From a distance, this doesn't look so badAs just someone who loves our beach and appreciates our Casino and all the wonderful memories I have had there for all these years, I looked at the presentations as a lay person with a love of our history and what was physically appealing to me. Although many of the designs were outstanding, these are the firms that caught my attention because of the overall presentation.
Ever since Straticon presented last year at City Hall for our Casino restoration/refurbishment/renovation, I have loved their design. This design was done by BRPH, one of the firms that presented on Saturday. To see all the details of the original Straticon concept by BRPH, CLICK HERE. When you view it, you will notice that only one-half of the building was enclosed in that concept and that it took on an effect of the 1920's look and feel.
Design as presented on Saturday by BRPH
It is elegant in its simplicity
We had mentioned on many occasions the practicality of enclosing the entire upper floor. In using this design, we will get 11,000 s.f. of rentable space on the ground floor, 13,000 s.f. of space on the 2nd floor and not depicted here, 3,044 s.f. of rentable space on the loggia behind John G's.
This design of BRPH, a full-service firm in existence for 45 years and one of the top fastest growing firms in the nation, incorporates the look of the 1920's as well as the 1930's because of the window design on the second level. It has a bell tower over John G's that was there in the 20's. It has an entry in the middle that advertises our Lake Worth Casino as did the original building.
This firm designed this building to come in within budget and it considered our requirements--a clear understanding of the cultural and historical importance of the casino site.
I also liked Slattery & Associates' design although it did not enclose the entire 2nd floor. Depending upon cost, that can be achieved. Slattery & Associates has worked with 14 municipalities in PB County. Their entire presentation was top notch and they covered all basis. Slattery presented 3 different designs as our RFQ was not definitive as to what period it wanted to restore. All 3 designs were outstanding and you can view them on Wes's blog. Their firm is in close distance to our beach; they have a professional relationship with a preservation architect who will be working with them; they plan on being true to the time period of the building; they have commitment. They can create a similar style to the 1920's and stated that there would be major demolition if restored to that period. They are very experienced at obtaining Grants. They want to capitalize on the history of the building. The existing businesses will be temporarily relocated.
The Mayor asked about "green" features and both these firms have Leed acredited professionals.
The other presentation that I wanted to hear but missed was Beilinson Gomez. If you go to their back-up, the design is right on the mark. As our RFQ did not specify what period we wanted to achieve, they had a little of all.
Barbara Aubel was at the meeting in the morning and she likes the firm of Living Designs Group. Tom McGow just did a blog and it appears that he likes the same firm that designed a concept on the more modern side. He is a Michael Singer fan. LDG is a Lake Worth firm. Unfortunately, I was not there for their presentation. Barbara Jean Weber was not there for the entire presentation either but she liked Slattery & Associates as well as BRPH. Wes Blackman was there for the entire meeting and has not yet decided on a top choice but is leaning at this time towards BeilinsonGomez. He wants to see the list narrowed down and then require that the short-listed firms come back on an RFP so that we can get to the particulars, especially cost. Jim Walker of Golfview Road liked Song & Associates, Rick Gonzales and Beilinson Gomez.
Casino, late 30's early 40's
Note the square windows on 2nd level
Published with permission of Lake Worth Media
Ever since Straticon presented last year at City Hall for our Casino restoration/refurbishment/renovation, I have loved their design. This design was done by BRPH, one of the firms that presented on Saturday. To see all the details of the original Straticon concept by BRPH, CLICK HERE. When you view it, you will notice that only one-half of the building was enclosed in that concept and that it took on an effect of the 1920's look and feel.
Design as presented on Saturday by BRPHIt is elegant in its simplicity
We had mentioned on many occasions the practicality of enclosing the entire upper floor. In using this design, we will get 11,000 s.f. of rentable space on the ground floor, 13,000 s.f. of space on the 2nd floor and not depicted here, 3,044 s.f. of rentable space on the loggia behind John G's.
