History of the Center for Creative Media
February 15th, 2006 - The new Paczesny Hall is going up rapidly now, and it is amazing how fast a good construction outfit can work when they are rushing the clock and have some good weather. These two pictures were taken at approximately the same place, by the Southwest corner of Bogel Hall just outside the rear entrance to the Chair's Wing. In each case, I took them at about 2.00 p.m. although the cloud cover today might make it look later. The angle is not exact (note the trees and the curb on the lower right), but it is close enough for comparison.
By 23 January ground had been broken, and the outline of the building is noticeable. The concrete footers are being poured.
By February 15th, just 23 days later, the footers are in, most of the steel frame for Paczesny Hall is in place (missing is the southwest corner portion for some reason) and digging is going on at a furious pace on the Swan Auditorium, on the left center of the picture. The empty lot has all of its recognizeable elements, and if it were safe I could go in and trace out the exact position of the lab. To get your bearings, for people who walk through the facility in the future, the first framing element on the left will form part of the open entryway to the building (called the foyer on the plans). The building is essentially divided in half. The Center for Creative Media starts on the other side of the building at the end of the first frame. In years to come, if you stand by the edge of Bogel Hall where I took this picture, the "X" and "V" frames you see will be blank walls (the bottom floor will have a fire exit and lead to the elevator) while the next frame is the second frame, barely visible, is the first cluster of faculty offices (on the bottom floor) and a classroom (on the top floor).