Spring Break
Unique architecture important for both Disney, OSU
Scott Dennis
Issue date: 2/23/09 Section: Forum
As you may have heard, there will soon be a student vote to decide how to handle the proposed Memorial Union Annex, and you will probably vote in favor of the plan, and here's why:
A few days ago, Disney announced a restructuring of the company's theme park division. According to its great new design, aspects of the Disneyland and Walt Disney World resorts will be combined into a single domestic outfit. There's more to this than just economics and cutting of overhead, however.
Disney claims that guests want something called a "one-Disney experience," and that that parks must accommodate that expectation. What this really means in layman's terms is that guests, according to Disney's research, want every Disney theme park to be the same. How does this relate to our dear campus, you may ask?
Like a lot of college campuses, Oregon State has - when planning new buildings - often gone with something that serves its intended purpose but looks aesthetically generic. This sort of design is evident all around campus, from the bland concrete towers of Callahan and McNary to the flat brick facades of West and The Great Square (Hawley, Buxton, etc.).
These cookie-cutter structures may be great for budgeting, but they are indistinguishable from one another. This standardization is precisely what Disney said guests want, and the consequences of their new direction can already be seen. The "Toy Story"-inspired "Toy Story Midway Mania" attraction, proposed specifically for Disney's California Adventure park, ended up opening on both coasts, as did the "High School Musical" dance show.
The strategy of making everything homogeneous is stupid for both Disney and college architecture. It'd be like a case of jellybeans where every bean was the same color - way boring. Buildings that only exist to house classrooms are a waste of space. The building itself should be interesting and reflect its contents as well as the theme of the school. The absolutely stunning Women's Building does this, combing the familiar brick look of campus with exquisite woodwork and Renaissance touches in the interior.
A few days ago, Disney announced a restructuring of the company's theme park division. According to its great new design, aspects of the Disneyland and Walt Disney World resorts will be combined into a single domestic outfit. There's more to this than just economics and cutting of overhead, however.
Disney claims that guests want something called a "one-Disney experience," and that that parks must accommodate that expectation. What this really means in layman's terms is that guests, according to Disney's research, want every Disney theme park to be the same. How does this relate to our dear campus, you may ask?
Like a lot of college campuses, Oregon State has - when planning new buildings - often gone with something that serves its intended purpose but looks aesthetically generic. This sort of design is evident all around campus, from the bland concrete towers of Callahan and McNary to the flat brick facades of West and The Great Square (Hawley, Buxton, etc.).
These cookie-cutter structures may be great for budgeting, but they are indistinguishable from one another. This standardization is precisely what Disney said guests want, and the consequences of their new direction can already be seen. The "Toy Story"-inspired "Toy Story Midway Mania" attraction, proposed specifically for Disney's California Adventure park, ended up opening on both coasts, as did the "High School Musical" dance show.
The strategy of making everything homogeneous is stupid for both Disney and college architecture. It'd be like a case of jellybeans where every bean was the same color - way boring. Buildings that only exist to house classrooms are a waste of space. The building itself should be interesting and reflect its contents as well as the theme of the school. The absolutely stunning Women's Building does this, combing the familiar brick look of campus with exquisite woodwork and Renaissance touches in the interior.
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