The Dartmouth gives an update on the construction of the Berry Row landscaping.

The central path looks as if it will curve slightly, as shown in the OPDC plan, rather than take a straight shot as suggested by the Burck plan.

The OPDC continues its photo essay on the Bradley/Gerry demolition, and the buildings are almost completely gone.

The OPDC continues its generous photographic documentation of the Bradley/Gerry demolition: one view shows Kemeny with Berry in the background, as it was meant to be seen, although just a little bit of Bradley is still standing.

The Dartmouth has a photo of the demolition of the Shower Towers. OPDC also has several images.

The Kemeny/Haldeman project page notes that the patterns in the building’s decorative brick display a Fibonacci sequence (0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, etc.). The pattern comprises a field of soldier-course bricks from which certain bricks protrude.

The Math Department’s previous headquarters, Bradley Hall (connected to Gerry Hall as the “Shower Towers”), was known to display some pattern in the arrangement of its blue, green, and white tiles, although what it represented did not seem to be commonly known.

[Update 12.31.2006: information on pattern added.]

Bradley-Gerry demolition is underway. The granite cladding will be reused in other projects.

One particularly appealing photo from the photo page shows the buildings’ memorable old Modernist chairs with their built-in writing surfaces.

Google’s recent acquisition of the garage where it began as a company in 1998 and the preservation of the garage where Hewlett and Packard began working in 1938 point out the importance of documenting Bradley and Gerry Halls and marking their sites after they are demolished, since they have some role in the history of computing. Demolition begins as soon as this month.

Bradley is not, however, the place where Kemeny and Kurtz and others created BASIC in 1964, as reported here in “A Plea for the Shower Towers.” A College news release states that BASIC was invented in College Hall, and that is indeed where the school put its GE-235 during February of 1964 after taking delivery of it. BASIC first ran that May and the school moved the machines to the existing Bradley Hall later.

The Office of Planning, Design & Construction has revealed an unusual schedule of all the buildings and other construction projects to be completed on campus through October, 2010. This comes with a larger version of the master plan than has been available in the past. The documents state that:

-Bradley-Gerry demolition will end during September, 2007.

-The Life Sciences Building, which will stand east of Vail/Remsen, will be built starting early during 2007, with design starting soon. No architect seems to have been announced yet.

-Design for the dining hall to replace Thayer Hall will begin this summer. No architect has been announced for this project either, although Centerbrook was involved in the master planning for the student center area.

The Review has posted its latest issue, which includes a list of projects underway, some stats for the north campus, and a thoughtful article on the new construction by Joseph Rago, who quotes Dean Redman on the planning of the new dorms north of Maynard: “We learned from our mistakes in East Wheelock[.]”

Remember, you heard about the “mini-mansard” here first!   (Actually, mini-mansard is probably not the right word, since the roof does not slope at the gable ends: perhaps it is a cryptogambrel?)

A variety of views and plans of Kemeny Haldeman have appeared on line, including a plan of the building that indicates that it will have two mirror-image entrances on Main Street that bear different names.   One obviously is Kemeny, the other Haldeman.

The brick polychromy in the building’s walls might be interpreted to represent computer codes, but I read it as more of a Dutch influence; the firm uses brick patterns in the McLaughlin cluster too.

The Math Department has a detailed photo album depicting the project that includes February view of the future basement, viewed toward the Shower Towers and away from them (that used to be Bradley Court, which never seemed that great).

Trustees are moving ahead on planning, The Dartmouth reports.:

• Construction on the Maynard Street dormitory is set to begin in less than eight months.
• Designs for Kemeny Hall have been presented, construction to begin fall 2003.

• Bradley and Gerry will be demolished.
• Phi Tau will be moved west (toward Main Street).
• A new parking garage at the Thayer School was approved.

A Plea for the Shower Towers updated with new photos.