Aesthetics in Public Works

PERSPECTIVE Aesthetics in Public Works by Frederick Gottemoeller Last summer, my wife and I took In 1926, when the decision was made our younger grandson on a tour of to build these three bridges, Allegheny Pittsburgh, Pa. The big attraction was County’s Bureau of Bridges put the dinosaur exhibit at the Carnegie forward the then-accepted standard Museum of Natural History. Of course, design for bridges of this size: through Pittsburgh is also known for its bridges, Pratt trusses. However, Pittsburgh’s with more than 400 sizable bridges Commission of Fine Arts objected, in and around the city. The decorator arguing that three identical through- of our hotel must have had that truss bridges would block views of the reputation in mind when selecting an downtown and mimic every other city’s image of one of those bridges, the bridges. Pittsburgh deserved better. So, Roberto Clemente Bridge, to place on the Bureau of Bridges was given a new a wall in our room. The next day, we set of aesthetic criteria for the project. It discovered that the Carnegie Science went back to the drawing board to find Center was hosting a LEGO ® exhibit. a distinctive and memorable design that That is a not-to-be-missed event if you would not block views of downtown. are 8 years old. So, of course, we went. When we arrived, we found that the To its credit, the bureau chose an exhibit contained a LEGO® model of the innovative bridge type that satisfied very same bridge. these criteria, the self-anchored suspension bridge. The design met Of the hundreds of bridges in the difficult navigation clearance Pittsburgh, why did both the hotel requirements of the sites while creating Yes, we are in Pittsburgh. Photo: decorator and the LEGO® modeler pick three memorable bridges. These bridges Frederick Gottemoeller. the Roberto Clemente Bridge, which cost more than the trusses would have, is neither the largest nor the most but did the additional cost create an prominent bridge in the area? The offsetting value for the public? answer is that this particular bridge has so captured the imagination of residents Now, 93 years later, the decisions of the and visitors alike that it has become a hotel decorator and the LEGO® modeler widely recognized symbol of Pittsburgh suggest that the investment has paid the city. Being one of three identical off. The civic value of the three bridges bridges that cross the Alleghany River is demonstrated by their current names. in downtown Pittsburgh reinforces the They recognize two of Pittsburgh’s impression this bridge makes. That famous sons, baseball player Roberto impression could have been quite Clemente (Sixth Street) and artist different. Andy Warhol (Seventh Street), and The Roberto Clemente Bridge spanning the Allegheny River in Pittsburgh, Pa. Photo: Nathan Holth, HistoricBridges.org. The symbol of Pittsburgh constructed from LEGO® pieces. Photo: Frederick Gottemoeller. 10 | ASPIRE Summer 2019 one famous daughter, environmental even more money will ensure even Street Bridge, which is almost exactly scientist Rachel Carson (Ninth Street). better results? Not necessarily. the same width and length as the Main As a result of the additional initial Street Bridge, was built for $13 million. investment in aesthetics, these three In 2007, Columbus, Ohio, decided to Given the cost pressures when the Main bridges have provided many years of replace two historic but deteriorating Street project exceeded its budget, the recognition and pleasure for Pittsburgh. bridges crossing the Scioto River in City might have insisted we settle for the city’s center. The goal was to build a standard prestressed concrete girder What lessons might we take from this “signature” bridges, whose distinctive solution. However, by giving us an story? First, that the currently accepted appearances would instantly symbolize opportunity to do proper conceptual standard design solution is not always the the spirit of Columbus. The City set design, the City allowed us to come up best option. It can be tempting to assume generous budgets of $26 million for with an innovative application of precast that what worked best for the previous each bridge. concrete that produced a signature five bridges will work best for the sixth. bridge within the revised budget and in In fact, each bridge is distinctive, and The first bridge to be replaced, at Main time for the bicentennial. designers need to be afforded the time Street, was built for $44 million. to think through the distinctions, both By focusing on both economy and functional and aesthetic, and develop For the design of the second bridge at aesthetic quality, we achieved a bridge their proposals accordingly. That process Rich Street (formerly Town Street), the that met the City’s aesthetic objectives is called “conceptual design,” and it is City turned to a team that included me. but cost significantly less than the Main the time when innovation and creativity As a starting point, the City directed that Street Bridge. take place. It is the process that the our concept have no above-the-deck Bureau of Bridges short-changed when elements that would block views of the When public funds are spent for it proposed three through-truss structures Main Street Bridge. The city also asked aesthetics (or for any other purpose), for the Allegheny River. us to come up with a concept that would the public is entitled to know that cost less than the Main Street Bridge they are getting maximum value for Second, the story emphasizes that and that could be built quickly, in time their money. To achieve that goal, the bridges inevitably become powerful for the city’s bicentennial celebration. aesthetic value that each feature brings symbols. Their functional importance and Finally, the City made it clear that we to the bridge must be weighed against visual prominence make sure of that. To were still expected to deliver a signature its cost. That assessment is admittedly put it another way: bridges span physical design, one that would complement subjective, but the ability to make barriers and connect previously separated both the Main Street Bridge, just 600 such judgments with discernment and people and places. Many bridges possess ft downstream, and the Broad Street pragmatism is the basis of aesthetic immense symbolic importance. Their Bridge, 600 ft upstream. success in public works. The designer’s design can also represent a region’s goal must be to create the maximum or a culture’s creativity, wealth, and Responding to these conditions aesthetic bang for each public buck. ambitions. Public decision makers, with required an extensive conceptual the participation of their citizenry, must design process. Early on, we realized References decide what values they want their that we could make small adjustments 1. ASCE Pittsburgh Section 100th bridges and other symbols to convey. If in the alignment of Rich Street that Anniversary Publication Committee. they decide, through a legitimate public would significantly simplify the 2018. Engineering Pittsburgh: decision-making process, to devote bridge’s geometry, thus allowing for A History of Roads, Rails, Canals, public funds to expressions of aesthetic the economical use of custom precast Bridges, and More. Charleston, SC: quality, that choice becomes as legitimate concrete elements. With that in mind, History Press. a use of public funds as any other. we and the City agreed to a revised 2. Gottemoeller, F., J. Shanks, and budget of $14 million. T. Butz. 2013. “The Design and When improved aesthetic quality Construction of the Rich Street is established as a goal, the resulting In the final design, 68 precast concrete Bridge over the Scioto River.” In concept may require a greater pieces were post-tensioned together to Proceedings, 2013 National Bridge investment compared to a standard form the four lines of gracefully tapered Conference Chicago, IL: Precast/ solution. Does that mean that spending arches that support the bridge. The Rich Prestressed Concrete Institute. The Rich Street Bridge in the “postcard view” of downtown Columbus, Ohio. Photo: Randall Scheiber..

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