Code,951011
Subject,Peter Van Dijk
Date,8/31/2006
Interviewer,Nina Gibans
Abstract,"Peter Van Diyk has worked as an architect in Cleveland since arriving in the city in 1961.  In this 2006 interview, he talks about some of the architectural renovation projects on which he has worked, including the Huntington Bank restoration and his work in preserving the theaters at Playhouse Square, and shares his more general thoughts on Cleveland's architecture and development.  Throughout, he laments some of the development mistakes made in the city while stressing Cleveland's many assets that have gone misused.  Missed opportunities in the Erieview urban renewal project and University Circle - among others -  draw criticism from Van Diyk, who offers alternative plans and options for future development."
Special Notes,"cleveland state university, playhouse square, architecture, urban renewal"
minutes:,951011A
0,introduction and background
1,growing up in Shell Oil Company enclaves (Dutch East Indies/Venezuela)
2,
3,Holland during World War II
4,relocation to New York City
5,
6,attending Cornell University
7,wartime college education
8,"early work in architecture, studying architecture at Univ. of Oregon"
9,drafted into Korean War after graduation
10,decision to go to graduate school
11,Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
12,"relocation to work in Michigan, notable colleagues"
13,
14,"Cleveland Federal Building Architects (3 firms): history, office location, partners"
15,
16,
17,
18,
19,Fullbright Grant to Italy
20,
21,"Buckminster Fuller, otherr notable influences and colleagues"
22,
23,"Cleveland, assetts:  ""we were the envy of many other cities in america"""
24,"geographical assetts, moderate climate, low cost of living"
25,"culture, light traffic, smalltown feeling"
26,"architecture, ethnic neighborhoods"
27,"Buildings with passageways: (Arcade, Terminal Tower, Loew's Bldg. et al.)"
28,"I.M. Pei's E9th urban renewal project, 1960s: evaluation, description"
,
,951011B
0,"I.M. Pei's E9th urban renewal project, 1960s: evaluation, description (cont.)"
1,
2,
3,
4,"Huntington Bank, restoration project"
5,"""there's no bank I know that has this collossal grandeur..."""
6,
7,"""if that building had gone down the tubes it would have been a terrible mistake"""
8,Historic Preservation:  importance
9,historic architecture:  regional characteristics
10,cleveland: notable buildings and individuals
11,"Playhouse Square: planned demolition, parking garage construction"
12,pushing for restoration
13,
14,working with playhouse square revivalists and Kent State architecture students
15,Van Dijk Plan for Playhouse Square renewal
16,
17,
18,historical importance of playhouse square theatres
19,playhouse square: history
20,state theatre and ny metropolitan opera
21,playhouse square as an urban amenity
22,"""jaque brel is alive and well…"" performance"
23,Cleveland State University Nautitorium: anecdote about serendipitous meeting
24,
25,
26,"revolutionary gutter design gives CSU ""the fastest pool in the world"""
27,"""I hate the addition to that building"", other ugly structures"
28,"Cleveland State University, architecture:  original campus has ""no contact with the city"""
29,"Waetjen Auditorium [28:30], Mather Mansion renovation/furniture"
30,"Cleveland State University Student Center, planned demolition"
31,
32,
33,"Breuer Building, planned demolition:  alternative plans"
34,
35,"Cleveland, urban issues:  disconnected leadership"
36,
37,
38,"Cleveland, architectural leadership: Terminal Tower, Public Housing, University Circle"
39,"University Circle:  ""lacks the messy vitality of a college town"", development mistakes"
40,
41,"future development plans, connection to Little Italy, ""gloomy"" entrances"
42,
43,"Cleveland, urban renewal mistakes: proliferation of parking structures"
44,
45,"Urban Parks: New York City, Cleveland"
46,"Cleveland, urban issues:  need for convenient and affordable parking (Toronto model)"
47,
48,"failed Subway Plan, 1948"
49,"Lake Front, development mistakes"
50,"Cleveland, skyline"
51,"Cleveland, long-term prospects"
52,Lake Front
53,
54,end