Viewing 20 Somerset in a new light: Building could have LED displays
by Dan Salerno
New details emerged about Suffolk University?s proposed art school building at 20 Somerset Street, including the possibility that a prominent corner of the structure could be illuminated by digital art displays.
Architectural consultant Alex Krieger showed design renderings of all four of the building?s facades, showing the public the same glass-dominated design that was revealed to the task force earlier in the month.
Two new striking potential features shown to the public will offer the university an opportunity to showcase student work. Most notably, a corner of the building above the Somerset Street entrance may be used for a large LED display to project works of art.
?This corner will help to illuminate and reveal the sidewalk,? said Krieger, while it also enables the university to promote students? artwork.
One side of the building would also feature a sidewalk gallery behind translucent glass that would enable pedestrians to see displays of student art.
The goal is to make the building not simply an academic enclave, but a part of the cultural fabric of the neighborhood, said Krieger.
The tower design, as shown earlier in the month, is dominated by a mixture of translucent and more reflective glass facades. The more opaque fa?ade will create a reserved backdrop to the Garden of Peace to the north, said Krieger. The south facing facade, meanwhile, will be more transparent, allowing those in Roemer Plaza to see activity inside the building.
As was revealed at the last task force meeting, university officials also want to use the building and the redesigned Roemer Plaza to commemorate the contributions of the Metropolitan District Commission (MDC), a group formerly housed at the location that helped to preserve much of the state?s important green spaces. The commemoration could include historical plaques and displays worked into the brickwork and steps of the plaza, as well as displays inside the building.
"It was a very helpful and informative meeting for the Suffolk design team,? said Suffolk Vice President John Nucci. ?What's really becoming clear is that there is a very strong positive reaction to replacing the existing, dangerously decayed structure with a new, bold, and exciting building. We're also excited about remembering the accomplishments of the MDC by using the existing outdoor plaza and display areas inside the building."
