It will look 100% better with mature trees (and the shade that comes with it). I agree regarding the screen. It would be great to have something that's active most of the time - put up news, sports, Seinfeld re-runs, whatever.
I agree. The plaza feels very cold...I think design can be modern AND inviting.It looks like a prison yard, and I'm a huge fan of modern design...
Creative use of grass or something could have softened the plaza up just a bit without losing the modern edge.
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Even if they can't figure out how to show readable images on those perforated metal screens, there's no reason they can't do something. Just projecting constantly changing colors on the screen at night would do wonders for the area's vibe. As great as it would be to have daily showings of whatever (Seinfeld-yes!), I would settle for some abstract color.
That being said, I still love the screens, functionless or not.
That being said, I still love the screens, functionless or not.
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Easy, cheap, and makes an impact. I like it.UrbanPioneer wrote:Even if they can't figure out how to show readable images on those perforated metal screens, there's no reason they can't do something. Just projecting constantly changing colors on the screen at night would do wonders for the area's vibe. As great as it would be to have daily showings of whatever (Seinfeld-yes!), I would settle for some abstract color.
That being said, I still love the screens, functionless or not.
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Doesnt it seem like the refelctive nature of the screens or glare from sun could be mitigated somehow to make this a functional element. some sor tof clear matte cover/material (not a grill cover but something that adheres to it)or something as simple as a sunscreen to stop glare could rectify this (or so I suppose).
It feels like someone said "Its not right" and threw their hands in the air and walked away.
It feels like someone said "Its not right" and threw their hands in the air and walked away.
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Where was/is the projector supposed to be?TheWayoftheArch wrote:Doesnt it seem like the refelctive nature of the screens or glare from sun could be mitigated somehow to make this a functional element. some sor tof clear matte cover/material (not a grill cover but something that adheres to it)or something as simple as a sunscreen to stop glare could rectify this (or so I suppose).
It feels like someone said "Its not right" and threw their hands in the air and walked away.
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Arch City wrote:Renderings of Old Post Office Plaza.
Source, bsnarchitects.com
bump some pics of the screen being used for video.
You can't actually project video effectively on a reflective surface, because the viewer would have to be in line with the reflection like looking at something in a mirror. What is necessary is a matte surface so that incident light is reflected in all directions. You could basically paint the entire surface a white or gray color or you could install an enormous roll down or roll up screen which would cost quite a bit.
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So either someone screwed up, or it was never meant to show video, in which case, why was it built?clellchatman wrote:You can't actually project video effectively on a reflective surface, because the viewer would have to be in line with the reflection like looking at something in a mirror. What is necessary is a matte surface so that incident light is reflected in all directions. You could basically paint the entire surface a white or gray color or you could install an enormous roll down or roll up screen which would cost quite a bit.
sad to say but this park is already turning in to one of our city parks ,lots of lights at the plaza have been out for over a year now . the torso lights have been for over a year now .counted 14 lights out on the grounds the other night . called the downtown partnership about the torso lights over a year`ago ?
^how about we get a petition going to start replacing burned out city lights with LEDs? we might take a financial hit in the short run, but long run, it'd save the city money, and national news would be all over our "green" effort.
And I still haven't seen Shadow People walking around. Those renderings are fake!
IIRC: While constructing the new Plaza, clearing the ground beneath it and removing the remnants of old foundations took a lot longer and was much more expensive than anticipated.* The project was finished almost a year later than initially planned. Cost overruns were significant and it was decided to use cheaper materials. The reflective screen fell victim to this.
*This was also the reason that the initially proposed parking garage underneath the plaza was scrapped.
*This was also the reason that the initially proposed parking garage underneath the plaza was scrapped.
EVERYONE email the downtown partnership i did about the screen but no one ever gets back to me.THE first to get a response post it here , THE president & CEO Maggie ,Campbell 1.314.436.6500 ext 224 also here her email. mcampbell @downtstl.org. LET's put that $170.000 a year to work 
^ I'll save you some time. The answer is: It's not suitable as a projection screen. When showing movies they bring in an inflatable screen, which probably works better anyway.
It was a nice idea that didn't pan out.
Let's not bother Maggie Campbell with this non-issue. She's busy enough trying to figure out whether the Downtown St. Louis Partnership can or can't endorse the City to River Project.
It was a nice idea that didn't pan out.
Let's not bother Maggie Campbell with this non-issue. She's busy enough trying to figure out whether the Downtown St. Louis Partnership can or can't endorse the City to River Project.
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I guess the difference between a nice idea and a good idea is that the good idea has some potential for working.The Count wrote:
It was a nice idea that didn't pan out.
...so why did we build it in the first place? was this just a big experiment?The Count wrote:^ I'll save you some time. The answer is: It's not suitable as a projection screen.
It was a nice idea that didn't pan out.
was this built with the intention of using it as a screen? or is it just decoration that somebody thought could be used as a screen?
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From the previous page...I think some sort of creative/artistic lighting would go a long way.UrbanPioneer wrote:Even if they can't figure out how to show readable images on those perforated metal screens, there's no reason they can't do something. Just projecting constantly changing colors on the screen at night would do wonders for the area's vibe. As great as it would be to have daily showings of whatever (Seinfeld-yes!), I would settle for some abstract color.
That being said, I still love the screens, functionless or not.
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^ Seems like a reasonable question to ask. No reason it shouldn't be answered.
^You're right. They should answer his emails. No need to spam Miss Campbell's inbox with questions about the screen, though.
Loftman, did you hear anything back from them? Did you call them?
Loftman, did you hear anything back from them? Did you call them?
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I think it relates to the money to fix up the Old Post Office (someone pocketed $$)
The destruction of the Century Building (someone pocketed $$)
The ugly garage (someone pocketed $$)
New grocer (someone pocketed $$)
ugly, poorly designed waste of space plaza (someone pocketed $$)
WE LOST
The destruction of the Century Building (someone pocketed $$)
The ugly garage (someone pocketed $$)
New grocer (someone pocketed $$)
ugly, poorly designed waste of space plaza (someone pocketed $$)
WE LOST
i need help urban stl to the rescue 