My One Critique of the New OLOL Renders

[CouillonCinema]

First off, I want to say that I love that we are finally getting the much needed renovations to Cajun Field. This has been a long time coming, and it's a day that Ragin' Cajuns everywhere should celebrate.

Secondly, I want to say I am a huge huge fan of the work this architecture firm has done for our university. However, because I am a fan of theirs, and an even bigger fan of my alma mater, I have to give one critique to the new design of the stadium. Some would call it small but I think I can present something to say that it is significant. All for the sake of making sure we build something that our fanbase would care to save/renovate fifty to hundred years from now, rather than tear down and start anew.

I believe building sustainability is achieved is through how much architectural uniformity a new campus building has compared to what is already established. When I think of UL buildings, there are three major characteristics I deem vital: red brick, white accents, and a dark roof. That last one is what is missing from OLOL stadium.

I like everything else about the design, but not incorporating every element of the vital UL architectural characteristics puts this building in a dangerous space three to five decades from now when all the novelty was worn off.

Some people are going to say I'm being too critical. That's fine. Some are going to say I'm just flat out wrong. That is also fine. However in the picture below, I highlight some of the buildings that didn't follow the blue print of the rest of campus and what is their current status. As an artist, I judge great work more by longevity rather than novelty.

Regardless, this is a great day and I'm happy to celebrate with the rest of Cajun Nation!

[CouillonCinema]

" in the picture below, I highlight some of the buildings that didn't follow the blue print of the rest of campus and what is their current status. As an artist, I judge great work more by longevity rather than novelty."

[Airden]

In my opinion, it is so far off campus, it wont be noticed except by those with an artistic eye. I feel it looks great as currently rendered. And matches the current look of Russo Park.

[Big Buds]

For the budget we have…it’s perfect!

[cajun4life]

In my opinion, it is so far off campus, it wont be noticed except by those with an artistic eye. I feel it looks great as currently rendered. And matches the current look of Russo Park.

It if matches Russo Park that’s all that matters.

[CouillonCinema]

In my opinion, it is so far off campus, it wont be noticed except by those with an artistic eye. I feel it looks great as currently rendered. And matches the current look of Russo Park.

But it's not off campus right? The athletic campus is just as much as important as the main campus, research park, and the new Health and Science campus.

That's why I love Russo Park's design, which has all the elements, vs this one which has like one and a half. I agree that is does look great! I'm just worried it only looks great because it's new.

[Jacob81]

We’re talking about the grey metal roofing on the suite tower that matches the grey of the tigue roof?? The pictures of the old building on campus are almost the exact same grey colored shingles. Wether it’s from fading and originally black shingles or if they were never black originally, it’s almost the same color. Did you want a shingled roof?

[Jacob81]

And the very bottom right rendering view from above is the old rendering.

[facelessjonmoon]

And the very bottom right rendering view from above is the old rendering.

Yep…. And that previous rendering housed functions that will now be moved to the future east side tower. One reason why the new design’s structure will not be quite as deep

[CouillonCinema]

We’re talking about the grey metal roofing on the suite tower that matches the grey of the tigue roof?? The pictures of the old building on campus are almost the exact same grey colored shingles. Wether it’s from fading and originally black shingles or if they were never black originally, it’s almost the same color. Did you want a shingled roof?

No I'm not saying it needs a shingled roof. I think the stadium facade would be stronger if it had a dark pointed metal roof like Russo or a flat dark metal roof like the new Engineering building.

If you stripped away the name Russo Park from the exterior, and you didn't know it was a baseball stadium on the inside, you can drop the building right on main campus and it wouldn't look out of place. That is one of the strongest design elements about Russo Park.

Now apply the same criteria to OLOL stadium, (take away the signage of OLOL, the tower name, and the glowing Louisiana) what does it look like?

Does it look like a football stadium? Or an academic building? Maybe. That's subjective. I think it looks more like a nice new factory or industrial building. The new designs fit within the palette of other campus buildings, but there was just a missed opportunity for more connectivity to them.

[RedBug58]

Thanks for posting the way you did. Very classy.

[RedTails]

Ya know, I came into the thread expecting to pull a Vic and complain about a complainer, but I agree on having a darker roof tying better into being Russo Park's next-door neighbor.

I guess we have to keep in mind that these are architectural renderings and subject to change(s) and also the rendering software may not capture the true color palette or the materials as they would view in real life.

I do think a darker top section that matches the darker metal on the entry tower buildings would look slick:




But material and color type could have been chosen for cost reasons. Both in terms of paint and reflectivity/hvac concerns. I'm with you though, happy today finally came!