It's part of the light project. There are 4 different installations around the area sponsored by the Pulitzer and Contemporary, among others. The lamps in the old church is part of it as well.
The Light Project is very cool, but I wish they had made it larger in scope. If they had commissioned, say, a dozen similar projects, and spread them throughout all of Grand Center, then it would have been so much more impressive. But this was largely a Pulitzer project, and I guess they wanted to keep it close to home.
BTW, Grand Center sponsors "Cinemania", an annual outdoor movie festival on the lot where the lighted bucket sculpture is now. The films are projected onto the East wall of the Bruno David Gallery.
BTW, Grand Center sponsors "Cinemania", an annual outdoor movie festival on the lot where the lighted bucket sculpture is now. The films are projected onto the East wall of the Bruno David Gallery.
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I really like what they did with the Church Ruins on Spring when it comes to the light project. I agree that they should have make it larger scale as well though.
I think they should do a taste of Midtown or something around Grand Center and try and drum up popularity
I think they should do a taste of Midtown or something around Grand Center and try and drum up popularity
Chruch Light project...
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The church lighting doesn't look like much during the day, but at night, it's really cool.
Please allow me to briefly rant about the new Kranzberg Center. I am totally in favor of adding new performance spaces to Grand Center, thus inching it closer to actually being a theatre district. HOWEVER, I am currently designing the set for a show in the new blackbox space and I gotta say, it's functional design is unbelievably flawed and I question that whoever designed never set foot in a theatre space. There are obvious structural quirks of the existing building that cannot be avoided (the large column in the middle of the room)
Number 1- there is no loading door (rule number 1 for any theatre space). Scenery has to be lugged in through a standard 2'6"X6'9" door which is adjacent to the Fox's loading dock, which in turn makes it impossible to use anytime a show at the Fox is loading in.
Number 2- The seating risers are clunky, awkward and about 900 lbs each, and cannot be raised or lowered. Which puts a huge limitation on the use of the space as truly being a flexible black box.
Number 3- There is no central lighting or sound control. Individual dimmers have to be strapped onto the actual lighting instrument. There is also no booth.
Number 4- There is no crossover access for actors, Exits are only on one side of the room, limiting how you can configure the set.
These are fundamental things that would not have cost a whole lot more if they were just planned properly. So Kudos Grand Center for adding a venue. Shame on you for designing it poorly. It's all too late now. What could have been state of the art is now a quirky, awkward and partially unusable space due mostly in part by poor planning.
Number 1- there is no loading door (rule number 1 for any theatre space). Scenery has to be lugged in through a standard 2'6"X6'9" door which is adjacent to the Fox's loading dock, which in turn makes it impossible to use anytime a show at the Fox is loading in.
Number 2- The seating risers are clunky, awkward and about 900 lbs each, and cannot be raised or lowered. Which puts a huge limitation on the use of the space as truly being a flexible black box.
Number 3- There is no central lighting or sound control. Individual dimmers have to be strapped onto the actual lighting instrument. There is also no booth.
Number 4- There is no crossover access for actors, Exits are only on one side of the room, limiting how you can configure the set.
These are fundamental things that would not have cost a whole lot more if they were just planned properly. So Kudos Grand Center for adding a venue. Shame on you for designing it poorly. It's all too late now. What could have been state of the art is now a quirky, awkward and partially unusable space due mostly in part by poor planning.
Another bit of news, apparently the contractor that rehabbed Kranzberg had no idea it was a theatre space.....
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Didn't know where else to post this, but has the glass on the clock on the Continental Life Building been broken for a while, or is this something new?
Does anyone know why when Fox Associates restored the Humboldt Building a couple years ago ,why they didn't restore the top portion over the front entrance and repaint it? The letters "Humboldt" are falling off and the terra cotta overhang is missing.
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kerchoff wrote:Does anyone know why when Fox Associates restored the Humboldt Building a couple years ago ,why they didn't restore the top portion over the front entrance and repaint it? The letters "Humboldt" are falling off and the terra cotta overhang is missing.
Now that's a good question.
Welcome to the forum, BTW.
The other thing the Humboldt is missing is it's original cornice. Sadly, it seems that very few renovations restore it. To me, the cornice is one of the most important features on any building.
True. Most roof cornaces were removed from buildings during the 40's to help them look more modern. Sadly, it's difficult to find construction companies that can do that kind of work. Also, it's extremely expensive. There was a historic hotel in Pensacola that had its roof cornace partially destroyed during Huricane Ivan; it took nearly three years to find a company that couuld reinstall it!! The Metropolitan Building in GC also needs its roof cornace replaced.
Another reason cornices were removed is because without proper maintenance, they have a nasty habit of falling on pedestrians.
Ouch!!! Tremendous lawsuit!! I spoke to Fox Associates yesterday, and they are planning to fix up the front of the Humboldt later in the year.
I've heard rumors about a possible restaurant moving into the first floor of the Humbolt, but I've heard similar rumors for years, so take it with a grain of salt.
I have taken it upon myself to personally email various (chain) restaurants to move into Grand Center. The most positive replies have been from Panera/Bread Co and Red Robin have given the most promising replies. I figure that strength in numbers would be beneficial, so if anyone wants to drop them a comment, we can be friends. 
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^ I'm not sure the 'chains' fit the vision of Grand Center.
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A Panera would probably do well, as long as it is in close proximity to SLU. Might be a good ground floor tenant if anything ever gets built at Grand and Lindell, for instance.
Fox Associates says that consturction will begin in the fall of 09 on an Itilian restaurant in the retail section on the South end of the theatre. They also say that the final arrangements are being made to put a cafe' into the Washington/ Grand corner of the Humboldt. Speaking of restaurants, how is business at Reggies and Wm. Shakespeares these days??
^Is the Italian Restaurant going in the Fox building, or the Big Brothers building? I didn't know there was space in the Fox.
It's going into the storefront that is attached to the South side of the theatre. It's where the old Fox gift shop was during the 80's. Its right next to the alley on the South side of the Fox. There are three windows above the space. Check it out and see if there is any construction or demolition happening inside. Report back on progress!!! I won't be back in St. Louis until March.
If you're by the old Rythnm and Brews, walk back down Grand toward SLU. After you pass the entrances to the theatre you will find a set of regular doors that have cheap plywood over the windows and painted black with gold trim. ( This is where the Itilian restaurant is supposedly going ) If you get to the alley, you've gone too far! "Fox Associates" is written above, or at least it was at one time.
If you go to the urban st. louis fox new sign page and look at the first black and white photo which shows the old sign, look to the far left of the picture. The restaurant is going into that space, just under where it says "Fox Associates".