|
|
|
Under the Stars Camp explorer |
|
|
|
My Town  |
Build It World |
|
Cloud Climber  |
|
Space Odyssey  |
Water works  |
Home / Public Beautification Projects
Posted by: Crystal - 3/9/2007 9:34:35 AM
Any news on how this projectis coming along? It doesnt look like anything is under construction, same ole' city hall.
Posted by: Dave S - 3/11/2007 9:58:48 AM
I was wondering when this is going to be built too. I think it's one of the more essential projects downtown. Anybody know when they are going to break ground?
Posted by: Brett - 3/26/2007 10:23:40 AM
This project is more important than any of the condo projests on the boards and way more interesting than another "ultra lounge." In fact it's one of the few things that I've seen proposed that I can't react cynically to. Hopefully this isn't just another pretty picture but something that will soon become bricks and mortar.
Posted by: Mike Van H - 3/26/2007 1:10:13 PM
I agree Brett! I have an email into Chris Riche to ask fo a status report, I will post it as soon as I get one. Last time I checked, he already had completed the capital-raising phase of it, with the help of may donations from local businesses and the City of Reno.
Posted by: Ryan - 5/31/2007 9:45:30 AM
Sounds like a "Challenger Learning Center" may share the space. http://news.rgj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070524/NEWS10/705240339/1016/NEWS
Posted by: Justin - 11/1/2007 5:33:58 AM
Just an update....it looks like the target opening date has been pushed back until Spring 2009 based on their website. I really support their efforts and think this is a very worthwhile project. I'm wondering if this delay is due to a shortfall of money. I've heard practically nothing about this project in the local news media....someone needs to get the word out there.
Posted by: Mike Van H - 11/1/2007 11:17:39 PM
Greetings Justin. I can tell you its actively under construction. I hear banging, ripping, sawing, drilling etc coming from the building every day. Remember, they are literally ripping apart the entire interior including walls, infrastructure etc. They are raising nearly all the money from scratch, so this construction project, although consistently moving forward, isnt moving as fast as say the Montage. There isnt a crew of 200 working on the Discovery Museum, Im not sure how many are working on it, but I am guessing maybe 5-15. I could be wrong though, thats just around how many workers I have seen go in there from time to time.
Posted by: Justin - 11/2/2007 5:34:19 AM
Thanks for the update! :)
Posted by: Anne Vohl - 12/28/2007 10:25:52 AM
The old City Hall is, to me, one of the few nice-looking buildings in downtown Reno. It is my view from my law office window. I hope that whatever its future use its exterior design is not altered. I hate what happened to the old Virginia Street Convention Center, and fear the same for this building if some restraint is not used.
Posted by: Justin - 12/29/2007 8:58:28 AM
I'm sorry, but the old city hall building is BORING. Besides, it's going to be a Childrens Museum so I'm sure they will use bold colors and differing angles in the design in order to create some interest and a sense of "liveliness". In it's current form there is nothing nice or unique about the building IMO. It could be a million different buildings in a million different cities around the world. As for the Convention Center Virginia Street frontage design, I often hear this complaint and laugh. It's not perfect, but surely it's better than the giant white box that preceeded it (and still remains on the other sides)? Oh well, you can't please everyone.
Posted by: RenoSteve - 1/3/2008 5:56:28 AM
Aileen, See Mike's link here... http://www.downtownmakeover.com/downtown_reno/Nevada_Discovery_Museum.asp
Posted by: Paul Hauser - 1/17/2008 9:20:55 AM
Updating your information on the status of the NDM: The construction drawings were submitted to the City of Reno Building Department for plan check and review on 1/11/08. The City will take 8 - 10 weeks to review and comment on those drawings. Once we pull our building permit, the General Contractor, Q & D Construction, will require 12 -13 months to complete the project. The current building abatement contractor will complete his work by 2/10/08. Paul Hauser NDM Facilities Chair
Posted by: Anne Vohl - 1/30/2008 1:15:10 PM
Justin, I disagree. I think the old City Hall is very different looking inside and out. Have traveled the world, and have never seen anything like it. Quite unique. I don't know who the architect was, but I think he/she did a good job. Of course, the architect of Convention Cnter was Richard Neutra, and we have completely obliterated his work. Whether or not children will enjoy and benefit from a children's museum has noting whatsoever to do with color on the outside. Consider the Exploratorium in San Francisco. Consider Boston Museum of Science. Consider Franklin Institute in PHiladelphia. It is what is inside of the museum that counts fo children.
Nevada Discovery Museum
UPDATE 3/29/07 - PROGRESS REPORT:
A lot of readers have been wondering what is going on with the Nevada Discovery Museum. Well I got the goods for ya. One of the challenges in dealing with a multi-year project where you are starting from scratch with a new organization, need to raise millions, and then spend a year or more on renovation, etc. is people can wonder if it is moving forward even when things are going great.They are making great progress building their team including:
-getting ready to expand their Board by roughly 50% with some key CEOs and others ready to join, and
-adding key functional expertise including HR and Program Development to position them for continued success going forward.They are making great progress on moving the renovation process forward:
-nearing completion (95%+) of the building Design Development document stage (follows Schematic Design and refines all the key systems, etc. decisions before the Construction Documents are prepared),
- starting the abatement work on the building, and
- refining project costs going forward based on the Design Documents.They are making great progress on the capital campaign front:
- receiving their largest grant to-date (a well over $1M challenge grant) this month, and
- receiving multiple gifts at record or near record giving levels from individuals and organizations.
- They are still targeting a 2008 Opening Date. New pics below!
