Comments on: M.D. Anderson Planning To Extract Dental Branch from Med Center http://swamplot.com/m-d-anderson-planning-to-extract-dental-branch-from-med-center/2012-08-29/ Houston, Texas real estate development, home buying, landscape, and design Tue, 21 May 2013 23:15:27 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Ross http://swamplot.com/m-d-anderson-planning-to-extract-dental-branch-from-med-center/2012-08-29/#comment-275785 Ross Sat, 01 Sep 2012 03:55:45 +0000 http://swamplot.com/?p=46684#comment-275785 Doing a major renovation on a building that is in continuous use is difficult. It's easier, and often cheaper, to just build a new building than it is to find a place to temporarily relocate everyone who uses the building. That's one reason school districts will build a new building on a campus while using the old one. Doing a major renovation on a building that is in continuous use is difficult. It’s easier, and often cheaper, to just build a new building than it is to find a place to temporarily relocate everyone who uses the building. That’s one reason school districts will build a new building on a campus while using the old one.

]]> By: Sunsets http://swamplot.com/m-d-anderson-planning-to-extract-dental-branch-from-med-center/2012-08-29/#comment-275755 Sunsets Fri, 31 Aug 2012 23:41:10 +0000 http://swamplot.com/?p=46684#comment-275755 You could make that argument, but this was a building used for clinical teaching and research. The practice of both of these has changed tremendously over the years, and that building simply wasn't enough to keep up. Even a signficant renovation wouldn't have helped. Not enough space to house larger tech-equipped classrooms as well as the clinical labs needed to train the students. The only building on the med campus I can think of that's even older and still functioning in the same fashion is the original Baylor College of Medicine building. Still labs and classrooms in there, but Baylor had room to add new buildings on either side. The Dental School didn't have that option, since MDA was closing in around it. You could make that argument, but this was a building used for clinical teaching and research. The practice of both of these has changed tremendously over the years, and that building simply wasn’t enough to keep up. Even a signficant renovation wouldn’t have helped. Not enough space to house larger tech-equipped classrooms as well as the clinical labs needed to train the students.

The only building on the med campus I can think of that’s even older and still functioning in the same fashion is the original Baylor College of Medicine building. Still labs and classrooms in there, but Baylor had room to add new buildings on either side. The Dental School didn’t have that option, since MDA was closing in around it.

]]> By: Lauren http://swamplot.com/m-d-anderson-planning-to-extract-dental-branch-from-med-center/2012-08-29/#comment-275698 Lauren Fri, 31 Aug 2012 18:45:46 +0000 http://swamplot.com/?p=46684#comment-275698 Common tactic (and recently used by MD Anderson with the Prudential building) - demolition by neglect. Common tactic (and recently used by MD Anderson with the Prudential building) – demolition by neglect.

]]> By: Sunsets http://swamplot.com/m-d-anderson-planning-to-extract-dental-branch-from-med-center/2012-08-29/#comment-275527 Sunsets Fri, 31 Aug 2012 03:16:25 +0000 http://swamplot.com/?p=46684#comment-275527 That buiding may have looked good from the outside (from a distance; up close you could see the re-bar holding the granite slabs on) but it was WAY outdated on the inside. No way was it set up for a class of 100 students, which is what the School of Dentristy now enrolls every year. I taught in a basement classroom there for 4 years. Between the complete lack of reliable electricity to all of the outlets and the jury-rigged data cables and conduits, it was a minor miracle we didn't burn the place down or break someone's neck during labs. And don't get me started on the thermostats! Never knew if I was gonna need a sweater or a shower after class. That buiding may have looked good from the outside (from a distance; up close you could see the re-bar holding the granite slabs on) but it was WAY outdated on the inside. No way was it set up for a class of 100 students, which is what the School of Dentristy now enrolls every year.

I taught in a basement classroom there for 4 years. Between the complete lack of reliable electricity to all of the outlets and the jury-rigged data cables and conduits, it was a minor miracle we didn’t burn the place down or break someone’s neck during labs. And don’t get me started on the thermostats! Never knew if I was gonna need a sweater or a shower after class.

