard.


(**I would say that 1971-2001 was probably the first phase--the start-up burn phase of an organization, 2001-? would be that second phase in a business where they're in the catch 22 of needing the consumers' dollars to create the product, but then needing more product to meet the increased demands, and the third phase (stabilization phase) will be where they are out of survival mode [que endowment overature] and then can go back and retroactively examine the "practical use" areas and redevelop them up to aesthetic, institutional standards.)

[absturgill]

I have had the opportunity to walk through the Ericcson property when it was first purchased by LU during one of the Easter morning services. What I saw then to what I saw at Homecoming was incredible. LU has only had that property in their control for a little over 2 years. Give them about 3 or 4 more years and I'll betcha the interior and exterior will be complete. I was blown away by what had been done so far. That's my 2 cents

[El Scorcho]

Yes, I was in the first group of LU folks to walk through the building. At the time, the plant was still in full swing. Sanmina was still here. Ericsson was still here. A LOT has happened to this building already. There's still a lot that will happen, but what's happned around here (given how LU normally works) has been nothing short of amazing.

[thepostman]

I will say this, i am very impressed with how fast the inside is coming along....and i know that is the first priority...I guess sometimes when i go to visit other colleges and see how nice the buildings and landscaping are I wish liberty could be more like that...I know it will continue to get better in time....i guess human nature kicks in and you just want everything...I actually really do love liberty and am glad i have come here...can't wait to leave, but glad i'm here, ha

[Jasmen8182]

My son could possibly be there in a couple yrs. I worked through some renovations in a super-
market, worried abt. the dust, etc. Where would the LCA students be if the facility is made to be more aesthetically pleasing? I guess we all have to put up w/ certain things at various stages (like living in a hotel room). When I'm not up so late sometime I'll have to start an LCA thread plus I'll have to make at least one phone call to get some details abt. the LCA/LU tuition deal.