Showing posts with label Winston-Salem Journal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Winston-Salem Journal. Show all posts

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Bridges to Somewhere


In a guest editorial published over the weekend in the Winston-Salem Journal, Russell DuBois, a staff architect in facilities planning for the Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, argues that NCDOT replacement of the Business 40 bridges will provide downtown with architectural possibilities.

DuBois notes: "With the price of gas rising and the economy hurting, some may scoff that the last thing we need is to drive up the cost of the bridge replacement by incorporating a bunch of design frills. But it is a hallmark of great architectural design that it is often no more expensive than the run-of-the-mill alternative. And remember, this is an opportunity that won't happen again for decades. Surely we as a community can agree that any nominal extra costs would be more than made up for by the added value these designs would provide to our built environment and how it is perceived by visitors as they drive through."

Words well said.

Photos above are of the Juscelino Kubitschek Bridge, Brasilia, Brazil, as seen on the website Nine Amazingly Unique Bridges, recommended to this blogger by Katie Gunter.

Friday, June 13, 2008

Photo Essays Show Local Bridge Details, Public Art



Winston-Salem Journal photographer David Rolfe posted this week a photo slide show of aging bridge constructions scattered around the city. With voice commentary by the City-County Planning Board's LeAnn Pegram, the feature follows on the celebration of this resource by the Historic Resources Commission during Historic Preservation Month this last May. A print story by Rolfe appeared in the paper last Sunday. The Wachovia Historical Society and the county will soon release a survey of 45 bridges built in the county from 188o to 1954. I doubt there are many streams in the country crossed by a road bridge supported by hidden fluted columns!

David Rolfe and the Journal have also created a community art map online highlighting the locations of major public art works currently around town. Take a walk online - then take a walk on the streets and see the works yourself. If you know of other works of public art that should be on the map, send us a picture (or tell us where to take one) and we will add to our online inventory! Winston-Salem Journal Photo by David Rolfe.