Comments on: Eph the Builder http://www.ephblog.com/2004/03/17/eph-the-builder/ All Things Eph Tue, 06 Jan 2009 02:43:03 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Eric http://www.ephblog.com/2004/03/17/eph-the-builder/comment-page-1/#comment-48 Eric Thu, 18 Mar 2004 19:10:09 +0000 http://www.ephblog.dreamhosters.com/2004/03/17/eph-the-builder/#comment-48 Wow, I don't think I have ever heard anyone describe Baxter at "beautiful". The thing is made to look like a Mississippi Steamboat, which correct me if I'm wrong, has absolutely nothing to do with the Berkshire Mountains nor the heritage/history of Williams. The thing was odd on the outside - and not in a fun/quirky way, but in a "the architect and planner were drinking heavily" sort of way. Williams prides itself on not having a standardized look and feel for the buildings on campus (the art building was done by an architect that had previously only built in the southwest, so the design and positioning of the building is as if it were in the sun of the southwest - there are a bunch of oddities like that around campus) , so sure, bring in a steamboat - but don't call the thing beautiful. Although to be fair, the worst part of it is the interior which as I understand it is in no way the original and has many times over been hacked at and modified into the way it is now. It is hard to have a utilitarian design that doesn't get ugly - but I still feel that it is more achievable than Baxter. I would actually consider making the trip up to see Baxter torn down if they gave enough forewarning. I would say the only building on campus I like less than Baxter would be that low lying cinderblock monstrosity next to Spencer - the name of which currently escapes me. Wow, I don’t think I have ever heard anyone describe Baxter at “beautiful”. The thing is made to look like a Mississippi Steamboat, which correct me if I’m wrong, has absolutely nothing to do with the Berkshire Mountains nor the heritage/history of Williams.
The thing was odd on the outside - and not in a fun/quirky way, but in a “the architect and planner were drinking heavily” sort of way.

Williams prides itself on not having a standardized look and feel for the buildings on campus (the art building was done by an architect that had previously only built in the southwest, so the design and positioning of the building is as if it were in the sun of the southwest - there are a bunch of oddities like that around campus) , so sure, bring in a steamboat - but don’t call the thing beautiful. Although to be fair, the worst part of it is the interior which as I understand it is in no way the original and has many times over been hacked at and modified into the way it is now.
It is hard to have a utilitarian design that doesn’t get ugly - but I still feel that it is more achievable than Baxter.

I would actually consider making the trip up to see Baxter torn down if they gave enough forewarning.
I would say the only building on campus I like less than Baxter would be that low lying cinderblock monstrosity next to Spencer - the name of which currently escapes me.

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