Wilma: That story about Irvine's history is an urban legend. It was actually designed by prominent architect Horace Trumbauer (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horace_Trumbauer), who was also responsible for the Keswick Theatre, the Public Ledger Building, and campus buildings for Hahnemann, Jefferson, Duke, Harvard, and the Tyler School of Art.
And, on a related and timely note: I don't know if they still do it, but it used to be that every year, around Hallowe'en, the original silent version of "The Phantom of the Opera" would be shown at Irvine, with accompaniment on the Curtis Organ. Dave -----Original Message----- From: Wilma de Soto <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; UnivCity listserv <[email protected]> Sent: Fri, 24 Oct 2008 6:41 pm Subject: Re: [UC] relevance of comment on Inky article critizing the design of the Perelman Center I went there on Sept. 26th for GI because it’s moved to the 4th floor in the Perelman Center. They have built and named new streets in order to enter the Free Parking Garage for Patients. (try to find it!) It was quiet, not crowded and easy to get through because it’s not quite finished. Still, it is ugly, forbidding and most certainly not pedestrian friendly as most of Penn’s modern buildings. Gee, everyone thought Irvine Auditorium was poorly designed, but he forced them to construct it because he became rich and donated money despite not making it at Penn’s School of Architecture. I also hate that Lego building at 40th & Chestnut Sts. On 10/24/08 4:21 PM, "[EMAIL PROTECTED]" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Beloved friends and neighbors: Inga Saffron wrote an article in the Inquirer berating the architectural design of Penn's new Perelman Cancer Center across from CHOP. One of the reader comments -- as follows -- could well have been written about our own monstrous consequence of Penn's lack of architectural sensitivity. Inga Saffron is an architecture critic, and what she has done is appropriately critiqued the style of this building, not its internal qualifications as a treatment center. Pandering for sympathy is not going to change the fact that architecturally, this building doesn't do its job. Yes, hospitals have to accommodate vehicles, but in a city any building has a responsibility to do its part relating to its surroundings. This building may do its job as a hospital, but it completely ignores its surroundings and the city, and pays only attention to its insular purpose. As architecture it has failed. Al Krigman reminding you that you read it first, here, on the popu-list Play online games for FREE at Games.com! All of your favorites, no registration required and great graphics – check it out! <http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100000075x1211202682x1200689022/aol?redir=http://www.games.com?ncid=emlcntusgame00000001>
