16 Cite Spring 1992 The Competition for

sports franchise owners were equally eager to capitalize on the publicity value of top- name firms, particularly since the stylistic grab bag of the initial list included many architects whose work was at variance with the traditionalist agenda of the Rangers' management.

The event that propelled the Rangers into the -building business in the first place was the sale of Eddie Chiles's 53 percent share of the Rangers to an investment team headed by George W. Bush, the President's son, and Edward "Rusty" Rose III in March 1989. One of BARBARA KOERBLE EVENTEEN architects hoped As Tom Schieffer, president J I of the Chiles's parting remarks was that Arlington that Arlington, , would Rangers, related after sitting • through Stadium was not fit for a major-league become their field of dreams 34 hours of presentations, "It was the team. (Not that anyone had ever accused when (he owners of the Texas most extraordinary week that I can ever the Rangers of fielding a major-league SRangers gathered during the last week of remember... .You were literally enthralled team.) But putting the stage coach before August 1991 to view a four-day marathon with almost every one of them. These the horses, the Rangers* new management of design proposals for their new people were so good and they were so made the issue of a new stadium of park. While this architectural sporting creative that it was just exciting to be able paramount concern. event did not quite compare with Nolan to sit there and listen to them and to see Ryan pitching his 5,000th strikeout, it how they developed a concept." The problems with the present '\rling:on nevertheless caused a minor media sensa- Stadium date back ro September 1971, tion in the -Fort Worth merroplex, What really made the week extraordinary when then Arlington mayor Tom Vander- attracting television coverage on several was the incredible lengths to which most griIT persuaded the losing Washington channels and front-page stories in the local of the competing firms went in order to Senators franchise to move to Arlington. papers. Some of the participants have since win the commission. Almost all of the Turnpike Stadium had been built in 1967 questioned whether the event was indeed firms submitting "proposals" spent an by Tarrant County for its minor-league "sporting." In hindsight, they might intensive two-month design period team at the corner of Copeland Road and acknowledge that they contributed to the preparing for the Rangers' consideration as . When the Senators came to advancement of a growing national specta- many as 36 boards (HOK) and models of town, bleacher seating was hastily added tor sport - the Pay-Less Architectural varying size and complexity, including one to the small stadium. Other additions Competition, in the version, complete with flashing lights and crowd followed, giving the stadium an even more the 17 architects vying for the commission noises (HNTB). Estimates of expenses makeshift appearance. VandergrifT, in not only provided hours of entertainment incurred by the individual firms ranged one of his more adroit political moves, for the team's owners, they did so at their from $40,000 up to $400,000. managed to bypass local voter approval for own expense. The Rangers' management funding stadium improvements by also introduced an interesting variation of In the past, ballpark commissions have pushing special bills through the Texas rhc ground rules by inviting several smaller usually been offered only to sports facility Legislature.' firms to play in the big leagues, along specialists. In this case, the field was with heavy-hitting superstars and sports expanded ro include such well-established The result was that Arlington Stadium, the specialist firms doubling as pinch hitters. "novices" as Michael Graves, Hammond fourth smallest among the 26 major-league Beeby & Babka, Hardy Holzman Pfeiffer, baseball parks, fielded 19,000 low-priced The Rangers' program reflected a growing Kohn Pederscn Fox, Charles Moore, outfield seats among its 43,508 scats. sentiment against domed multipurpose Antoinc Predock, RTKI. Associates, and Consequently, the owners claimed that the stadia with symmetrical playing fields and Sasaki Associates, in addition to the stadium produced less revenue than any artificial turf.1 The Rangers wanted a veteran sports facility firms of Ellerbe other major-league stadium, including "new" approach, yet Becket, HOK, and HNTB. Among the Fenway Park, which only seats 34,383. one rooted in baseball smaller firms involved were Cunningham Among the pluses of Arlington Stadium tradition and Texas Architects of Dallas, Growald Architects of are its intimate outdoor atmosphere, good history: an open-air, Fort Worth, Keating Mann Jernigan Rottct sight lines, and natural grass turf, but it natural-grass ballpark of , Lake/Flato Architects of also comes burdened with narrow corri- designed to have , David M. Schwarz, and dors, poor access, and inadequate women's intimacy and character. Lawrence W. Speck/Page Southerland Page restrooms. "I believe in a cozy feeling, The winning entry, of Austin. Many of the architects who kind of what we have out there now, but submitted by David entered, as well as those who declined to with belter economics," stated Bush with M. Schwarz of (among them Venturi, Scott Brown & genetically revealing precision. At the Washington, D.C., Associates; Robert A. M. Stern; Frank outset Bush made it clear that if a new evoked with historicist Gehry; and Taft Architects), deplored the stadium was built, he preferred an open- aplomb old-fashioned exploitative nature of the Rangers' request air facility with a grass field and more urban ballparks, for proposal (RIP) process that, deliber- close-in reserved seats.' Rumors persisted. althuugh sited in an ately lacking submission guidelines, however, that the Rangers were consider- Olmstcdian landscape. quickly escalated into a costly pseudo- ing a domed stadium because the Texas iw*rr Ar'.U'U.1 Schwarz is the design competition, even though no honorariums heat prevents day games during architect in a team selected by the Rangers were offered and no professional jury the summer. David M. Schwarz, Rangers officiated. Clearly, in a sluggish economy Stadium complex, partial that also includes I IN IB of Kansas City architects were willing to gamble against site plan, 1 9 9 1 . .is spurts architect and I IKS of Dallas as Since the new managing partners lived in long odds for a chance to win a major production architect. Dallas, speculation was rampant that a commission. It was also apparent that the Dallas site for a new stadium was immi- Cite Spring 1992 17 the Stadium

