urbanMSP

As far as the usefulness of the Gopher Way goes, I totally agree that it's not the fastest way to get, well, anywhere. But if I'm not running late, and the windchill hits 30 below or it's pouring rain, I'm perfectly willing to take a less direct route to stay warm and dry, even for an extra few minutes.

The Gopher Way is a great way for the wheelchair bound to get around, especially during the winter months.

Former OSU (Ohio State) student here......what is "Gopher Way" -- an underground tunnel connecting all of the classrooms or something? If so, catchy name!

It's a tunnel and skyway system connecting buildings. It's really not as useful as it seems. There are a few direct connections but for most trip you're either going way out of your way, or it's just quicker to go outside. Even when there is a "direct" connection, it's probably on different floors, so you'd spend a lot of time going up and down stairs.

Yeah, I think the name and signage first popped up under the Mark Yudof administration, 1997-2002. I started in '97 and I think the Gopher Way moniker popped up within a year.

My sense is that most of the Gopher Way tunnels in the older parts of campus weren't really intended to be public -- it was convenient for facility management to have these underground connections, and so they were built. As a result, the tunnels usually weren't very well tied into the public spaces of the buildings and it usually seemed pretty serpentine using them.

There were a few short sections of the tunnels that I would use on a semi-regular basis -- nice to be able to get some coffee during the winter without putting on a coat -- but I agree, for really getting around campus, they are worthless.

And here's when the sun came out...

Looks like there's some copper on the outside of this. That seems like such an expensive choice for decorative material on a public building, but what do I know?

Is copper more expensive than brick ?

Is copper more expensive than brick ?

I guess I don't actually know how expensive it is, but I figure it's not cheap if it's getting stolen all the time.

Is copper more expensive than brick ?

I guess I don't actually know how expensive it is, but I figure it's not cheap if it's getting stolen all the time.

Copper is somewhat expensive, yes, but the thefts have more to do with the relative ease in which to "aquire" and sell it.

Is copper more expensive than brick ?

I guess I don't actually know how expensive it is, but I figure it's not cheap if it's getting stolen all the time.

Copper is somewhat expensive, yes, but the thefts have more to do with the relative ease in which to "aquire" and sell it.

Rough estimate (local retail prices):
One of those panels in your picture:
Copper Flashing: ~24"x10' ~$120 ~14oz
Exterior Finishing Brick: ~24"x10' ~$85 ~490lbs

Is copper more expensive than brick ?

The Same Price as Public Art. (Doesn't matter it's (supposed to be) pretty.)

I guess I don't actually know how expensive it is, but I figure it's not cheap if it's getting stolen all the time.

Copper is somewhat expensive, yes, but the thefts have more to do with the relative ease in which to "aquire" and sell it.

Rough estimate (local retail prices):
One of those panels in your picture:
Copper Flashing: ~24"x10' ~$120 ~14oz
Exterior Finishing Brick: ~24"x10' ~$85 ~490lbs

Going by that, my tuition this semester will get them about 817 oz of copper! oh joy!

Does Union Street still exist on the west and north sides of this building, or did it get obliterated during the construction?

Nope, it's gone. It only exists north far enough to hit the loading docks for Keller Hall and the ME Complex, so maybe 20 or 30 feet north of Beacon St.

I think the right of way is still there -- they didn't build the building on top of Union.

I haven't walked that way since the end of the semester, so my memory's a little hazy, but while there is still a space there, I don't think it's wide enough to put a full street back in. I'm sure it'll get paved and the Akerman Nice Ride station will get put back, but I don't think it'll be open to vehicles except to get to the Shepard/Rapson loading area.

On the north side the ROW is completely gone. And on the west side if the building isn't in the former ROW, it's certainly right up against this.

Now I'll have to look at this on my way to work tomorrow, since I work in a building right next to this. Thanks jerks!

There's a small site plan at the bottom of this page. Looks like the building is on part of the old right of way, but there is still a pedestrian connection along the west wide.