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Model Details - Part 4

January 21, 2008 8:15 PM

COMMENT

Here's the fourth in what looks like it will be a five-part collection of photos from the model unveiling on October 30. In case you joined us late, I'm doing this because things are quiet and I can get back at some stuff I have in the vaults.

The Fifth Street side is pretty busy. There's a small street entrance to the B ramp, then ticket booths and an entrance gate, a rare exterior section not covered in limestone, the wooden screen covering the circulation ramps, the administration building, and finally (just out of view) the interface with Northstar. All of that sits behind the LRT action. How pedestrians will interact with this side of the park is a great mystery to me. You know that Metro Transit won't be letting them cross the tracks anywhere but at either end of the block...

Many people will approace the park from this direction and it's a pretty great first glimpse. It features all the design elements in modestly condensed form, and still manages to look like a ballpark (instead of something else).

Let's be honest and say that this promenade, which will face the HERC plant, won't be the most exciting part of the streetscape. It has to be provided for circulation reasons, but there won't be much to see unless vendors and other attractions take root here.

Here is Seventh Street viewed from the west looking toward downtown. This will probably be the most pedestrian-friendly side (other than the plaza), but only if there is some psychological barrier between the people on foot and the people in their dangerously fast-moving automobiles.

Here you can see the real beauty of the Seventh Street side, and get a solid sense of why the overall design really works. The building's purpose is clearly visible, there are numerous connections from inside to outside, scale is nicely mitigated, the stone is attractively used, materials are pleasantly mixed and truly complementary. It's just a winner in so many ways.

This is as close as I could get to a pedestrian-eye view of Seventh Street (looking west away from downtown). It's inviting, not imposing, and remarkably dignified.

Now, for some context, here's a view of where that facade will be built:

One thing I like to note is that the color of the HERC plant is not that far off from the colors we've seen for the limestone. I doubt that this was intentional, but it gives us a small glimpse into what the setting sun will look like on the ballpark facade.

Magical.

Tomorrow, the administration building and a few closing overviews of the whole model.

Comments

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That limestone facade along with the glass is going to look amazing! I am still anxious to see some "night time" renderings with the halo of lights and the green grass with the skyline and plaza lit up.

Posted on January 21, 2008 at 10:54 PM by Luke 1

Awesome Rick...thanks for all the work. Great pics that we haven't seen before.

Can't help but notice the "SANTANA" banners on the outside of the park...(sigh) - if only Carl (and sons!) would wise up and realize what an asset (THE best pitcher in baseball/fan favorite/attendance and marketing machine) he is.

Posted on January 22, 2008 at 01:46 AM by Excited 2

Is this model the final design? If so, I'm disappointed that they went with that restaurant building in center field. The video and renderings did not include it, but now it's back in the model. Can anybody clarify?

Posted on January 22, 2008 at 2:29 PM by Wha'Happend? 3

I should have said this up front, but this version of the model DOES NOT represent the final design. The video rendering was different and more accurate at the time.

It's likely that the model has been updated since I took these photos to reflect, among other things, the removal of that batter's eye restaurant.

Posted on January 22, 2008 at 2:56 PM by Rick 4

Rick,

I have a question. I linked your photo of the 3rd baseline seats meeting RF. Could they have made a better transition than this from baseline seats to outfield seats? It just looks weird - I can't say I like or dislike, it just looks funky. And I completely agree with whoever said the separate section of premium seats behind the plate is tragic. Yes the limestone separation of the section of field-level seats is asthetically pleasing, but the fact this seating section is separate period is ugly and also takes away from seating capacity. There could be chairs in those empty spaces separating the premium seats from the regular mezzanine seats.

Other than those two gripes, the place looks simply grand. I'm so glad they're building a somewhat unique ballpark and not the typical HOK cookie-cutter, one-size-fits-all ballpark like they did in St. Louis.

Posted on January 22, 2008 at 3:46 PM by kevin in mn 5

Kevin, The area seperating the lower deck is a horizontal aisle. Which I think is great for roaming the stadium and for venders too. And judging by the "model in progress" on the Twins website it is just that. But oddly, some but not all, of the vertical aisles connect to it. Click on my name for link. 2nd photo from the right. Also looking at the video animation. It appears that about every other vertical aisle connects with that horizontal aisle.

Posted on January 22, 2008 at 5:29 PM by John 6

Correction, 1st baseline seats. This cold air up here is freezing my brain cells. Thank god only one more day until I can thaw out in AZ.

Posted on January 22, 2008 at 5:41 PM by kevin in mn 7

In the second picture, it looks like the seats in the furthest upper deck section on the 3rd base side could have obstructed views of left field because they are hung over that building?

Did you notice that Rick or is that an optical illusion?

Posted on January 22, 2008 at 8:14 PM by Jon 8

Thanks John, I feel a little better now.

Posted on January 22, 2008 at 11:45 PM by kevin in mn 9

wtf?

Posted on April 10, 2011 at 8:15 PM by bulldog 10

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"You talk about the magic, the aura, but what really makes a stadium is the fans. Concrete doesn't talk back to you. Chairs don't talk back to you. It's the people who are there, day in, day out, that makes the place magic."

– Bernie Williams

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Here are 50 images chosen randomly from the 3004 found on this site. Click the image to be taken to the original post. A new list is created every 10 minutes.

Carew atrium menu part 1

Met Stadium seat colors (click for the complete image)

Sign installer dude

This looks south and shows how the Northstar tracks are sheltered by the promenade above. This is the side which faces the HERC plant.

Photo by Tyler Wycoff

Pawlenty makes it official!

I realized I've never shown how the walkway over Seventh Street meets the A ramp

You write the caption...

Circulation ramps: Wrigley (classic, integrated) and Kauffman (modern, external)

This is the left field pavilion in the original concept model. The restaurant pictured to its right has been moved, and the seating area has been extended at least one full section toward center.

The parking bay structure is now clearly visible

Concept drawing of Coomer gate (click to enlarge)

Team pennant. (Click to enlarge.)

This was billed as a diagram of a super-suite. I'm not quite sure just where this (or these) will be located.

I could gaze at this streetscape all day. It isn't perfect, but as a model for Minneapolis, I love it. (Except the Biff, of course. Click to enlarge.)