\ \

nent. But Arlington mayor Richard Greene pushed the ide.i ot renovating David M. Schwarz, Arlington Stadium as the lowest-cost Rangers Stadium, option for keeping the Rangers in town. Arlington, Texas. An engineering study commissioned by building a stadium. A persistent budget Postcom petition the tirv proposed adding 17,000 premium shortfall in Fort Worth no doubt contrib- model, 1992. reserved seats to the existing facility by uted to this attitude, but the headlines extending the upper deck. However, the generated by a potential showdown with comparison with Dallas's grandiose in the Texas House. However, there were upper deck was not considered to be longtime rival Dallas were not to be aspirations for the Morton H. Meyerson some who remembered that his legislative premium seating by the Rangers* manage- missed. Mayor Greene obligingly provided Symphony Center and the Rangers' career had been less than distinguished, ment, because the seats were too high and denunciations of the "unbridled selfishness equally grandiose expectations: "If we can qualifying for Texas Monthly's ten worst too far back. Arlington's upper deck begins and arrogance of Dallas," which he assert- build a 2,000-seat symphony center for legislators list in 1975 and only narrowly where the lower one ends, rather than ed had "set back regional cooperation by $81.5 million, there's nothing to keep us avoiding a repeat performance in 1977. extending over a portion of the lower deck. 20 years.'"' Cognizant of its large sub- from building a 60,000-scat ballpark for His most notorious attempt at legislation Before his eventual accession to the Rang- scriber base in Arlington, the Tort Worth $2.4 billion that's every bit as nice [It] was his sponsorship of a presidential ers' demands for a new ballpark, Greene, Star-'felegram supported the city's Tarrant will be a pure baseball chamber."* However, primary bill all too transparently abetting with the assistance of Fort Worth architect County "neighbor" to the cast: 'Because one year later, no one was laughing as the favorite-son candidacy of U.S. Senator 1 Terry Harden, made two unsuccessful those who lust after our Texas Rangers the search dragged on, and the Rangers' .' Schieffer took to his new 1 renovation proposals for the old stadium.' stubbornly refuse to acknowledge the management took increasing heat for iheir position with the Rangers with gusto, wisdom of leaving the team in Arlington, delaying tactics and for pitting city against embarking on a whirlwind tour of other Of no small significance to the Rangers' the forces for common sense throughout city. The tone of editorials and columns ballparks, hiring a consultant to guide the angling for a new stadium was their effort Tarrant County must double their efforts began to suggest that the Rangers were architect selection process, and fine-tuning 1 to capitalize on the rivalry between Dallas to repel the would-be kidnappers."' losing support on all fronts. the program. and Arlington, both in hot pursuit or the franchise. Comments by Rangers owners Star- Telegram columnists were not to be OR months, the Rangers stalled When it came to finally selecting the site, reported in the press seemed calculated outdone in the invective hurled at Dallas by saying they were "analyzing" several factors tipped the scales in to raise the anxiety level in Arlington and mayot Annette Strauss's F.vil Empire: the results of a Gallup survey of Arlington's favor, including the potential encouraged other cities to bid for the "Once again that ratty pile of gridlocked their season ticket holders. loss of fan support if the stadium was franchise. For months, the local press concrete, ugly green glass and quiche east TemperFs really flared when it was revealed moved too far west or east. Despite the divulged various site proposals that includ- of Texas 360 is drooling over the Texas that one of the questions - "Which city stadium's shortcomings and the team's ed not only Arlington and Dallas but other Rangers. Some Dullest City Council do you most associate with the Texas similarly lackluster performance, the "mid-city" sites in Piano and Irving as well. blowhards have told their flunkies to work Rangers?" - did not list Arlington as a Rangers had enjoyed good attendance in No fewer than eight sites were considered up another scheme to steal the team possible choice, only Dallas and Fort Arlington, reaching a high of 2.2 million by the Rangers, who compared their 18- from Arlington."7 Worth. Following President Mike Stone's in 1989 even though, along with month search to that of the explosive session with the press over this and C Cleveland, the team had never won a Brewers. The Brewers, however, studied Dallas city leaders were interested in gaffe, the stage was set for Tom SchiefFer's pennant or finished higher than second in 50 sites within a similar time frame before building a stadium downtown because of arrival and Stone's eventual dismissal. its division in 20 seasons of play. Among they opted to move 150 yards from their its potential for revitalizing the downtown Schieffer was initially brought in as the perceived drawbacks of the downtown old stadium. managing partner in charge of stadium Dallas site were the prospects of big-city core, deserted weekends and evenings. 1 While city officials and editorial writers in development, but within a few months be crime and traffic congestion." Indeed, the Fort Worth city leaders chose not to bid Dallas were immediately supportive of became club president. Schieffer's ascen- city of Arlington had already spent for the franchise, apparently deciding it various schemes and sites for a stadium in dancy with the Rangers was attributed to $443,000 to improve the freeway inter- his political skills and connections, honed was enough to have the Rangers in their Dallas, especially one near the Farmers' change at 1-30 and U.S. 187 and further during a youthful stint as a state legislator proposed to pick up $2^ million out of backyard while avoiding the expense of Market, one columnist could not resist a 18 Cite Spring 1992

Horns aplenty: David M. Schwarz, competition elevation.

