Design + Build

steven litt challenges clevelanders to think big, beautiful
Thomas Paine would be proud. At a time when it seems like every new idea is first floated online, Plain Dealer architecture critic Steven Litt has chosen good old-fashioned paper as the primary vehicle for his impassioned paean to beautiful surroundings, Designing a Better Cleveland.

"To the extent that Cleveland fails to make the most of public and private investments in buildings, highways, bridges, streets, parks and waterfronts, it will waste opportunities, fail to compete effectively with its peers and damage its economy," Litt writes in the introduction. "Everyone, in other words, has a stake in good design."

Litt calls the slim, gorgeously designed booklet "a mini-primer on the ways in which citizens, developers, planners and designers can raise standards of civic design in Cleveland." But it's clearly also meant to inspire.

"Economists may disagree over whether excellent architecture and urban amenities such as streetscapes, bike trails and waterfront parks are a cause or consequence of economic vitality," he writes. "Regardless, it never makes sense to spend a dollar on mediocrity when the same dollar can buy excellence. The reality is that great design demands greater effort -- on the part of clients, designers, government agencies and citizens. Cleveland continues to be plagued by a chronic sense of low self-esteem and by the notion that trying to improve the city through better design isn't worth the effort.

"THIS VOLUME REJECTS THAT VIEW."

The book grew out of Spectrum: the Lockwood Thompson Dialogues at the Cleveland Public Library, and was facilitated by Cleveland Public Art.

Since the book's inroduction in the PD, Cleveland Public Art has received nearly 200 calls requesting copies, according to executive director Gregory Peckham. "That seems like a good benchmark when it comes to the interest of the public about the subject of civic design," Peckham notes.

Designing a Better Cleveland is also available online as a PDF.



Source: Plain Dealer
Writer: Frank W. Lewis


chop shop: clevelander scott colosimo pulls off dream of building a motorcycle co.
Scott Colosimo had a dream to produce a stripped-down '60s-inspired motorcycle that looks like a million bucks but costs less than $5,000. Guess what? He pulled it off, launching a growing company called Cleveland CycleWerks.
akron architecture firm has designs on tremont
Domokur Architects, based in Akron since 1979, has expanded into Cleveland via a merger with Tremont-based Michael Augoustidis.

"We like the neighborhood," says Linsey Domokur, who handles business development, "and we like having a Cleveland presence." The new office, at Starkweather and Professor, will house three new hires, including a specialist in the healthcare industry.

The firm's healthcare portfolio includes the Geneva Medical Center addition at University Hospitals, Akron City Hospital's Palliative Care Pavillion and Chardon Surgery Center. The firm has also designed several buildings for the J.M. Smucker Company in Orrville , the Cleveland Metroparks' Canal Way Visitors' Center and the Conneaut Public Library.

Domokur also opened a Chicago office in September.




Source: Domokur
Writer: Frank W. Lewis
cavaliers move forward, with help from cleveland architecture firm and graphic design company
We can all be witnesses to the Cleveland Cavaliers' newest acquisition: a state-of-the-art team shop inside Quicken Loans Arena. Unveiled during the team's first preseason basketball game, the two-story shop is one of the largest in the NBA.

Cleveland's Herschman Architects designed the shop to be bright, modern and approachable. From the two-story glass facade to rows of neatly arranged merchandise inside, the shop is helping propel the team toward a new beginning.

Studio Graphique, a branding and way-finding firm located in Shaker Square, designed the signage and graphics package, which includes a miniature replica of the scoreboard above center court.

"We are proud of the results of this beautiful retail environment," says Rachel Downey, founder and principal of Studio Graphique.

Len Komoroski, president of the Cavaliers described the new team shop as a "world class shopping experience."

The new team shop is the latest in a line of amenities that have been added under the direction of Cavs owner Dan Gilbert.

"Whether it's the Team Shop, The Q, Cleveland Clinic Courts, or any arena on or off the court or ice, it is our commitment to deliver the ultimate experience for our fans that is second to none," Gilbert said in a prepared statement.


SOURCE: Studio Graphique
WRITER: Diane DiPiero

architecture critic steven litt debuts guide to urban design at CPA release party
Designed by local graphic design studio Rini Uva Lee, and published in partnership with the Cleveland Public Library and Cleveland Public Art, Plain Dealer writer Steven Litt's "Designing a Better Cleveland" is a pocket-sized guide to urban design and how public spaces are created in the city.

