Another one of I. M. Pei’s most well known pieces is the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame located in Cleveland, Ohio.  The building was designed by Pei and was dedicated in 1995.  The building has a very unique appearance, and is made up of 7 levels.  The museum is on the shore of Lake Erie  and houses exhibits of famous people, places, eras, and genres that have influenced the development of the Rock and Roll Art Form.  This piece is, to me, a great collaboration between two distinctly different forms of art.  The building is an architectural masterpiece, and it houses masterpieces of music from decades past.  The museum itself is 55,000 square feet and, according to Pei, was designed to “echo the energy of rock and roll.” A central 162 foot tall tower supports what looks to be a large glass tent leaning against the side of the tower.  The building also houses cafes, stores, and offices for the museum.

Colin Pomeroy

Architecture 3013

Blog Assignment

April 21, 2020

Blog 2 (1)

            For this particular blog, I was assigned the French architect and urbanist, which goes by the name of Christian de Portzamparc. He is well known for a multitude of structures and buildings, but for this blog, I will be discussing the LVMH Tower located in New York City. This building is the United States headquarters for Louis Vuitton, and was a prestigious honor for one to get to design. The 24-story building, which is located near Madison Avenue, first opened in the year of 1999. Due to the architectural features of this building, Christian de Portzamparc has received an incredible amount of praise from many of the architectural critics from around the world.

The building process began in 1996 and took a little over three years to complete. As one can see by the image below, it was not an easy task to complete. This is due to the location of the building, as it is extremely close in proximity to other towers and buildings. The tower itself is entirely made of glass, and it was constructed in two sections, which consisted of the 11-story base and the remaining 13 floors on the upper section. With that in mind, the glass exterior is made of different styled or colored glass for a more complex and conceptual design. The design of this tower was said to resemble a flower unfolding its pedals, which is seen in the angled glass on both sections. Also, much like the exterior of the building, the interior is made of glass and metal giving it the modernized atmosphere.

Overall, this is a spectacular building and is known as one of the best architecturally designed building within the city. The time and effort that Christian de Portzamparc put into this building was well worth it, as the building is a masterpiece. The elegance of this building is far and above many of the surrounding buildings, and it will continue to keep the legacy of Christian de Portzamparc alive for years to come.

Work Cited:

“LVMH Tower.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 17 Aug. 2019,

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LVMH_Tower.

Colin Pomeroy

Architecture 3013

Blog Assignment

March 3, 2020

Blog 1 (3)

            When I look back on the many building I have interacted with growing up, one of the building that was very influential and made a large impact on my life was the gym I attended during high school. This particular building was one I interacted with and used on a daily basis. Whether I was by myself or with friends, I was constantly making memories within this building. The first time I saw the structure, I knew it had an immense amount of potential. This building gave me a sense of inspiration and motivation to better myself.

This gym is known as Lifetime Fitness, and it is located in the southern parts of Tulsa, Oklahoma. When observing the images below, one is able to see the magnificent architectural features if this building and the variety of amenities this particular building withholds. This architectural design features an incredible number of windows, which lets in an immense amount of light. This gives a sense of welcome and made me feel motivated to better my body. Also, the landscaping and the surrounding areas of the gym were immaculate. This made the gym seem more luxurious and inviting. After observing the architectural aspects of the exterior and the interior, I knew this gym would be a place where I can excel in many different aspects and shape me into a healthier human.

With that in mind, this building has always affected me in a positive manner. This is because I have always been persistent in staying as healthy as possible. Going to the gym is something that makes me feel more productive and optimistic throughout the day. It is also a place that allowed me to make many unforgettable memories. In high school, my friends and I would spend most of the day there either playing basketball, working out, or just hanging by the pool. Regardless of what we were partaking in, we always enjoyed our time in this particular gym. This is why this building will forever have a positive influence on my life.

The Louvre in Paris France is one of the most well known art museum’s in the world today.  It houses many famous pieces of art inside.  The museum itself, however, is actually a very impressive piece of art.  One part of the Louvre’s design is the Glass Pyramid which was designed by I. M. Pei.  The pyramid was opened in 1989 and is still an iconic image to this day.  Tourists are often seen taking pictures while creating illusions with this pyramid.  The famous large glass pyramid is actually surrounded by three smaller glass pyramids as well.  Pei was commissioned by the President of France at the time to complete this piece, which speaks to his notoriety as an architect.  The pyramid was, however, criticized by many who claimed that the very chic and modern design was not a fit to the backdrop of the much more classical style of the rest of the palace. The pyramid is definitely well known, and none can argue that it was one of Pei’s most famous pieces.