$62 million in additional mad improve- ments around die new stadium, with the Texas Department of Transportation funding the rest. Ultimately, even chough the Rangers played a waiting game, Arlington was the only city to tender a definitive proposal for stadium construc- tion and transportation improvements. In the end, Mayor t irccne prevailed by simply ottering the Rangers everything they wanted.

One or the most dreamlike aspects of Schicffer's request for proposals was the expectation that Arlington's new ballpark would become its "center of community 5 life" - especially since Arlington has never publii subsidy "I SI S) million was any What would be identified in the press as architects acknowledged that the client experienced even the most rudimentary control over the appearance of the stadium a "design contest" was in fact not a may not have known better, but that the sort of city center and was pieced together or the development of (he rest ol the site. competition that conformed in any way to Rangers' architectural consultant, Michael from commercial strips stretching along According to the 141T, the Rangers had full the American Institute of Architects' Pittas, should have. Pittas is a former head its arterial streets described as a "drive- architectural and construction control over guidelines. Even though no stipends were of the Design Arts Program of the National through Yellow Pages" by one writer." the entire project. City representatives ottered to firms on a "short list" of 26, 17 Endowment for the Arts and an honorary Although a handful of civic buildings are could be invited as guests to the architect of the firms invited chose to participate, in member of the AIA. At the NKA he had to be found in Arlington, they are diffused selection or design development proceed- spite of the fact that the firms recognized been an unstinting advocate of design and inconsequential] as is the campus at ings, but they were not required partici- that the RFP contained what various parti- competitions and set up a special category the University ofTexas at Arlington, split pants. Neither were the Rangers compelled cipant described as a "hidden agenda" or a of grants for that purpose, asserting that in two by a major thoroughfare that is to solicit and respond to public wishes, "smokescreen" for a competition. "It was while competitions made no difference in depressed and spanned by pedestrian although they have held several "fans' not intended DO be a competition, but it quality of design, they did in fact promise bridges to enhance its drive-through effi- forums." A stadium authority comprising certainly was a competition in the sense 'Opportunity, Equity, fairness" lor an era ciency. Arlington was perhaps somewhat four Arlington City Council members and (ha! Webster defines it," observed Janet "in which architects find themselves being better equipped to become the entertain- three Arlington residents was appointed by Marie Smith, consultant to the Baltimore exploited in private competition.. . . ment center of the Metroplex or, as the the city council to make recommendations Orioles, who also acted as a consultant for producing design work - schematic, almost program enthused, "the entertainment and to council regarding the project, but, the Rangers during the architect selection full-job development drawings - in order tourist destination for the Southwest." unlike Baltimore's stadium authority, none process. Why, then, did so many archi- to procure a commission."1'1 Even though Directly north of the stadium site is Wet 'n ol the members had prior experience in tects choose to participate? Dan Swcar- Schietter was primarily responsible for Wild, a summertime water park; to the such matters. ingen of Osborn Engineering observed, dialling the KJ:I', Pittas was presumably east is Six flags Over Texas, with numer- "The architectural profession is really well aware of the professional protocols ous daredevil rides. The program intended N considering the many proposals hungry right now." In spire of this, and the that apply. Pittas acknowledged the hard- that the ballpark should become the focus submitted for the stadium, one might fact that his firm has a 100-year history of ball ethic of the Rangers' process: "When of a year-round attraction, not just a ask what exactly captured the interest hallpark design, including Yankee Sta- seasonal one. of 17 architectural hrms from around dium, , and Ecnway Park, Ithe country. Was it because the opportu- this time they opted not to compete because the risks were tuo great. Chatlcs There is nothing like the threat of the nity to design a baseball stadium comes Young of Hammond Beeby & Babka home team leaving to elicit an outpouring along so rarely for most architects that they noted: "Everybody knew it was a crap of publicly subsidized incentives to main- did it for the fun of it? Or are big commis- shoot.... I'm sure a lot of people were tain the status quo, although the trade-offs sions now so scarce that they felt com- disappointed. We've heard rumors and in such cases are often of debatable value.' pelled to try? The baseball mystique griping about being used. It's part of the But Arlington does depend heavily on evidently came into play. As former base- game. There's not a lot of work out there - tourist revenue, so the threat of losing the ball player Norman Pfeiffer related, "It's you've got to compete,... if you don't team loomed large, lit lock in the services gone full circle from when I was in Little enter, you don't win." While some of the of the Rangers for the next 40 years, the League to designing this and now my son larger Hrms look it in stride, others exper- town ultimately anted up S13S million is in Little League and I'm coaching."" ienced at competing for commissions, through a half-cent sales tax, approved li\ -i Schietter recalled that every architect such as Bill I'edersen, were shocked at the two-to-onc margin in a record turnout of began his presentation with some personal outlays made by many of the firms: "h was Arlington voters on 19 January 1991. five anecdote about baseball. a ridiculous amount of time and energy million dollars' worth of road improve- expended with so little direction to go on." ments is being subsidized by Tarrant And by expanding their sights beyond County and the city of Arlington. Of the sports-specialist firms, the Rangers $170 million price tag, the Rangers will signaled a willingness to give "rookies" of Another frequently voiced concern was contribute only $35 million, to come from exceptional promise an opportunity to that the Rangers were simply interested in the sale ol luxury boxes, but the team lias raise the level of their game. As Scheiffcr getting a lot ol free ideas, a tactic that one also promised to build a master-planned put it: " fhe designer we want for this consultant who was pumped for free infor- complex that will include a river walk, Facility is the one who is willing to go the mation characterized as "strip-mining the outdoor amphitheater, Little , extra mile and take some risks. This design profession." Lending some justification to learning center, and hall of fame, inter- could make a national reputation for a this lear, George Bush responded, "Yes, spersed with shops and restaurants. These young firm." Schicttcr's plan was to assem- sure," when asked whether the Rangers ancillary amenities were a key factor in ble a hand-picked design team, according might incorporate some aspects of other helping to win popular support. to Ron Turner of LTlerbe Bccket. "They competitors' proposals into the final design. didn't want alliances. They wanted to pick One thing that Arlington leaders did not and choose and put people in slots." Why was the process structured so oppor- require of the Rangers in return for the tunistically? Many of the participating Frontierland: Moore/Andersson Architects (Charli Cite Spring 1992 19

