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bloody architects

Tue, 2 Sept 2008, 09:08 pm
David Ashton22 posts in thread
I had a call-out today to a new school theatre, less than a year old.The house lighting system is too complex for the staff to work and no manual. The step lights have been glued in, some are already dead. There are electric winches on all 6 bars. There is no ladder, one is supposed to focus lights by raising and lowering bars till you get them all right. Having spent all this money on bells and whistles they could only afford 20 parcans 6 fresnels and 4 cyc lights and the parcans are open backed single insulated- for kids? No profiles. So a million dollars on [my guess] we have a non functional teaching venue. This is a state school paid for by tax-payers. How do they get away with it?

HOENIX @ The Naked Chook Pen!

Mon, 29 Sept 2008, 07:18 pm
On Sunday members of the group went into the venue, to find the windows had been smashed, overnight by some helpful soul. The glazier boarded them up, which in one respect saves us from covering the windows during the show.
But we are not fortunate, as he will be back on Tuesday to replace the glass. Maybe he could put tinted glass back? That won't happen, because it would spoil the esthetic's, according to the Archytech. When we previously suggested installing automatic shutters or even the old wooden ones, in keeping with the heritage style & security.
 However as we are restricted in making any holes or attaching anything to the interior, we will have to come up with some way of reducing the outside light at night & sunlight for a matinée?
Thank gawd Hywell [Old mill] is going to be on hand again, to help me out.
After I nearly fell off the perch the other day, I had a word with David Ashton, about the situation & he came up with a great question? [which I hadn't thought about] How an Archytech can take a usable space & turn it into an unworkable venue. 
Although the initial budget was about $1.2 Million I believe, for the refurbishment. It has ended up costing allegedly $4 Million & still ain't finished! ! So has the  $50000 equipment budget, not actually been lost, as much as appropriated into the massive over run? Well as the amount is only petty cash & insignificant. In order to satisfy the exterior  achievement or a lasting artytectural  signature. - The community users are an unimportant factor!
In the mean time again it is left to those who with nothing, to turn it into a semblances of a workable performing art space again. Only costing hopefully a round of applause, to get the powers that be - off the hook! By turning a pigs R Send into a silk purse. 
Inevitably it will be a white elephant, as the new Liberal Government, will possibly reinstate the 'Roe' freeway extension, which is designated to go thru just behind the building. Which will be something to look forward too, as they finally got rid of the bus terminus, at the side of the hall. Now we could have a freeway running thru the carpark?

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