BU Development Thread

bdurden said:
Not surprising they lacked a sustainable energy culture until Silber -- but that is old news. Must you always harp on it?
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As I said, it's a common theme of most american corporations, and it's obscene.

If you have a problem with that, then don't reply.
 
Well jass it is clear you appreciate nothing about BU -- what isn't clear is why you take any opportunity (whether contrived or reality) to slam the place. Perhaps if you don't like it, it would be better to just not reply?
 
bdurden said:
Well jass it is clear you appreciate nothing about BU -- what isn't clear is why you take any opportunity (whether contrived or reality) to slam the place. Perhaps if you don't like it, it would be better to just not reply?
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I am complaining about hypocrisy that is not exclusive to BU but has been exhibited by them.

And yes, I will continue to harp on them for pulling moves like that, just like I would to any other institution or company.
 
bdurden said:
Sounds like a rather meaningless ranking considering most of BU's inherited buildings are quite sustainable, actually.
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Or it could be similar to the story that used to go about (perhaps it still does) that BU had hired a prison architect to design Warren Towers, specifically to get the smalles possible room footprint. In other words, it could simply be bullshit. As you point out, it is bullshit, whether or not the rating was ever given.
 
jass said:
It was the big picture. Lack of recycling, no compost, not using CFLs, lights on 24/7, heaters and a/c set on calendar schedule and not on real-world temperatures, badly insulated buildings, single pane windows, urinals that use 2.5 gallons per flush, etc etc

As I said, theyve gotten better. It was just that 5 years ago they did absolutely nothing, even though it's always been in their financial interest to save energy.

This isnt just BU, it's many major corporations that put their nose up at environmental hippies without realizing it affects their bottom line.
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I think you've been suckered by campus legend. I was involved in establishing the recycling program when I attended BU, and that was 20 years ago. The administration was very supportive and that was with John Silber in charge.
 
HenryAlan said:
I think you've been suckered by campus legend. I was involved in establishing the recycling program when I attended BU, and that was 20 years ago. The administration was very supportive and that was with John Silber in charge.
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Then perhaps it was removed?

Recycling was only added to classroom buildings in 2008. Exception being SMG, which had a couple of hidden recycling areas from the day it opened (late 90s I believe), and school of education which has solar panels and such on the roof.

Dorms have had recycling, but out of the way, unlike regular trash service. Take Myles, 5 large trash cans per floor (so 40 trash cans) emptied daily, and a total of 6 recycling bins, emptied once a week. I throw out more recycling every week than garbage, I assume most are the same.

Compost began in dining halls in 2007 or 2008. Recycling came to the GSU food court around 2004.

Until recently, most catered events used bottles water. Again, why spend money on bottles water and generate huge amounts of trash instead of providing pitchers? It makes no financial sense.

There is no recycling on the street (and Kenmore square has zero trash bins, but thats a city of Boston issue)

Once again, this isnt just BU. As far as I can tell, that city has zero recycling bins on the streets, but lots of big belly trash receptacles. Considering all the plastic bottles people carry with them, this doesnt make sense.

Of course I welcome all the recent changes, but wasn't recycling "invented" in the 1970's? Isn't that when the "reduce, reuse, recycle" PSA began?
Why has it taken 30 years to become institutionalized? It bothers me when people say "look how progressive we are, a recycling bin!" when they're 30 years late to the party.


Heres another example, so it's not just about BU. Costco recently flooded their stores with recycling, trash and compost bins.......why...? How does that make any sense? At least they've always designed their stores with skylights.

HenryAlan said:
Or it could be similar to the story that used to go about (perhaps it still does) that BU had hired a prison architect to design Warren Towers, specifically to get the smalles possible room footprint. In other words, it could simply be bullshit. As you point out, it is bullshit, whether or not the rating was ever given.
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I never heard this story.
 
BU starting the facade restorations/renovations of CAS and Theology:

bu1.jpg


Paint job, stone washing, and new windows:
bu2.jpg


bu3.jpg
 
Too bad they are not installing central air conditioining in the buildings. If they reinstall those window units, it will spoil the appearance of the new windows.
 
I wonder how hard is it to put central ac into the building.
 
Just thought I'd throw these out there.

Two outdated renderings (both different concepts) of the BU Law School expansion. This is the current lot of the BU Academy just east of the BU Bridge.

Keep in mind this is no longer the plan for the Law School expansion (which I personally think is a VERY good thing). The current plan includes renovating the existing BU Law tower and building a 5-story addition just west of the tower (a modern, glass structure, but I cannot locate them online).

I post this because it gives us an idea of what may come of the BU Academy lot in future expansion.

Boston%20University%20Law%20School_resized.jpg


ScreenShot057.jpg
 
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According to President Brown's letter "State of the University" on 10/5/2010, the Law addition will be EAST of the Law tower:
"Finally, the design phase of the expansion and renovation of the Law School will be complete by spring. This project will include the construction of a classroom facility on the east side of the tower, followed by a complete renovation of the tower itself."

I wonder if this will take any of the Alpert Mall/BU Beach area, one of the few campusy areas?

The second pic you posted actually looks good. It would have eliminated another parking lot and replaced a drab two story former commercial building.
 
^West of the Law Tower, possibly a typo. It's planned for the area between the tower and Mugar, which is currently the unused concrete deck. The BU Beach would be unaffected.
 
Theyve eben talking about the new 5 story law building since 2008, but as far as I know, no renders have been released.

Id never seen the image above. Im glad it wasnt built, looks like a carbon copy of the stuvi buildings, not appropriate for the concrete east campus.

Under that plan, where would the acadamy have gone?
 
dentist said:
Thought I would share this article with you. Nothing really new but it does talk about the summer renovations and planned LAW renovation and expansion:

http://www.bu.edu/today/node/13178
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Green worship -- " In addition, the boilers in five buildings are being converted this summer from oil to natural gas systems, reducing BU’s carbon footprint by another 0.7 percent, Carlberg says. "

Nothing wrong with converting to natural gas -- but just what is a 0.7% reduction in a carbon footprint -- when I look at my footprint -- 0.7% is a small fraction of my smallest toe
 
whighlander said:
Green worship -- " In addition, the boilers in five buildings are being converted this summer from oil to natural gas systems, reducing BU’s carbon footprint by another 0.7 percent, Carlberg says. "

Nothing wrong with converting to natural gas -- but just what is a 0.7% reduction in a carbon footprint -- when I look at my footprint -- 0.7% is a small fraction of my smallest toe
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I think this is just a nicer way of saying that BU will save a butt-load of money...oh and save the environment! (marginally). Natural gas is much cheaper than oil (http://www.bu.edu/sustainability/what-were-doing/energy/boiler-efficiency-upgrad/)
 
Just 2 years ago, BU was telling us how stupid LEED was because it required a fee to be accredited or whatever.

And now theyre all onboard the LEED train. I guess those rankings which put BU near the bottom of the environmentally friendly list had an affect.
 
We've talked in the past about Commonwealth Avenue's past as Boston's original "Automobile Row".

Boston University Today has an essay on this subject, complete with video and photos (some before-and-after conversion from car dealerships to BU academic buildings)
 
Ron Newman said:
We've talked in the past about Commonwealth Avenue's past as Boston's original "Automobile Row".

Boston University Today has an essay on this subject, complete with video and photos (some before-and-after conversion from car dealerships to BU academic buildings)
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Fantastic article.

I knew many of the buildings were auto related, but I hadnt realzied that damn near all of them were, like the Shaws.
 
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