Word: pei
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...legislation seems to allow I.M. Pei, the Library's architect, the flexibility he has repeatedly asked for. Pei has said that he would like to include "supporting facilities"--parking lots, restaurants, shops--on the Bennett St. site near the Library. The bill would permit the Library Corporation to sell part of the Yards for the development of such facilities...
...problems, however, are Herculean; some are simply annoying. Take land, for instance. "The Charles River basin is notorious for its bad foundations," he explains. There are already thousands of piles sunk in on the Bennett Street site by the MBTA. But Pei doesn't know if these are usuable. He will have extensive test borings made on the site before determining their suitability. And if they're no good? Well, he'll just have to have them all removed and put in new ones. That will take time...
...fact, there's going to be plenty of time before the Library complex becomes a reality. At the earliest, it may be completed by 1970, but Pei says he can't guarantee that. No one will be too surprised if takes a year or two more to finish...
Currently, he is working on the final programming for the Library, Museum, and Institute deciding what will actually go into the buildings. This last stage of programming, which includes a step where Pei will match money against ideas and make sure the two meet, ought to take about three months. Simultaneously, the architect and his staff will begin more detailed studies of the foundations and of specific traffic requirements (how wide the streets should be, how many cars and buses are to be accomodated etc.). This latter step, Pei says, will require consultation with both the University and the city...
From this master-plan, Pei will then begin the detailed work on all the buildings. When he gets finished and when the contractors have finally carried out his orders, the change in Harvard Square will just be beginning