bam-glass-canopy1-04-2008.JPG
A few days ago the Brooklyn Academy of Music unveiled the new glass canopy outside its landmark Peter Jay Sharp building. The multi-million-dollar restoration of most of the building was completed a few years ago, and BAM’s website says the canopy was supposed to be finished in 2005. The organization declined to comment on the addition since it’s issuing a press release about it in a couple of days, but our understanding is that the structure marks the end of Peter Jay Sharp’s restoration. How do you think it looks? GMAP


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  1. Totally incongruous. I am a fan of modern architecture, but Hardy’s restoration of the BAM facade has been glorious and true in every other respect — why would he tack on this random crap, and why would BAM (not to mention Landmarks) approve it?

  2. It actually is a landmarked building and this design was approved by the landmarks commission. I think it looks pretty good – I didn’t love it at first but like the way the glass reflects the brick and detailing on the building and, while a little mid-90’s, the ‘waves’ do in fact mirror the arches of the doorways and the large windows on the facade… Five ‘waves’, five doors, five windows…

  3. LOOK, Everyone…

    The look goes with Chuck E. Cheese over at the mall down the block.

    And yes, the BAM Opera House is supposedly landmarked.

    All-in-all, it’s kind of a “whatever” for me. Would have preferred a brilliant replica of a past marquis to go with the building.

    I live in FG and have walked to the Q-train nearby day after day recently and not even noticed this ugly addition to the facade.

    Oh, well.

    I wonder how much it cost…

  4. If this were in barcelons the diagonals holding up the canopy would not be plain straight pieces, they would be gracefully curved to pick up on the wavy lines of the awning itself. juxtaposing those clunky straight diagonal braces with an undulating canopy is just BAD DESIGN. it is discordant. I agree with Sam that the diagonal struts are awkward. They look like an afterthought.
    A traditional theater marquee, cantilevered from the facade, would have caught the rainwater and directed it towards the back to rain leaders and thus eliminating cascading waterfalls at the front edges, which this will produce. this is therefore a disaster functionally as well as aesthetically.

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