They're putting up a new federal courthouse in Springfield Mass

[bean fidhleir]

I cycled into town today and on Main Street noticed that they're putting up a new federal courthouse.

The gods-damned thing is all glass!

It's going to be an oven in summer and an icebox in winter (to the extent that there are winters).

It's the architectural equivalent of a Humvee.

What could the architect have been thinking about???

[Turbineguy]

1. Springfield

http://www.rolls-royce.com/northamerica/history/default.htm

There was a Democrat in the White House then.

[bean fidhleir]

3. Rollers, eh? I never knew that.

Of course, Springfield was really the birthplace of the car - the Duryea - even if the brothers couldn't get their act together. Maybe somebody in town should try inventing a new kind of car, now that The Big Three are on the slide to the fossil record.

[DS1]

2. It's a metaphor of transparent gubmint?

:shrug:

[bean fidhleir]

4. I thought of that, but surely expensive symbolism should take a back seat to reality?

How could trained architects possibly not realize what a gigantic energy sink that place is going to be? It's madness.

[DS1]

5. beats me

there are some tall glass buildings which are efficient with new internal designs and sound thinking.

[cloudythescribbler]

6. It's STATE street not main st. and you can't tell by looking what it's energy efficiency will be

although I suspect you are right that the whole thing is inefficient.

I live in Springfield and the corruption is TOTAL in every sphere.
No doubt plenty of hands were greased and itches scratched on this deal.

[bean fidhleir]

8. You're right of course. Now that you say it, I can remember pedaling uphill after

turning off from Main toward the Armory. Sorry about the confusion. I'll bet on it being an energy disaster tho - the only place it might work is in, e.g., Seattle, where it rains all the time.

Since you live there, what do you think of Ryan being replaced by Albano(?) - good or bad?

[cloudythescribbler]

11. don't hold your breath waiting for Springfield govt to turn over a (+) new leaf

[dawgman]

7. I work in construction for a large GC

and have built two VERY energy efficient glass condo highrises.

Low-e glass with a tint by a good curtain wall manufacturer can be quite efficient actually.

[bean fidhleir]

9. I suppose this glass could be tinted, but it doesn't look it and is definitely

not reflective - all the energy will go right on through and be trapped. It even has a glass roof in spots!

[dawgman]

10. Trust me. there are many ways to make this type of building

efficient.

My company's offices are almost entirely glass, ceiling and walls and the building is LEED certified.

This building is LEED gold.