Sunday, May 14, 2000
Q&A with architect Joe Spears
Enquirer reporters John Erardi and John Byczkowski posed five questions to HOK's Joe Spear, lead architect on the new Cincinnati Reds ballpark.
Question: What is something the fans are really going to enjoy about this ballpark that may not yet have occurred to them?
Answer: “You'll be exploring this park probably throughout the entire first season. You'll be finding, "I didn't know you could stand and watch the game from here.' Or, "I didn't know you could get there from here.' It's not a one-liner. You are going to discover things.”
Q: Are you comfortable that the playing field itself is going to be unique to Cincinnati?
A: “We try, obviously, to work with the team. The Giants wanted an offensive park. The Tigers wanted a pitcher's park. I think John (Reds chief operating officer John Allen) and the Reds are trying to be balanced here. ... I think if John heard that people really enjoy that (more idiosyncrasies of the playing field), I think he would consider that. That's a question better asked of him.”
Q: Explain one more time about the “look” created in a ballpark when one-half of it is curved and the other half is angular. How will that give this ballpark a distinctive appearance?
A: “The third-base half of the ballpark is very angular. There's a corner behind the third-base dugout. (Behind) first base, it's a very graceful curve. That applies to the outfield, too. When you turn on the game on TV, and you follow a high fly ball, you'll know you're in Cincinnati, because you'll see that clue. ... The personality of the field comes out.”
Q: Did you try to design into the ballpark the big, distinctive triangular pediment from the Reds' Palace of the Fans (1902-1911) that said “Cincinnati” on it?
A: “The Palace was a beautiful building. I wish I could have seen that (in person). We toyed with (designing the pediment), and we still might. We have said that maybe it's not right to re-create that (given) the architecture of this ballpark. But we could see it as being something inside the (museum), whose ground floor is 34 feet tall. We could create a replica. At that height, you can do so much. We could have full-size scoreboards in there. You are going to remember that space (on the ground floor of the museum).”
Q: Are there going to be pillars in the double-decked bleachers in left field? The pillars look great in Texas and only a half-dozen seats have their views minimally impacted. The pillars could look like Crosley's.
A: “We talked about it and said we could put them in there. John (Allen) didn't think it was a wise thing to do. He said, "Unless you tell me it saves a lot of money, I'm not going to tell those bleacher customers they (have blocked views). I'm not going to apologize for making them sit behind a column.' ... There are other ways to get a ballpark "feel.' For example, a big overhang (of the second deck over the first). I think there will be some second-deck home runs hit in this ballpark.”
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Q&A with architect Joe Spears