SOME BACKGROUND INFO: The Nevada Discovery Museum REALLY reminds of when I was a kid, and my dad used to take me to the Los Angeles Children's Museum in downtown L.A. all the time, almost on a weekly basis because he worked for the City of L.A. in City Hall as a Senior Systems Analyst.
Perhaps that's where I gained my love for downtown urban jungles. Anyway, the L.A. Children's Museum was absolutely amazing. The last time I was there was around 1981 I believe, I bet it's even more amazing now; you could explore a cut-away of an entire L.A. street, from the building above to the layers of street down to the sewer and subway (which was just a concept back then). It had the world's largest lego room with endless amounts of legos to build things with, it had a huge room with gigantic poofy padding where kids could literally bounce off the walls, floors, and if you were clever, the ceiling. The end result is I gained knowledge in music, building, creative thinking, puzzle solving, and real-world education in ways that REALLY stick with a child, and I became interested in things, some of which stuck with me until today. I truly believe my weekly trips to that museum fostered much of the creativity I have today. They knew me by first name!
So this project means A LOT to me, because this is something I would love to take my nieces to and experience. Check out all the areas to explore! In fact it took a 125 page plan to explain all the activities proposed for this former City Hall space, which is only one block away from my office. So please please do everything you can to support this project! There is a City Hall meeting on Thursday, May 11.
Comments:
Post your commentsPosted by: Crystal - 3/9/2007 9:34:35 AM
Any news on how this projectis coming along? It doesnt look like anything is under construction, same ole' city hall.
Posted by: Dave S - 3/11/2007 9:58:48 AM
I was wondering when this is going to be built too. I think it's one of the more essential projects downtown. Anybody know when they are going to break ground?
Posted by: Brett - 3/26/2007 10:23:40 AM
This project is more important than any of the condo projests on the boards and way more interesting than another "ultra lounge." In fact it's one of the few things that I've seen proposed that I can't react cynically to. Hopefully this isn't just another pretty picture but something that will soon become bricks and mortar.
Posted by: Mike Van H - 3/26/2007 1:10:13 PM
I agree Brett! I have an email into Chris Riche to ask fo a status report, I will post it as soon as I get one. Last time I checked, he already had completed the capital-raising phase of it, with the help of may donations from local businesses and the City of Reno.
Posted by: Ryan - 5/31/2007 9:45:30 AM
Sounds like a "Challenger Learning Center" may share the space. http://news.rgj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070524/NEWS10/705240339/1016/NEWS
Posted by: Justin - 11/1/2007 5:33:58 AM
Just an update....it looks like the target opening date has been pushed back until Spring 2009 based on their website. I really support their efforts and think this is a very worthwhile project. I'm wondering if this delay is due to a shortfall of money. I've heard practically nothing about this project in the local news media....someone needs to get the word out there.
Posted by: Mike Van H - 11/1/2007 11:17:39 PM
Greetings Justin. I can tell you its actively under construction. I hear banging, ripping, sawing, drilling etc coming from the building every day. Remember, they are literally ripping apart the entire interior including walls, infrastructure etc. They are raising nearly all the money from scratch, so this construction project, although consistently moving forward, isnt moving as fast as say the Montage. There isnt a crew of 200 working on the Discovery Museum, Im not sure how many are working on it, but I am guessing maybe 5-15. I could be wrong though, thats just around how many workers I have seen go in there from time to time.
Posted by: Justin - 11/2/2007 5:34:19 AM
Thanks for the update! :)
Posted by: Anne Vohl - 12/28/2007 10:25:52 AM
The old City Hall is, to me, one of the few nice-looking buildings in downtown Reno. It is my view from my law office window. I hope that whatever its future use its exterior design is not altered. I hate what happened to the old Virginia Street Convention Center, and fear the same for this building if some restraint is not used.
Posted by: Justin - 12/29/2007 8:58:28 AM
I'm sorry, but the old city hall building is BORING. Besides, it's going to be a Childrens Museum so I'm sure they will use bold colors and differing angles in the design in order to create some interest and a sense of "liveliness". In it's current form there is nothing nice or unique about the building IMO. It could be a million different buildings in a million different cities around the world. As for the Convention Center Virginia Street frontage design, I often hear this complaint and laugh. It's not perfect, but surely it's better than the giant white box that preceeded it (and still remains on the other sides)? Oh well, you can't please everyone.
Posted by: RenoSteve - 1/3/2008 5:56:28 AM
Aileen, See Mike's link here... http://www.downtownmakeover.com/downtown_reno/Nevada_Discovery_Museum.asp
Posted by: Paul Hauser - 1/17/2008 9:20:55 AM
Updating your information on the status of the NDM: The construction drawings were submitted to the City of Reno Building Department for plan check and review on 1/11/08. The City will take 8 - 10 weeks to review and comment on those drawings. Once we pull our building permit, the General Contractor, Q & D Construction, will require 12 -13 months to complete the project. The current building abatement contractor will complete his work by 2/10/08. Paul Hauser NDM Facilities Chair
Posted by: Anne Vohl - 1/30/2008 1:15:10 PM
Justin, I disagree. I think the old City Hall is very different looking inside and out. Have traveled the world, and have never seen anything like it. Quite unique. I don't know who the architect was, but I think he/she did a good job. Of course, the architect of Convention Cnter was Richard Neutra, and we have completely obliterated his work. Whether or not children will enjoy and benefit from a children's museum has noting whatsoever to do with color on the outside. Consider the Exploratorium in San Francisco. Consider Boston Museum of Science. Consider Franklin Institute in PHiladelphia. It is what is inside of the museum that counts fo children.
