Comments on: Emerald isle

By: Jim in New Orleans

Jim in New Orleans — Sat, 22 Sep 2012 17:20:06 +0000

An array of opinions as diverse as the campus community itself! Interesting that Mr. McDonald uses an innocent comment regarding the greenery to springboard an indictment of the BC students, suggesting they no longer have faith in God? How horribly judgmental.

Anyway, beautiful idea! IMHO opinion, any investment that beautifies a campus glorifies God and contributes to the embrace of the place. I sink my dollars into BC so my daughter can attend this wonderful place and it is money well spent. It looks very serene and inviting, not quite as much as Linden Lane but beautiful nonetheless. Great job!!

By: Alexander '10

Alexander '10 — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 12:56:18 +0000

The library is designed in the International style in the 1980s, not the brutalist style popular in the 50s and 60s. Either way, wouldn’t we be kidding ourselves if we plastered a new facade over the current one to match the other buildings? The juxtaposition to the other buildings in the plaza was intentional, as was the expansive brick plaza. The green seems like a nice change, I’m just wondering where the Arts Fest will now be held.

By: maicol

maicol — Mon, 03 Sep 2012 17:41:28 +0000

hy everybody, my name’s Maicol, i’m an italian guy. I always watch usa collegial and universitary websites. I think BC is the most beautiful campus…always in renovation…this plaza is wonderful, the world need trees! congratulations and let’s go eagles!

By: Paul Smith - Newton MA

Paul Smith - Newton MA — Sun, 26 Aug 2012 01:34:47 +0000

Three cheers for the contractor — what an amazing feat, to have completed such a complex project in such a short time. Great job!

By: Michael V. Phelan '81

Michael V. Phelan '81 — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 15:31:13 +0000

This should have been an element of the original construction and is thus long overdue, especially given the disappearance of green space throughout the campus over the years of continual internal growth. The impact of density should be considered in each future development. “Brutalism” notwithstanding, O’Neil Library still looks unfinished decades after its purported completion. As a sidenote there is an obituary in the June 25 NY Times for one of the chief architects of that brutal architectural style – Gerhard Kallman. It is good to read in this commentary space that Boston College appeals to and produces graduates ably prepared to join a broad spectrum of society, from thinkers to those ever skeptical of them.

By: Daniel J. Degan '74

Daniel J. Degan '74 — Fri, 22 Jun 2012 18:09:55 +0000

True about O’Neill, it’s Brutalist style is unlikely to age gracefully, but, yes, replacing it would be prohibitively costly. Why not plant ivy at its base and watch it gradually cover those hard planes?

One thing positive about it is that the library’s contrasting presence serves to underscore its neighbors’ beauty.

By: Harry Peurach

Harry Peurach — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 02:12:07 +0000

I agree with Brian Cummins’ comments above–we shouldn’t be too proud to admit that the O’Neil library is an eyesore that clashes with the rest of the Middle Campus. BC would be in good company if it decided to do something about it–Williams College’s alumni recently campaigned successfully to do something about their unsightly sleek new library. They had no trouble raising money to completely replace it. That seems expensive and wasteful, but a Devlin-style remodel might be reasonable.

By: Don Giampietro'86

Don Giampietro'86 — Mon, 18 Jun 2012 20:21:08 +0000

Beautiful.. please continue expanding the green space and beautification throughout lower campus as well….

By: Rutagambwa

Rutagambwa — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 13:29:13 +0000

The idea is genius. Congratulation BC! Ever to excel in beauty as well!!!

By: Sharon Kent '79

Sharon Kent '79 — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 00:32:53 +0000

I shudder to think of the cost of this campus beautification project. If this were a new space, I’d fully support a green look. But to tear up the existing plaza just to add more green is a misguided use of funds. I suspect it’s vanity projects like this that contribute to the ever escalating costs of attending BC. This year’s freshman class will pay more than $58K!