Creekwalk: Lake/Flato Architects (David Lake and Ted Flato), competition rendering.

there is a limircd amount of work, 1 think based on a sales presentation. 1 wanted to the competitive process works quite well. see what creativity they brought to the . . .There is no question in my mind that table as opposed to them telling me what the participants acted competitively." He creativity they broughr to the table. That's t noted that even though it was not specifi- why we have invited you to come." cally requested in the RFP, both he and the .. lieni expei ted that the art bin i ts would ITTAS was primarily responsible go beyond a simple proposal, although he for coming up with names on V added. "1 think we were all quite amazed the list of invitees, particularly at the quantity and quality of"work from those of the major firms. The the majority of architects." While the Pnonjury for the noncompetition was means of presentation was left up to the composed primarily of the owners, manag- individual firms, it was noted in the HI I' ing partners Rush and Rose, and president that there would be space available to Tom Schieffer. While several architei is display models, wall space for rolled draw- were present during (he presentations, all ings, easels for presentation hoards, and were being paid as consultants by the overhead and slide projectors, implying owner and were not charged as impartial that some or all of these might be used jurors. Indeed, the representatives of HKS for presentations. hired as consultants were themselves seeking the position of managing architects Many of the participants wondered why for the project. Pittas was in a better posi- the list of invitees was not winnowed down tion than the architects to know the level through a submittal process to a more of sophistication of his clients and their manageable size. Norman Pfeiffer repre- design proclivities. As the client proved to sented Hardy Hol/.man Pfeiffer, a seasoned be far more interested in a traditionalist firm that has weathered many competi- approach, why was an architect like frank (iehry asked, except for the value of his tions. While Pfeiffer complimented the each would have added up to a lot of admonished the architects during the site name recognition? Pittas, questioned as to overall organization and professionalism expense for the Rangers, he said, for the visit, "You ought to be very conscious ol an Robert Venturis decision not to partici- of the event, he observed that the field of Si70 million project but would have exterior of the building and not just do it pate, responded, "Yes, but we had Michael competing firms was "unusually large . . . proved "not much" help to the architects. from the inside out, but take it from the Craves, Kohn Pcderseti Fox, Hardy in my experience. Usually that kind of Stipends might, however, have helped outside in." He later said that to select a Hol/.man Pfeiffer. Rklurd Keating,'limy presentational effort is done with maybe the Rangers moderate their passion for design without an idea of what the hall- Predock . . . , " ticking oil the names as if six firms that have been selected from a "creativity" by trimming the list of invitees. park would look like would have been they were interchangeable. larger group rhrough the submittal process "a big leap of faith on our part." rather than the interview process." As Some participants commented on the Schieffer explained to the architects during The omission of a stipend was purely a ambiguity of the HIT, although others Schwarz's rendering of the stadium exterior, their site visit: "I'm a layman. I don't know financial decision by the owner. SchiefTer thought it was very clear. The lack of speci- complete with longhorn heads, relief much about architecture. I was not indicated that an honorarium for the ficity about submittal materials seriously panels of the Rangers, and baseball lamps, comfortable with choosing an architect architects was considered; a fee of $5,000 disturbed many participants, especially apparently was insrrument.il in winning when it became obvious during the him the commission. "When that facade interview that Tom Schieffer had specific went up on the screen, 1 said, 'That's it!"' expectations. Schieffer noted that some Schieffer said." He remembered that firms chose to develop certain areas of the "David Scbwan was very forthright in program - parking, the river walk, retail - what he said and what he had drawn. more extensively than the stadium design 1 thought he was willing to rake risks to do itself. Selecting one area for further that. 1 thought the design was very good, development was actually suggested in the and it captured, I thought, what we were Ull': "Invitees may if they desire choose trying to say with making it a parr of Texas. one of these items for detailed develop- He was willing to stand out there and say, ment to show a particularly creative- This is what I think it looks like.' And solution to a problem." As John Gosling of I thought that counted for a lot.""' RI'KI. recalled, Schieffer also advised firms during the site visit to "design to their Several of the invited firms were not strengths,' i.e., work up a master plan il willing to take the risk of dealing with the that was what they were particularly inter- Texas Rangers, at least not in the manner ested in. Yet Schieffer would later com- outlined in the Rangers' Rl:fi However plain that some architects did not define successful the effort to pull in many of the the stadium clearly and that they did not most valuable players of the architectural provide elevations. "It was surprising to me world proved, it is regrettable but under- that the ballpark itself was something that standable that the architectural firm most a lot of people didn't focus on, or didn't identified today with the synthesis and define it as well. And I think that there are expression of popular culture, Venturi, a couple of reasons for that. The first is Scott Brown & Associates, chose not to that the ballpark is just very difficult to do. bile. This was not for lack of interest, It is a geometric problem that is difficult to according to Stephanie Hodell, the firm's deal with. And secondly, 1 think that there marketing director: "This was a building was some reluctance on the part of some of type we were dying to get our hands on." the architects to give us a look as to what But, as Hodell explained, the firm recog- the facade of the ballpark would be for fear nized that the request for proposal was in that it would not be what we wanted or reality i request tor .i competition eimv: what we liked." Schieffer had, after all. irles W. Moore and Arthur Anderssonl, competition model. "If you want a competition and you want 211 Cite Spring 1992

