UC Regents Approve Plans for Athletic Center
Despite the strength of the tree-sitting movement of the Save the Oaks protest, the UC Board of Regents has unanimously decided to go ahead with athletic plans. This 7-0 vote marks the final approval of the plans and the certification of environmental impact. The plans for the student-athlete center will preserve some existing oaks in addition to adding new trees.
Some critics are concerned not only with the removal of the long-standing oaks but also with seismic and public safety issues. However, Ed Denton, the vice chancellor for facilities services, claims that the design acknowledges seismic improvement and will improve “the student-athlete experience.” Whatever that means.
Berkeley NewsCenter reports that
The new center will provide training, sports medicine, and academic support facilities. It will serve as a hub of operations for football and 12 Olympic team sports for men and women.
About three new trees (142 total) will be planted for every mature tree removed.
For an artist’s rendition of the realized facility and the stadium plaza, click here and here.
Those drawings sure look snazzy, but why are we putting so much time and money into a plaza and facility that will be utterly demolished when the next earthquake hits? It’s bad enough that the (non-retrofitted) Stadium lies directly on the Hayward Fault. Yes, let’s add some more rubble possibilities. That’ll be great. We can have stone-crumble football and raging rock surfing. I hear they’re so hot right now.
Right. And exactly how many stadii have collapsed in Berkeley because they were built on the Hayward Fault? Zero? Oh, that’s what I thought.
Comment by DHammett — December 7, 2006 @ 11:47 am
It’s a good thing, though I think the “natural stone” facing they are planning to use looks horrendous.
They should be using natural light granite (smooth stone) instead.
Comment by Bhanu Singh — December 9, 2006 @ 8:52 pm
Yes Bhanu, it was horrendous!
Comment by Anonymous — December 12, 2006 @ 6:50 pm
I wouldn’t use the past tense on something that has yet to be built.
It will be horrendous, though - glad you agree.
Comment by Bhanu Singh — December 13, 2006 @ 9:00 am