]]> By: Neil http://swamplot.com/m-d-anderson-planning-to-extract-dental-branch-from-med-center/2012-08-29/#comment-275450 Neil Thu, 30 Aug 2012 19:23:34 +0000 http://swamplot.com/?p=46684#comment-275450 In such an experimental place, I wonder about the space planning objectives. I know that the programming department works to project future departmental needs, for one thing, and that for another people's clout does affect who gets what space. But at least one time in North Campus I would like to see new shell space put in place without any allocation beforehand. With any group and individual free to pitch camp, temporarily or not. A true commons, this would benefit whoever's projects could use the elbow room. Laboratory space is so expensive I have trouble seeing it being left open to land rush and iteration, yet regular old enclosed space will by itself allow things to happen that won't be tried any other way; and this has value. In such an experimental place, I wonder about the space planning objectives.
I know that the programming department works to project future departmental needs, for one thing, and that for another people’s clout does affect who gets what space. But at least one time in North Campus I would like to see new shell space put in place without any allocation beforehand. With any group and individual free to pitch camp, temporarily or not. A true commons, this would benefit whoever’s projects could use the elbow room. Laboratory space is so expensive I have trouble seeing it being left open to land rush and iteration, yet regular old enclosed space will by itself allow things to happen that won’t be tried any other way; and this has value.

]]> By: Kevin http://swamplot.com/m-d-anderson-planning-to-extract-dental-branch-from-med-center/2012-08-29/#comment-275254 Kevin Thu, 30 Aug 2012 00:52:22 +0000 http://swamplot.com/?p=46684#comment-275254 John, look on either side of the UTDB building. There is a building completed within the last 2 years with the helical feature on it on one side, and there is another structure under construction on the opposite side that used to be the mental sciences building. Have you seen the new Methodist research building? John, look on either side of the UTDB building. There is a building completed within the last 2 years with the helical feature on it on one side, and there is another structure under construction on the opposite side that used to be the mental sciences building. Have you seen the new Methodist research building?

]]> By: Matt http://swamplot.com/m-d-anderson-planning-to-extract-dental-branch-from-med-center/2012-08-29/#comment-275242 Matt Wed, 29 Aug 2012 23:11:57 +0000 http://swamplot.com/?p=46684#comment-275242 MacKie and Kamrath seem to be winning the award for most demolished landmark buildings in the last 18 months. Tragic. MacKie and Kamrath seem to be winning the award for most demolished landmark buildings in the last 18 months. Tragic.

]]> By: doofus http://swamplot.com/m-d-anderson-planning-to-extract-dental-branch-from-med-center/2012-08-29/#comment-275214 doofus Wed, 29 Aug 2012 20:34:09 +0000 http://swamplot.com/?p=46684#comment-275214 The sad part, architecturally speaking, the newer buildings are quite lame. MacKie and Kamrath > Kirksey. The sad part, architecturally speaking, the newer buildings are quite lame. MacKie and Kamrath > Kirksey.

]]> By: John http://swamplot.com/m-d-anderson-planning-to-extract-dental-branch-from-med-center/2012-08-29/#comment-275199 John Wed, 29 Aug 2012 18:42:42 +0000 http://swamplot.com/?p=46684#comment-275199 They keep on demolishing buildings in the med center but are hardly building any new buildings. Is there something planned for this site or will it just sit vacant for years like the M.D. Anderson prudential building site that was demolished not to long ago. It would be nice to see some new towers going up in the med center. They keep on demolishing buildings in the med center but are hardly building any new buildings. Is there something planned for this site or will it just sit vacant for years like the M.D. Anderson prudential building site that was demolished not to long ago. It would be nice to see some new towers going up in the med center.

]]> By: Mike http://swamplot.com/m-d-anderson-planning-to-extract-dental-branch-from-med-center/2012-08-29/#comment-275198 Mike Wed, 29 Aug 2012 18:27:50 +0000 http://swamplot.com/?p=46684#comment-275198 Beautiful, striking modernist building, and well-preserved. Not quite up to the level of M.D. Anderson's previous demolitions (Shamrock Hotel, Prudential Building), but still a loss. Beautiful, striking modernist building, and well-preserved. Not quite up to the level of M.D. Anderson’s previous demolitions (Shamrock Hotel, Prudential Building), but still a loss.

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