Hole-istic: Michael Graves, competition rendering.

spectacular ideas, you should be willing to pay for i t . . . . In a competition like this, what the developer walks away with is a lot of free ideas. This is a situation that is endemic to the profession. We've seen more competitions like this as the market has gotten tighter. We just feel that we can't continue to get work this way... . Everyone is wondering these days where to draw the line." Robert Venturi wrote a letter to Tom Schieffcr outlining his objections to the process: searching lor develop out of that relation- of Ellcrbe Becket recalled that his firm's ling the spectators to walk up the hill and ship, through an extensive analysis of approach was to invent constraints for the smell the flowers as part of their ritual "We feel that the level of unpaid services issues, a direct collaboration with client- site, which the stadium would then be Rangers baseball experience. Lllerbc Becket requested is unfair and the process, as now users, and a give and take between all made to appear to accommodate. This designed a parking lot that seemed to constituted, will prove to be counter parties. Designs shot from the hip without approach had been suggested in the appeal to Schieffer, who cited it in several productive. The request for design con- direcr client-user participation are not program itself: "In the old parks, field interviews: shaped like the state ofTexas, it cepts at this early stage will not, we be- merely superficial; they are usually not configuration was dictated by the size of had markers designating the location ol lieve, lead to the creative ideas you desire; really innovative and they don't meet the the city block. At this site we have the several Texas cities, so that fans could and to accede to your request would be to client's true needs. A doctor can't operate luxury of moving streets to make it appear remember what city they had parked near go against some norms we have set on you before examining you, we can't, in as if they dictated field configuration." rather than a lot number. ourselves, as architects, regarding careful good conscience, provide answers before 17 analysis ol the problem with the client. knowing rhe questions." Many competitors applied an orthogonal Moore/Andersson Architects presented "In our experience, the relationship grid to the site, composed of parking the most radical rcintcrpretation of the between the client, the architect, the Tart Architects and Robert A. M. Stern "blocks" defined by trees. Keating Mann traditional stadium form in their fanciful program and the budget is a very personal & Associates also declined to enter, for Jernigan Rottet acknowledged the highly interpretation of a Wild West theme, one. The great design solutions you are similar reasons. Pittas said that Stern's commercial architectural character of shaping frontier-inspired buildings into star office was "well into it" before withdraw- Arlington by adopting a drive-in proto- points containing the stadium seating. This ing; however, a spokesman for Stern's type. Hardy Hol/.man PteifFcr employed a fantasia on Frontierland was undoubtedly a office disputed that, saying the firm had gridiron plan, but sought to energize it response to Arlington's theme park context, I withdrawn following the site visit when it with a linear pedestrian mall set on a diag- which includes not only Wet 'n W i l d and k- \ became clear there would be no jury and onal. Both RTK1. and Sasaki Associates Six Flags on 1-30 but the muhi-minareted, 3» * no stipend. A spokesman for frank prepared site plans of Beaux-Arts formality, Moorish Palace of Wax and Ripley's Believe Gehry's office stated that he had been creating broad malls with the stadium as It or Not east of the city alongside a now- —- 1 interested but had declined due to other a focal point of the axes, Others softened defunct amusement center that still sports commitments. the gridiron with organically shaped parks a marooned pirate galleon. 1 1 and lakes. Michael Graves's compart- mented plan was as tautly organized as a II) 1 1 Gary "Corky" Cunningham, a Dallas I li IIAEL Pittas had advised it. architect who heads a small office, was the computer chip. Schieffer to "let his preju- ^Ml only one of the 17 who participated who dices show" in his program chose not to develop a visual design In contrast, Antoine Predock took an anti- I statements, and Schieffer proposal. Instead, he simply brought an urban stance, seeking a more poetic did, after a fashion, but with enough MM! outline of his thoughts about the project synthesis of building and place. Altering ambiguity to confuse at least some of the to discuss with the committee during his the site's flat topography, Predock buried participants. How new, how old did the

