urbanMSP

Maybe because of their utilitarian nature? Maybe the uses inside highly dictate how the building looks (or more than we might think)? Not sure though, just a guess.

Many of our metro's hospitals were built in the 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s when the Twin Cities and its suburbs were growing.
Think VA, Methodist, Abbott, HCMC, UMMC, Regions, FV Southdale, etc. and their architecture from the times.
They were built well and big. It's hard to make a case to demolish and build new when such is the case, I presume.
Instead, it was: rebuild this wing, this department makes more $ so remodel their clinic and surgery suites, etc.

Because hospitals used to be built in a utilitarian fashion, and now health insurance companies jokingly play "Can you tell the difference between a hospital and a hotel?" when giving fluffy speeches about why they charge so much.

Because hospitals used to be built in a utilitarian fashion, and now health insurance companies jokingly play "Can you tell the difference between a hospital and a hotel?" when giving fluffy speeches about why they charge so much.

This. So much so.

The health care industry seems to not know there are many levels of finishes between "painted cinder block" and "oak paneling with granite countertops"

Solid oak and granite make a lot of sense if you are going to actually use them over their full potential lifespan of 30 years or more. If the next remodel is 10 years away and you are going to rip them out and throw them in a dumpster, not so much.

There are durable materials that aren't also luxury items.

Also, a hospital should be super easy to sanitize. Cinder block walls, metal counters, etc. are really easy to sanitize. Granite isn't bad, but wood is terrible.

Not sure where else to put this but they appear to be adding a second path adjacent to the main bike path at Bohemian Flats.

Good, this should separate bikers bombing down the hill (and really should be on the road) with runners, walkers and bikers climbing up the hill

You'll be disappointed to hear then that the new paths are on the southern part, so not by the hill.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Come this fall, the Fieldhouse, one of the ugliest buildings on the U of M campus, will be improved and prettified:

http://www.startribune.com/u-of-m-s-fie ... 487434441/

Anyone know what's going on in the parking by the law school?

Yes, they're installing solar panels over the parking lot, and on the vacant field that used to be the art building.

Speaking of this area (which I have to admit I haven't been through in a while), has the University finally gotten around to fixing the egregious gap in the bike lanes that they created when they expanded the law school 20 years ago?

You mean where the bike path from the bridge dead-ends into a flight of stairs? Nope!

Does anyone have a link to anything about the solar panel project? I can't find anything in the MN Daily or on the UMN website.

You mean where the bike path from the bridge dead-ends into a flight of stairs? Nope!

That's the one.

The entire vacant block between the Doubletree and the new medical building is fenced off with heavy equipment onsite cutting down trees. Anyone know what's going here?

Parking lot?

Yes, it's going to be a 200-ish space parking lot