"Designing a Better Cleveland" is an outgrowth of a program called Civic Design & Inspired Infrastructure, which was held last year at the Cleveland Public Library through the annual series Spectrum: The Lockwood Thompson Dialogues.

"With so many major civic investments that have the potential to reshape the city's landscape taking place over the next several years, we believe that a book like this provides an easy to read, but still thought-provoking tool for Clevelanders who want to be engaged in these public processes," explains says Greg Peckham, executive director of Cleveland Public Art. "Designing a Better Cleveland is for everyone -- from neighborhood residents and elected officials to corporate leaders, design professionals and civic institutions."

A book release party will take place on Thursday, October 14, at 5:30 pm at Cleveland Public Art, located at 1951 West 26th Street.


cleveland institute of art prof kasumi snags vimeo award
While foodies were busy scarfing down burgers in Brooklyn, judges like David Lynch, Roman Coppola and Morgan Spurlock were in downtown Manhattan picking the winners of the very first Vimeo Awards ceremony at the SVA Visual Arts Theater in Chelsea. Just nine short films were selected out of 6,500 entries submitted from around the globe.

Snagging one of those nine prizes was local artist and Cleveland Institute of Art professor, Kasumi. Her short, "Breakdown the Video," which combines old footage from the 1940s and 1950s, snagged top honors in the Remix category.

Read about the other winners in the New York Times here.

Grab a small popcorn and check out Kasumi's short film here.

pittsburgh's pop city spreads the word about fresh water
In last week's issue of Pop City (yes, it's a sister IMG publication), writer Deb Smit reported on our dear publication.

"Fresh Water launches this month with the goods on Cleveland, news as it pertains to innovation, jobs, healthcare, lifestyle, design and arts and culture," she writes." The bubbly, blue homepage comes to life each Thursday with a fresh issue featuring vibrant photography and stories on the people shaking things up and the great places to visit."

Smit even encourages smitten Pittsburghers to subscribe. Thanks, Pop City!

Read all the news that's fit to pop here.
sculptor sees a future in the arts for former midtown car factory
Once upon a time, automobiles were built inside the 65,000-square-foot former factory at 6555 Carnegie Avenue. Or so current owner Giancarlo Calicchia surmises from elevators large enough to move finished cars from the upper levels to the parking lot outside.

Today Calicchia, an accomplished sculptor, sees a new use for the long-dormant building — a center for artists' workspaces and offices. He and architect Paul Beegan are busy designing that future, while preserving the towering columns, tall windows and "great views of Cleveland" left over form the building's industrial past.

"We're also looking for new companies that may be related to art or design and want to be closer to downtown," Calicchia adds. He's already talked with a book publisher and a film company, as well as many artists, and hopes to have at least portions of the building ready for use by next summer. He can be reached at 216-402-2009.

Calicchia's works can be found around the city and state, from the Cleveland Museum of Art and The Avenue at Tower City to Miami University. His Athleta & The Witnesses sculpture garden was installed at Kent State University in July.


Source: Giancarlo Calicchia
Writer: Frank W. Lewis
cleveland-based architecture firms honored in AIA ceremony
At a recent gala held at the Toledo Museum of Art, the American Institute of Architects Ohio Convention announced its 2010 AIA Ohio Honor Awards to honor outstanding work in the field. Nearly four dozen Ohio firms submitted twice that amount of design work in hopes of snagging top honors.

Cleveland-based firm Westlake Reed Leskosky was a big winner, securing two out of three available Honor Awards for work both in and out of state. Claiming a Merit award for its design of Gordon Square bus shelters in Detroit Shoreway was Cleveland firm Robert Maschke Architects. Other Cleveland winners include Vocon, Kordalski Architects, and Richard Fleischman + Partners.

See the entire list of winners here.

cleveland is within striking distance of nation-leading public space status
The Euclid Corridor project is completed. The Towpath Trail is knocking on downtown's back door. The long-planned Medical Mart and convention center are nearing shovel-ready status. Dan Gilbert's downtown casino is a deal away. And a revived Flats blueprint is being unfurled. This is the moment that green-space advocates have been dreaming about for years.
greater cleveland's mesocoat teams up with nasa on breakthrough nanotechnology
Greater Cleveland-based MesoCoat, an advanced materials company, has teamed up with NASA Glenn to produce a breakthrough nanotechnology that protects metal parts from wear and corrosion in extreme environments. Potential uses for the high-tech coating includes protecting the nation's water, transportation and energy infrastructures.