•I'P I f n i l / a Hp'^'l ; allotted time. Realistically, did he think his stadium within a hill covered with Rangers want the stadium to look? The w this approach stood a chance against reams wildflowers, distancing it from any urban program volunteered simply that "baseball J of renderings and elaborate models? connection to explore his own highly is fascinated with its past.... Such Cunningham said perhaps, if the owners personalized typology of sacred mountain fascination with history and a resistance to were interested in "more than picking a forms and ritualized procession. Lake/ change in the game suggests an architec- pretty building" and wished to initiate a Flato's plan also exhibited an organic tural solution that evokes feelings of the dialogue with an architect to discuss "all tendency, responding to the openness of past - a structure that suggest [sic] baseball those things that have to be expressed the North Texas plains with foul lines has been a part of America and Arlington before you can draw a line. Cunningham radiating like spokes from the playing field for many, many years. Yet the structure \tm*4"* believed the owners "wanted a fantasy into the surrounding landscaped parking should not be a duplicate of another park. atmosphere." For him, the potential of the areas to form tree-lined walkways and a .. . We want a fresh, creative design that site was in the response to the creek and public common. Larry Speck also sought suggests history, but does not repeat it." trees, "the small things that make a place." to create activity-related linkages in his plan, extending biking and jogging trails Some competitors, such as Charles Moore, beyond the site to connect with a pre- One of several contradictions in the design interpreted a "fresh and creative design" existing network of city parks. David program stemmed from the flat, relatively to mean that the very form of a baseball Schwarz used an Olmstedian landscape undifferentiated and undeveloped subur- stadium could be reinterpreted, while vocabulary with meandering walkways and ban character of the 210-acre site, blan- others read the allusion to "history" to • s an emphasis on pedestrian amenities and keted by the asphalt parking lots that suggest a recovery of baseball's earlier activity areas, while pushing parking off surround the present stadium and softened innings. The program did not specify that site to adjacent blocks to the south and only by the desultory meandering of the building should evoke Texas history. east. Lakc/Flato's radially spoked layout Johnson Creek and an occasional clump of yet in interviews following the competi- was the only plan to include a section of trees. The older ballparks that served as tion, this was what Tom Schieffer said he underground parking, which was hidden models for Schieffer's concept had been was looking for, and he had in fact made from view under the common area. built in dense, circumstantially constrained pointed references to Texas history during Predock deliberately placed parking far neighborhoods, the idiosyncrasies of each the initial site visit by the architects on June Three peaks: Hammond Beeby & Babka, away from the stadium, in effect compel- competition renderings. site producing a unique form. Bill Johnson 10. During this presentation, which was Cite Spring 1992 21

Sails force: Martin Growald, competition rendering. videotaped, he suggested that the architects look at the King William district in S.m Antonio and German farmhouses in Fredericksburg if they wanted to give a "Western look" to their projects, adding also that "I like traditional architecture, if anyone can define what that is."

