Ithacating in Cornell Heights

Okay, for as much as I miss the old banded concrete and glass, the large window panes, clear glazing and thin aluminum frames designed by Ithaca’s Chiang O’Brien Architects do have a certain modern chic going. However, this armchair critic still has yet to decide if he likes the offset between the outer and interior frames of the curtain wall. The windows have made their way north along the old east wing. Peering through, you can make out some of the new metal stud walls, so utilities rough-ins for the gutted 1950s structure are underway.

The new entry canopy has yet to be built out. Pike, the contractor, could soon insert the northernmost panes where the old east wing’s interior is exposed, but the curtain wall glazing won’t be finished until the canopy has been constructed.

The new three-story 18,000 SF northeast wing, which replaces the former Ho Plaza entry, rose pretty quick – like the Breazzano Center, it’s wrapped up in plastic to limit workers’ exposure to the cold. The outside of the new wing will be faced in a couple types of limestone, with a bluestone transition panel and bluestone veneer at its base – the 1979 west wing is being updated so that the two will look similar, although the 1979 wing will retain its concrete exterior, giving the two wings some visual contrast.

According to Cornell’s revamped project website, the Gannett project is 70% complete. Whether that included the new addition that opened last year is not clear. The entire project should be finished by this fall.