This design of BRPH, a full-service firm in existence for 45 years and one of the top fastest growing firms in the nation, incorporates the look of the 1920's as well as the 1930's because of the window design on the second level. It has a bell tower over John G's that was there in the 20's. It has an entry in the middle that advertises our Lake Worth Casino as did the original building.
This firm designed this building to come in within budget and it considered our requirements--a clear understanding of the cultural and historical importance of the casino site.
I also liked Slattery & Associates' design although it did not enclose the entire 2nd floor. Depending upon cost, that can be achieved. Slattery & Associates has worked with 14 municipalities in PB County. Their entire presentation was top notch and they covered all basis. Slattery presented 3 different designs as our RFQ was not definitive as to what period it wanted to restore. All 3 designs were outstanding and you can view them on Wes's blog. Their firm is in close distance to our beach; they have a professional relationship with a preservation architect who will be working with them; they plan on being true to the time period of the building; they have commitment. They can create a similar style to the 1920's and stated that there would be major demolition if restored to that period. They are very experienced at obtaining Grants. They want to capitalize on the history of the building. The existing businesses will be temporarily relocated.
The Mayor asked about "green" features and both these firms have Leed acredited professionals.
The other presentation that I wanted to hear but missed was Beilinson Gomez. If you go to their back-up, the design is right on the mark. As our RFQ did not specify what period we wanted to achieve, they had a little of all.
Barbara Aubel was at the meeting in the morning and she likes the firm of Living Designs Group. Tom McGow just did a blog and it appears that he likes the same firm that designed a concept on the more modern side. He is a Michael Singer fan. LDG is a Lake Worth firm. Unfortunately, I was not there for their presentation. Barbara Jean Weber was not there for the entire presentation either but she liked Slattery & Associates as well as BRPH. Wes Blackman was there for the entire meeting and has not yet decided on a top choice but is leaning at this time towards BeilinsonGomez. He wants to see the list narrowed down and then require that the short-listed firms come back on an RFP so that we can get to the particulars, especially cost. Jim Walker of Golfview Road liked Song & Associates, Rick Gonzales and Beilinson Gomez.
Casino, late 30's early 40'sNote the square windows on 2nd level
Published with permission of Lake Worth Media
2 comments:
I also like Living Designs Group - it just depends which we want to emphasize more - the historical attributes or highlight green building ideas.
Architecture has evolved since creation of concrete boxes with glass and steel,cold inhuman storage spaces for cars,furniture,trash,warehouses for primitive humans without artistic imagination and talent.
Not all people feel they deserve punishment of the minimum accomodation of a cheap concrete box or series like the Living presentation.Civilized people respect what other refined,cultured predecessors have created and left them to enjoy, like Lake Worth.You don't like it,please leave and move into a concrete and glass box in Miami or Lauderdale! Many of these impersonal,soulless structures store humans.Neither Tom nor Barbara created Lake Worth and its' Jewel of the Gold Coast our 1921 Lake Worth Casino,not called babara aubel Casino or tom mcgow Casino,but one of architectural cultured refinement, the Addison Mizner style.They do not respect what was left by our predecessors and therefore deserve no respect in return.Leave!!!These don't know that historic heritage tourism brought 2.3 billion dollars in Palm Beach County.Not the cheap,common, concrete and glass storage warehouse architecture .
Money is paid for a refined architecurally artistic evolved environment for cultured,socially evolved people,who enjoy an elegant environment to spend their time on special occassions, or make their presence in an elegant environment,a special moment in their refined lives.None of the commentators on Lake Worth's 1921 Casino, has ever created a Jewel of the Gold Coast,neither the Living business firm. The green dead horse is dragged out, to get attention.Nothing to do with artistically evolved architechture,with gracious details and elegant curved designs of windows,doors ballrooms,restaurants, boutiques. Palladio moved architecture forward.A primitive element is trying to go back to cheap architecture,of concrete boxes with glass and steel and no soul,atmosphere.
Dee McNamara,evolved architecture proponent, and respectful of Lake Worth City culture and architecture preservationist
Dee McNamara
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