Another clue appeared in the program's description of the exterior of the ballpark. Selection of stone, masonry, concrete, or steel was left to the architect, with the 'i admonishment that "great care should be given to the exterior of the ballpark structure. It should be warm and inviting. W . . , the viewer should see a building in which baseball is played - not a sterile, cold structure that looks as if it just landed from the moon," The reference to a "sterile, have bobbled the commission had he Disappointment inevitably follows such of Schwarz's output, but a firsthand look at cold" lunar landing structure no doubt was chosen the art deco theme, but he astutely events, but the way the Rangers' "non- it made a strong and useful impression on intended to indicate that the Rangers were "picked" the facade with the overtly competition" was conducted was ques- Schicffer. So much so that even prior to not interested in the doughnut-shaped Texan flavor. tioned in much the same terms by many of the competition, Dan Swearingen recalls generic sports complexes of the 1960s, the competitors. Suspicions were fre- that Schicffer cited Schwarz as being the plopped onto suburban sites and sur- Several of the Texas firms managed to quently voiced that Schwar/. had enjoyed kind of creative talent he was looking for. rounded by seas of parking. evoke regional motives less ostentatiously. an inside track. He does, in fact, maintain Bobby Booth of HKS, who sat in on the Lake/Plato drew directly from the Texas a small office in the same City Center "jury," said that he believed Schwarz was Schicffer apparently felr that ambiguity Hill Country vernacular, quoting the tower that houses Schieffer's offices, which the clear winner because of his careful would bring out the best ideas: "We didn't vocabulary of industrial sheds and lime- had been set up to facilitate work on such attention to every aspect of the written want to stifle the creative process, so we stone construction they had used for their projects as Sundance West, financed by program, from seasonal color to air didn't tell them a whole lot. And that's Carraro House near San Marcos. Larry Edward Bass (who had studied architecture circulation. Certainly, Schwar/'s facility for exactly what we got, creativity." Martin Speck also indulged his own interest in at Yale while Schwar/. was also a student eclectic synthesis seems well matched to Growald took an internationalist approach, vernacular form and materials, selecting there), and the Cook-Fort Worth Child- the Rangers' expressed desire for a stadium using the Eiffel Tower as a point of depar- brick for both its historical association ren's Hospital, a development spearheaded drawn from all the best bits of every other ture for his filigrced exposed-steel structure with the building type and its prevalence by Cook Hospital Board president Robert stadium in the country. surmounted by wind sails and an artificial in North Texas. Bass. Allegations of a "Bass connection" propelling Schwarz to victory were denied sun to produce what he promised would be HE definitive design for the by Schicffer, who says that the Basses have a "spectacle unlike anything on the face of Others cither ignored or did not try to Radium, revealed in a model no financial connection with the Rangers, the earth." John Gosling of R'l'Kl. lamented second-guess the programs stylistic presented at a February 1992 but he noted that a good recommendation that his firm had selected the "wrong suit preferences. Bill Johnson of FJIerbe Becket news conference, features an from Robert Bass did not hurt Schwarz. i>t clothes" - art deco - in which to dress did not believe that the RHP suggested a Tasymmetrica l configuration of the seating Schicffer did acknowledge that he had seen the stadium. Apparently any affinity with historicist approach, but says that his firm's bowl and several quirks in the field design no built work by any of the patticipants Dallas's Hair Park was malapropos: and in approach would have been modern regard- to make play more exciting. A right-field other than Schwarz that he knew of, save any case, as Schicffer later explained to less. Predock rejected what he termed the power alley has a ten-foot section that is for an office building in Washington by Gosling, the Rangers did not consider art "nostalgia-based design approach" of the four feet shorter to foster home runs. Kohn Pedersen Fox. He commented deco particularly Texan. program for a more abstract image that There will be variations in the height of glowingly about Schwarz's crearivity in was landscape-inspired. Graves employed outfield fences, from 1 5 feet in left field to creating a turreted, castlclike parking Other firms were more adept at suiting his own distinctive "sui generis" vocabulary 8 feet in center and right fields. Schwarz garage for the Children's Hospital, along up. Schwarz's well-honed technique of to produce an arcaded stadium that, explains that care is being taken to create with other details of the building. The collaging snatches of historical motifs schematically, was not too dissimilar from an intimate viewing experience within the parking garage is perhaps not the pinnacle probably was the most significant factor in Schwarz's project. (continued on page 32) his success. An extreme example of this is his Penn Theater building in Washington, Particularly imaginative approaches were D.C., which sports three completely taken by some architects to respond to different facades: one nco deco, one Inter- climatic conditions, producing sail-like sun national Style, one nco-Victorian."1 shields in both Ellcrbe Beckets and Martin Schwarz takes offense at being labeled a Growald's proposals; a diaphanous, postmod-ernist, and instead offers his own elaborate shading structure in Speck's; air appellation, "neo-eclectic." V l i w . i i / also cooling earth tubes in Lake/Plato's; and hedged his bets by presenting not one but topiary screens in Kohn Pcdcrsen Fox's. two alternatives as elevations. Bobby Booth But, in the end, the team owners were of I IKS, who sat in on the presentations, uncomfortable with the more adventurous related that Schwar/. showed the committee entries. The Rangers wanted a "monu- both an art deco elevation rendering and ment to baseball," as George M. Bush the ionghorn-studded, arcaded version. explained. Schwar/. gave them a commer- Schwar/. then added suspense to his presen- cially reassuring sampling of motifs tation by declaring that he had decided that stretched across a facade of rusticated pink only one was appropriate for the Rangers. gtanitc and brick, surmounted by baseball- The response to Schwarz's presentation had shaped lamps, and emblazoned with thus far been very positive, because it so longhorn steer heads, Lone Stars, Texas thoroughly covered all aspects of the state outlines, and friezes of baseball and program. Booth felt that Schwar/ might western themes. Moundabout: Antoine Predock, competition model. The Competition for Rangers Stadium parking could be screened by retail does ing; or (4) fund cost overruns themselves. not appear in the most recent schemes. The The option of reducing the cost of exterior (continued from page 21) seasonal nature of both the ballpark and finish materials could seriously affect the ballpark, which will scat 48,100 fans, an the adjacent entertainment parks may character of Schwarzs design if the large increase of 4,600 over the old stadium. represent a serious impediment to gaining expanses of pink granite and intensive According to Schwarz, sight lines will be the confidence of business owners, yet no detailing of longhorn heads. Ranger mural much shorter in comparison to the new marketing studies have been undertaken by reliefs, baseball fight fixtures, and Texas Comisky Park in Chicago, and half of the the Rangers or the city of Arlington. stars were excised, which Schwarz con- seating will be closer than in the new tends is unlikely. "I wouldn't have taken Camden Yards Stadium in Baltimore. The question still to be answered is whether the job if 1 thought that would happen,'' Upper-deck seating will be 20 leet closer the project that the competing firms he says. "I believe that Tom Schieffer will than the new Comisky's but five feet labored to develop as a