COTA Austin - construction and infrastructure

[Pup]

Those RV pads are multiplying like rabbits.

[hairy_scotsman]

Those RV pads are multiplying like rabbits.

Rebuilt the same as before, just higher, as we thought they'd be.

[mclaren777]

I'm officially giving up on them announcing support races for 2012.

[sknguy]

Stepped in, or joined in?

I hate to give points to PUP but he deserves +1 for that. This American bickering is a bit tie tiring to us old worlders.

A conversation of which I unfortunately adding to with my comment. November 18th can't get here soon enough. I wanna see some racing on this circuit.

[hairy_scotsman]

I'm officially giving up on them announcing support races for 2012.

What we've been hearing so far is Ferrari Challenge, Porsche Cup and Historic GP.

[FW17]

Wish they had a bit more character to the start finish straight. The pit building and grandstand looks purposeful, but bland.

Indy had an iconic tower building






I am used to watching cricket and some of the stadiums are just iconic, unlike new F1 buildings

[mx_tifoso]

Wish they had a bit more character to the start finish straight. The pit building and grandstand looks purposeful, but bland.

..

As long as the track does the proper talking the architecture just needs to do it's job and that's that imo. Think about other circuits with cheesy "character", like the crazy roof lines at Silverstone or the traditional Asian bridge in Korea.

But considering "everything's bigger in Texas", I'm surprised that COTA didn't go down a more overwhelming route.

[FW17]

Wish they had a bit more character to the start finish straight. The pit building and grandstand looks purposeful, but bland.

..

As long as the track does the proper talking the architecture just needs to do it's job and that's that imo. Think about other circuits with cheesy "character", like the crazy roof lines at Silverstone or the traditional Asian bridge in Korea.

But considering "everything's bigger in Texas", I'm surprised that COTA didn't go down a more overwhelming route.

Still lacking a focal point to the main straight





Or even this

[Richard]

the traditional Asian bridge in Korea.

That is horrific. they taken a standard concrete bridge and stuck on some silly bits of timber. I prefer the utilitarian approach at COTA to the perverse notion of vernacular at Korea.

[WhiteBlue]

CoTA's buildings are like an attempt of a bean counter to play architect. They obviously had no ambitions beyond having a tower like Indy somewhere. But it isn't a big problem. If they make some money down the road they can add stuff that impresses the visitors.

[hairy_scotsman]

Wish they had a bit more character to the start finish straight. The pit building and grandstand looks purposeful, but bland.

..

As long as the track does the proper talking the architecture just needs to do it's job and that's that imo. Think about other circuits with cheesy "character", like the crazy roof lines at Silverstone or the traditional Asian bridge in Korea.

But considering "everything's bigger in Texas", I'm surprised that COTA didn't go down a more overwhelming route.

Less bland = more money (which has been tight) ... and Miro Rivera isn't experienced at designing stadia. I think this is their first.

Given all of that, it's still difficult to explain the tower, which serves no clear useful purpose and surely cost millions.

[Pup]

I agree that the problems are mainly with the MRA designed buildings. I'm not sure why they were picked other than they are local and perhaps had some previous connection with one of the guys on the development team.

I like the pit building. They made some changes from the early renderings that seem to be clearly driven by cost, but I don't think they ruined it by any means. The building is cleanly detailed, well proportioned, and has a dramatic horizontality that fits the landscape. So I'm not sure it needs a focal point tower/pagoda/etc.

The bridges are extremely utilitarian (in their structure at least, I suspect we haven't seen the final product). They're pretty much standard DOT design. I'm not a huge fan, but then I don't think they detract. Again, I reserve judgement until they're complete.

Unlike Richard, I think the bridge at Yeongam is quite nice. Sure, there's a philosophical hurdle to get over - had you asked me when I was in design school, I'd have hated it. But the detailing and proportions seem quite well done. And it doesn't 'look' like veneer, even though we all know it is. And given the pit building in Turkey, which is so obviously phony that it looks like a Disney streetscape, it's hard to criticize Korea.

In contrast, the bridges at China, which are quite honest in revealing their structure and in their use of material, are, well, butt ugly in my opinion. Same goes for the CotA tower. So, you can have good or bad traditional design and good or bad modern design, and to me the main thing is to get the 'good' part taken care of and let the arguments over traditional vs modern be had by the academics.

Ideally, of course, you'd have a good, modern design that also shows cultural and historical influences.

[strad]

It certainly gets old. Not one of you picked any other new circuit apart so badly.

[beelsebob]

It certainly gets old. Not one of you picked any other new circuit apart so badly.

Sure we did... I mean, we analysed the grouting on each and every retaining wall at other places didn't we? Oh... wait...

[Harvey]

Although I don't want to pick holes in the design of the circuit or buildings* I can't help but be confused by how no other circuit (especially new ones) builds their podium out over the circuit like Monza. It's not only a cheap way of building a focal point on the pit façade, but also allows the fans an unparalleled view of proceedings.

Also, can I just ask: what the frig is an "RV pad"!? Not being from the US, I think something has been lost in translation.

*I actually think it all looks pretty awesome, and honestly can't wait to see a genuinely exciting looking modern circuit.