Wow. I went by the new 800 West Broad Street today and took a good look at what is going on there. Wow.
For out of towners, newbies, and normal people who do not obsess with local miasma, let me explain the 800 Broad building is a new Gold Leed standard office building being built "by right" by Bob Young. The Falls Church Post Office will be re-located to the first floor of the building, which will also have a small cafe. The city government is leasing space in the building (it currently leases two off site buildings for about $53,000/yr due to space limitations, and will consolidate those offices into the new space for roughly the same amount). The School Board Central Offices will also be in the building. The building itself is adjacent to the playground of St. James Catholic School.
My two cents: holy cow. The 800 Broad building is striking in several respects, but the exterior design going up now is a real statement. Bob is a developer and and city activist who loves our community. Bob is not your average developer. He is wicked smart. Very political. He understands the essence of our city better or as well as anyone else I know.
Anyway. I think it is a brilliant piece of public art. Walking all around it I began to see how the purple flowers and etched vines fit with location so close to the school playground, and how it plays against type for a municipal office space. No communist-style brick bunker element to it at all. It is an evocative design which manages to say something about the unique spirit of our community. It is still being completed, but it is already a traffic stopper landmark in our community.
But design is like painting your grandmother's living room. Subject to taste and opinion.
So what say the masses?