full-fledged city keep his promise to the city of Arlington." higher than Baltimore's. The Rangers' entertainment center will ever be realized in program did not require the elimination its entirety. The contract between the One potential "out" for the owners and the of all supporting columns, so the upper Rangers and the city of Arlington antici- architect is their assertion that this is a deck is actually cantilevered I m m columns pates, but does not guarantee, that any of place that will develop over time, as a 20- placed lout rows from the real ol the the ancillary amenities such as the river to 30-year project. The public may just lower deck. Compared to the present walk, Little League park, amphitheater, have to be patient. At this point, Schieffer Arlington Stadium, the upper deck will be learning center, or restaurants and shops has certainly performed well tor the 20 feet closer to the field, and the lower- will ever be built. Only the road improve- Rangers in convincing 16 out of 26 archi- deck seats will be drawn tightly to the foul ments, which are being financed with $5 tectural firms to invest thousands of dollars lines, with the first row of seats positioned million in county funds, and a city-owned in free design and unwitting promotional nine feet closer to home plate. Beyond linear park are mandated by the agreement, work for the ball club. Teamed with first and third bases, the lower-deck scats but Mayor Richard Greene has said that the Mayor Richard Greene and chamber of are nudged in toward center field. city could refuse to sell the bonds if the commerce president Ted Willis, Schieffer planned complex does not contain the successfully lobbied the Arlington City Care is also being taken to ensure greater additional features. Although the city- Council, citizens, and county officials to profitability for the owners, with 7,700 appointed board of the Arlington Stadium guarantee millions of dollars to build the fewer outfield scats, a reduction from Authority is responsible for authorizing the stadium. Finally, he returned to the 19,000 in the present stadium to 11,291 sale of the bonds, the contract gives full legislature to get unanimous approval for in the new. Rangers Stadium will have architectural and construction control to the enabling legislation to make the 120 luxury suites in two rows, 30 more (he Rangers, so city oversight of the arrangement work. Schieffer's design team than the new Comisky Park and 48 more innsinmjon budgei ni.u be problematic. concept also seems to have a good chance than Baltimore's Camden Yards. The The sales tax proposition guarantees tli.it of success. Schwarz's lack of experience architect claims that the lower suite level the s.ilc of'bonds cannot exceed $135 with ballparks is offset by HNTB's partici- will be closer to the action than in any million. If the costs exceed $170 million, pation, and HKS was selected as project ol the other major-league . The the Rangers will theoretically have to scale manager because of their reputation for 31 '/.'-degree slope ol the upper deck is the project back or make good any cost successfully fast-tracking multimillion- second only to Chicago's Wrigley Field, overruns themselves. One casualty already dollar projects. which at 30 degrees has the lowest slope is the Rangers' Hall of Fame, originally to be a separate structure but now incorpo- in the major league stadiums. The Rangers' owners have set a precedent rated into the stadium itself. in the composition of their design team Some lessons have been learned from that may well open up sports facilities recent stadiums, as evidenced by the CHIEFFER expects that the design to a wider array of architects. While i menial placement of access ramps stadium can be built for $100 the new ballpark will undoubtedly be required by the Rangers' program. Unlike million, not including parking appealing to fans, particularly if the inti- the new Comisky Park, where exterior and site acquisition. He also mate scale and public amenities are ramps interrupt the facade, the Rangers' Sexpects that the development of the river maintained, its essential conventionality, stadium will have access ramps, triangular walk and other amenities can be accom- however pleasantly rendered, leads one to in plan, inserted within the exterior walls plished economically, and that some of the wonder whether a competition was really and structural decks. The surface of the retail facilities will be constructed as shells necessary at all. • Rangers' playing field will be depressed 22 to be finished out by tenants. One hundred feet below street level, so fans will enter at million dollars is substantially less than the 1 I'hilip Bess. City Baseball Magic: Plain Talk and midlevel and walk either up or down to $135 million spent on Chicago's Comisky Uncommon Stmt About Cities and Baseball Parks their seats. Fans with disabilities have Park, which was clad in precast concrete Minneapolis Review of Baseball, 1989); I'hilip Bess. access to all sections. Center-field seating panels rather than expensive granite. "Mallpark," Inland Architect. September-October will feature a combination of raked lawn Baltimore's stadium cost $105 million, but 1991, pp. 32—4 !; John Pastier, "Rescue Operation," seating and bleachers, as requested by reportedly the owners are not happy with ibid., pp. 42—49; Jerry Adler, "Field of Fancy, Field of Dreams," Newsweek, 19 June 1989, pp. 6 8 - 6 9 ; and fans. Right-field seating benefits from a the brick esterior. Other costs to consider Brute Webb, "Diamond in the Round," Cite, Spring strong crank in plan, so spectators look include parking for 16,000 cars; figured at 1990, pp. 7 10. back at the field of play. The lower bowl $1,000 to $2,000 per space, this alone will ends at the right-field foul line, while the account for $16 million to $32 million, 2 Joe Wayne Taylor," Flunk Your Magic Twanger. left-field lower deck wraps around to the and more if parking lots are extensively Tommy," Texas Observer, 27 July 1973. p. 3. middle ol "(he deep lefi side. Center field landscaped, as Schwarz proposes. Schieffer 3 Quoted in Belinda Willis, "Dome Home for [he contains a triangular grassy court where is obviously banking that the locally Rangers?," Business I'm,. JS March 1990. p. 22. fans can picnic under the surveillance of depressed economy will create a favorable the oversize playing-card likenesses of the bidding climate among contractors, and 4 Harden produced ihrce schemes in all. The first Rangers' star players - a slender pantheon that the stadium can be built for less than added more upper-deck sealing n> the existing stadium; a second, supplemented with a Luge model, inspired by the billboard-size image of those in other parts of the country. The essentially created a new stadium in right field; the that adorns the exterior of construction process is being fast-tracked, third created a brand-new SI02 million stadium in the present stadium, beneath which fans which can save dollars in inflationary the tentet of the site. Harden is now involved in a like to pose for photos. increases but can lead to cost overruns later dispute with Arlington officials u to whether he is entitled to compensation for all of his design work. in the game if miscalculations made in early planning necessitate design revisions Development on adjacent property is a 5 Quoted by Dave Bryant. "Yes! Move the Team!." and change orders. potential problem with the Rangers' fort Worth Star- Telegram. 22 October 1989.

prexem approach. George Bush's view is 6 "Keep the Rangers: Dallas Interests Covet Arlington's that the ballpark will simply be a "cata- If the Rangers have difficulty keeping the Team," ibid., 28 May 1989. lyst" and development will spring across project within budget, they have several the street. Pushing parking onto adjacent options: (1) reduce the overall size and 7 Dave Bryanl, "Move the Team?." ibid., 22 October 1989. blocks will certainly reduce the potential seating capacity of the stadium; (2) down-

for retail activities in those areas, and grade interior and exterior finishes; (3) cut 8 David Cassievens, "Build a Park Fit for a King and I Schwann's competition proposal that back on peripheral amenities and landscap- Rangers," Dallas Morning News, 4 July 1989,