MesoCoat is working to incorporate a new reflector design on NASA's 200 kW arc lamp system to produce an extremely hot light that melts stainless steel and other metallic coatings and bonds them to the surface of steel in a fraction of a second. CEO Andrew Sherman says the system is capable of cladding nickel-based alloys to steel substrates, which are often used for highly corrosive applications. MesoCoat recently fired up the plasma arc lamp, marking a significant milestone in the project.

Founded in 2007, MesoCoat develops advanced nanocomposite coating products for hydraulic cylinders, storage tanks, pipelines and other sliding or exposed parts.

The U.S. Army recently recognized MesoCoat as one of the most successful companies in its Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. The company was lauded for its progress in attracting funding and customers from the private sector and non-SBIR government sources to transition its nanocomposite cermet coating technology into viable commercial products and savings for the U.S. Department of Defense.


SOURCE: MesoCoat, Inc.

WRITER: Diane DiPiero

cleveland-based eventworks becomes sole U.S partner for 3D design technology
Now it's cool to think inside the box.

EventWorks, Inc., a Greater Cleveland event-planning and audio-video production company, has become the sole U.S partner for a 3D design technology that has already taken Europe by storm. The technology combines holographic, free-floating images that are displayed with a physical product inside a glass case. The result is a unique and visually stunning way for companies to market their brand or product.

"We jumped into the technology because we thought it was really great," says Joel Solloway, owner of EventWorks. "We do large-scale events in terms of setting and lighting design, and we're always looking for something different." EventWorks formed a strategic partnership with Cleveland-based EDR Media to design custom animation.

As an authorized U.S. partner with Real Fiction, the Copenhagen-based developer of the holographic technology, EventWorks has been able to reach out to potential customers around the country and the globe. While large-scale holographic technology can be expensive, Real Fiction's products are highly affordable, with units ranging from around $6,000 to $15,000.

So far, EventWorks has added a salesperson to promote the technology and may soon add support staff. RubberMaid Commercial will be using the holographic tool for an upcoming trade show, and Coca-Cola has shown interest in using the technology for advertising and marketing.

Clevelanders can catch a glimpse of the holographic technology on November 6 at the SPACES Gallery in Cleveland. As part of the gallery's fundraiser, "App to the Future," EventWorks will be showing samples of work the company has done for Virgin Atlantic, BMW and other clients.


SOURCE: EventWorks, Inc.
WRITER: Diane DiPiero

downtown architecture firm designs award-winning dots headquarters, adds design staffers
What's a fashion store without a fashionable nest? Cleveland architecture and interior design firm Vocon was tasked by Dots to devise a new Glenwillow-based headquarters facility that reflected the fashion retailer's penchant for innovation.

Vocon's design of the 192,000-square-foot office and distribution center oozes hip femininity and panache. Pink, the company's corporate color, is splashed across the modern lobby and used as an accent everywhere from the conference rooms to the lunchroom. Circular coffee tables, casual chairs and bathroom fixtures playfully reinforce the spherical Dots brand.

Dots' commitment to innovation is also reflected in a slew of modern-office amenities: coffee bars, indoor basketball court, indoor and outdoor walking tracks, and a Nintendo Wii gaming center speak not only to the times, but to the company's appreciation of its employees.

For its efforts, Vocon received an award from the Ohio Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA). The project was singled out for its urban flair and attention to detail.

Vocon's recent projects have included the redesign of 60 KeyBank locations as well as graphics and interior design work for Tri-C's new Center for Creative Arts. Vocon's increase in design work has caused the firm to add new staffers to its team of 60-plus members. Vocon recently was ranked 43 on Interior Design magazine's list of "Top 100 Giants," with $12 million in design fees.

Dots has 400 stores in 26 states and employs more than 300 people in Northeast Ohio.


SOURCES: Vocon, Inc., Dots

WRITER: Diane DiPiero


cleveland state gets an A+ for new student center
There's no guarantee that they'll study any harder, but those who attend Cleveland State University (CSU) will no doubt be spending more time inside the new and ultra-friendly Student Center. The $44-million building was officially unveiled to new and returning students at the beginning of the fall semester.

The Student Center features three lounges and several terraces for reading and relaxing. Dining options include the Viking Marketplace and Chop'd and Wrap'd. The Atrium Cafe serves local treats, such as Phoenix Coffee and Bialy's Bagels. A convenience store, a CSU bookstore and a 6,000-square-foot ballroom are other highlights of the Student Center.

Gwathmey Siegel & Associates of New York designed the facility to enhance the image of the overall campus and create an open connection with the city. The interior is bright and open, with plenty of areas to view the bustling cityscape.

