Courthouse resolution #3: Materials

Third in my series of "10 things I can find to like about the new Rockbridge County Courthouse" at Nelson and Randolph streets: The final design incorporates characteristic Rockbridge area granite (dark grey prominently veined with white), red brick (an ubiquitous building material in these parts) and the white Tuscan columns so often seen on local Roman Revival buildings (albeit ersatz, alas -- you can see the vertical seams quite clearly in person).

This view is from Nelson St., looking toward what used to be Davidson Park.

Courthouse resolution: #2

The grilles screening the parking levels at the new courthouse make an interesting pattern against a blue-grey sky.

Back in January I made a New Year's Resolution to find 10 things I can like about our new Rockbridge County Courthouse, which finally opened for business last month. I do like these grilles, which are set in openings in the sides of the attached parking garage.

OK -- 8 more to go. Among the many things I don't like about the building: Anybody else think that the Halls of Justice should not have revolving doors?

Sorority Row

The crescent of five sororities at W&L, seen from Woods Creek trail.

In 1985, Washington and Lee admitted its first female undergraduate degree candidates. Fraternities had long been a center of social life on campus, so it was inevitable that "Greek" life would soon expand to include women. These five houses were completed in 2000 on a hillside southwest of the playing fields, for the members of the University's sororities.

I recently heard that a 6th sorority house is planned soon for the far left side of this group. If true, I think W&L should revisit the decision (even though a 6th may have been planned for from the start). This group of five different, but closely related, Greek/Roman Revival structures is a spectacularly successful architectural achievement for a modern institution. In scale, siting, and harmony with pre-existing buildings, it has turned out unusually well. The addition of a 6th house would cause the center of the group to fall at a void, however, rather than on the central portico, eliminating much of the power of the composition. (As I understand it, there is no room for a corresponding 7th structure on either side; if there was, 7 would work too -- though five seems just right.)

I hope the University preserves the strength of what it has in Sorority Row, and lights on an equally inspired way to incorporate additional houses.

Premium parking

The new parking lot above N. Main Street at VMI.

A year or so ago, a row of charming, if not "historically" old, houses was demolished to make way for this new parking lot at the Virginia Military Institute. It would be amusing to know what the cost was per parking space, all told. Parking has become a persistent problem in Lexington, as it is so many other places.

The view of the campus once you have parked your car is rather pleasant, though. And the silver lining for me (since I'm not permitted to park here), is that structures such as this lovely old house are now visible as one drives down North Main on the route out of town.

Church on Sunday: Dissent

The stained-glass cross in front of St. Paul's Anglican Church, at Nelson and Davidson streets.

As I understand it, St. Paul's was formed a decade or so ago by a group of dissenting parishioners from R. E. Lee Memorial Episcopal. They considered that the Episcopal Church in the U.S. had strayed too far from the true teachings of the Church, and, among other things, were concerned about changes being made to the Book of Common Prayer. The new congregation allied itself with the more orthodox Anglican Church in Africa.

The church was designed by local architect Hans Schweitzer, who died last year. Its low lines, board-and-batten siding and metal roof give it a rather homey aspect, with a Swiss (or is it Scandinavian?) flavor. So, this church appears to bring together influences from England, the United States, Africa and Switzerland -- neat trick.

Feel better?

The very angular lines of the entrance to Stonewall Jackson Carilion Hospital.

So-called because, until 1954, the Stonewall Jackson House on Washington St. (the house Jackson lived in while teaching at VMI - photo to come) served as Lexington's hospital, this much newer facility on the hill behind Col Alto is now part of the Carilion group of hospitals. I understand why an up-to-date hospital wants to project an image of cutting-edge modernism, but in many respects it seems to me that the atmosphere of modern architecture is not conducive to healing. (Others may disagree.)

I look forward (perhaps in vain) to the fashion in hospital architecture coming back around to structures that look more like yesterday's post, for example.

At least from inside the hospital one can look out on a restorative view.

Red bollard

A red bollard (one of a row along the street) and a modern sculpture in a front garden on Stonewall St.

I'm impressed by the marvelous color of these bollards, punctuating a wide bed of liriope between the lawn and the street. I'm not sure what I think of the sculpture though. What do you think it is?

Pastiche

One hundred years of architectural fashion at Washington and Lee.

From right to left (oldest to newest):
1904 - Reid Hall, School of Journalism (originally physics and engineering)
1961 - The Science Center (roof only)
1979 - James G. Leyburn Library
2003 - Elrod Commons (the student center)

10 Things I like about the New Courthouse, #1

The new courthouse nears completion at the corner of Nelson and Randolph streets.

This photo introduces my New Year's resolution, of sorts -- to find ten things I can like about the new courthouse. (It's going to be tough.) Number one: The quality of light on the Nelson street facade in the late afternoon can be breathtaking.

See the old courthouse, soon to be put out to pasture, here.