Colin Pomeroy

Architecture 3013

Blog Assignment

March 3, 2020

Blog 1 (2)

            Throughout my life, I have interacted with a multitude of buildings. One building that was influential to me was one of the elementary schools I attended growing up. This building is one that I interacted with on a daily basis, and I have many memories engrained in my head that I will always remember. From the first day I saw the school, I was unsure about the atmosphere. It was much different from the other schools in the area because it was more modernized and was ran by an entirely new system. Although the architectural aspects of the school were new and far superior from the other elementary schools, this was a building that had a negative effect on my life and caused me to endure many frustrating times.

This particular building is Barnes Elementary School, and it is located in Owasso, Oklahoma. In the images below, one is able to see the more modernized aspects of the school. This school was built in 2014, and continues to be one of the newest schools in the city. Due to the newer aspects of the structure, it attracts kids from all different parts of the city. The main entrance is a large glass structure, which allows an immense of light in. This allows the school to feel welcoming, but after my experience there, I found out that I had the wrong impression about the school.

With this in mind, this building continually affected me in a negative way. This was unfortunate because I always tried to remain positive throughout the situation. I only attended the school for one year, which was good and bad. This was good in the sense that I only had to endure schooling there for a year, but it also didn’t allow me to establish any friendships. Due to this, I did not have many people to rely on and be there for each other in certain situations. For example, I was sent to the principal’s office one day for something I did not do, and I did not have anyone to back me up in the situation. With no help on my side, I had to partake in the punishment, which was detention. This was at the beginning of my time there, and because of that, I was always uneasy about the school. Although there were good memories at that particular school, the negative ones were more influential and something I will never forget.

Colin Pomeroy

Architecture 3013

Blog Assignment

March 3, 2020

Blog 1 (1)

            As I progressed throughout my life, one building that was extremely influential to me was the school I attended growing up. This building is one that I interacted with each and every day and shaped me into who I am today. From the first day I saw the school, I was amazed by the architectural aspects of the exterior. Also, the surrounding campus had its own distinctive aspects that set it apart from other campuses in the city. Without seeing the interior of the building, I was inspired and knew that it would be an atmosphere that I can excel in and better my future.

This particular building is known as Cascia Hall Preparatory School, which is located in Tulsa, Oklahoma. As one can see from the images below, this building is an extremely beautiful and unique. This school was founded in 1926 by the Order of St. Augustine, and the first structures of the school were built in the same year. It was originally a boarding school for men only, but in 1986 the school evolved into a co-educational day school. This required the school to architecturally adapt to these changes by renovating the building itself. Most of these renovations remain the same today with only a few additions in the past 34 years. This is what makes the building so unique and picturesque.

This building, and the surrounding campus, always affected me in a positive way. This is because I never failed to create unforgettable memories and experiences each day I attended. Although there were times of negatively, just being surrounded by the building and campus allowed me to continually find the positives in the hard times I was experiencing. With that in mind, another way this building positively impacted me was hearing from those whom saw the school for the first time. There were countless times when others complemented the beauty and the distinctive aspects of the building, which caused me to feel extremely blessed to be able to attend such a building on a daily basis.

Louise Sullivan Building #4 – Guaranty Building

This is the fourth building that I am writing my blog on, which Louise Sullivan designed. The Guaranty Building is formerly called the Prudential Building. It was built in Buffalo, New York. The building was finished in 1896 and it was an early skyscraper there. The building is established as a National Historic Landmark. This building was also designed by Alder as well. It is recognized as one of Sullivan’s and is an outstanding example of his innovations. Ornamentation is something that I have found to be common in Sullivan’s buildings. According to my research, “the Guaranty Building makes ornament the focus through the use of terra cotta to cover two full exterior surfaces.” (https://www.hodgsonruss.com/Louis-Sullivans-Guaranty-Building.html)

The Ornamentation on this building was inspired by flowers, seedpods, and, at the top of the building, the spreading branches of a tree. This is something that I find very cool. Sullivan’s use of ornaments makes me think he wanted to bridge the buildings (and some of his other buildings) with the natural world.

Situated in the mountains, this house stands out with its angles and stonework. Rick Joy, like usual, features the landscape with the large windows. I love how well this house fits into its surroundings. The stonework itself, according to his website, comes from local areas. I’m a big fan of the wood burning fireplaces. It looks like it would be very cozy during a winter.

This building stood out to me because of how futuristic it looks. Not only does the outside look futuristic, but so does the interior. The interior is a clean white theme with circular door ways in some areas making it seem as if you’re in the year 2099. This building caught my eye because of the fish bowl looking windows on the outside. As odd as it may look, i personally like it and wouldn’t mind seeing buildings like this more often around the United States. Sadly, Jurgen does most of his work in Germany.