"The Student Center will become the hub of campus life, the nexus where all of us – students, faculty and staff – come together to form a community," says Ronald M. Berkman, president of CSU. "Its importance cannot be overstated."

The Student Center is the latest in a series of construction projects on the CSU campus over the last few years. Led by the vision of former CSU president, Michael Schwartz, CSU has a long-range plan to make the school an integral party of the city.



SOURCE: Ronald Berkman
WRITER: Diane DiPiero
inspired by jewish culture and faith, new fuchs mizrahi school in beachwood is one for the books
The main entrance resembles an unrolled Torah. The color scheme throughout the building is inspired by vegetation mentioned in the Bible.

Every detail within the new Fuchs Mizrachi School in Beachwood has significance, whether it's about Jewish faith and culture or the latest in high-tech design. More than 400 preschool through high school students walked through the doors of the school on August 30, marveling at the architecture, the amenities and the space--something that had been dearly lacking for years.

In fact, Fuchs Mizrachi occupied two separate buildings in order to accommodate its students. Now, they all gather under one roof in a state-of-the-art setting.

Fuch Mizrachi is an Orthodox Jewish, Religious Zionist college prep school that seeks to grow students into young men and women who are capable of "swimming in all waters." The school was founded in 1983 as Bet Sefer Mizrachi of Cleveland and later renamed for major donors Leonard and Susan Fuchs.

Shaker Square's Bialosky + Partners designed the 100,000-square-foot school to consolidate the two existing campuses. In addition to respect for Jewish heritage, the campus design incorporates eco-friendly details: an advanced lighting control system, high insulation values, a geothermal HVAC system and energy recovery ventilators to improve fresh-air transfer from the outside. The project earned LEED Gold Certification.

Students may not immediately recognize the sustainability features in and around their new school. But they will drink in the beautiful beit midrash, or "hall of study," with its three-tiered ceiling and dramatic use of beams and pendant lighting. The new school also boasts two gymnasiums, a large music room and a theater.

On the day the school building was dedicated, Leonard Fuchs said that Fuchs Mizrahi "has become part of my body and soul." With a new location and a fresh look, the school will no doubt become an important part of its students' formative years.


SOURCES: Fuchs Mizrachi, Bialosky + Partners
WRITER: Diane DiPiero
photo slide show: ingenuity fest
We managed to squeeze three days of mind-bending, jaw-dropping art, technology, music and performance art at the Ingenuity Fest into one teeny little photo slide show. Let Fresh Water managing photographer show you around.
contemporary art museum to get contemporary new home
It has always been a bit of an oxymoron: The Museum of Contemporary Art, Cleveland (MOCA) housed in a building with as much contemporary flair as an old-fashioned Cracker Jack box. And while visitors still came to the Carnegie Avenue location to admire the museum's growing collection of contemporary art, many surely wondered why such a gem wasn't located in University Circle with other great museums, especially the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Turns out, MOCA was wondering the same thing. The museum had been planning for ten years to leave its Carnegie Avenue location for a permanent home that reflected the cutting-edge and forward-thinking image for which MOCA has been known. That vision will soon take shape at the corner of Euclid and Mayfield in University Circle.

The new museum building will be part of a long-planned project that will bring restaurants, stores and housing to that section of Euclid Avenue.

In addition to a comfortable place to exhibit and store the museum's collections, the new MOCA building will help the museum increase its educational and public programs.

Farshid Moussavi with Foreign Office Architects of London designed the building, which will rely on clean lines and sharp angles made from glass and black steel to create a structure that promises to be as intriguing as the art displayed inside. According to the MOCA website, "The lobby is designed as an urban living room, a place for visitors to mingle, eat, shop, attend events, over the course of hours, or for brief interludes in a busy day. The building itself is a learning environment, infused at each level with education offerings that range from low tech to high tech, from contemplative to interactive, from solitary to group encounters. This building is an opportunity to provide a 21st century model of an art museum that anticipates dramatic shifts in how we learn, how we see, and how we socialize."

Jill Snyder, director of MOCA, is pleased with the multipurpose design an aesthetic appeal of the new building. "FOA's design for our building is the perfect expression of our program--one that will not only enable us to operate at the highest level, but that will also be beautiful, intriguing and sensitive to our urban surroundings and community."

The Cuyahoga County Planning Commission reports that MOCA hopes to break ground on the new museum building in late fall. The project is estimated at $26 million.


SOURCE: Jill Snyder
WRITER: Diane DiPiero