The Barclays' center coated with rusty looking metal - Basketball Forum : Professional and College Basketball Forums

**Dre** · 08-29-2012, 11:40 AM

Quote:

The Barclays Center, home-to-be of the Brooklyn Nets, was a controversial building before it even was a building. That’s because it was a centerpiece of the controversial Atlantic Yards project, which involved developer/former Nets majority owner Bruce Ratner getting New York State to condemn several acres’ worth of (occupied) Brooklyn real estate so he could develop it for his own purposes – including building the Barclays Center, and relocating the Nets from New Jersey to play in it. Indeed, the fact that the Barclays Center would be frequented by members of the public – as opposed to, say, a luxury apartment building – made it a key part of the project’s ability to get off the ground.

Well, that’s all in the past, of course – Ratner won, he built the Atlantic Yards development (albeit not in its originally-proposed form), and the Nets start playing at the Barclays Center this fall. But just because the Barclays Center is allowed to exist does’t mean the controversy surrounding the building itself is over. No, now that it’s up, people are starting to ask the question: why’s it all rusted?

It’s a good question: the arena’s brand new and cost $1 billion, after all. Rust? But, as you might expect, the rusting is but a design flourish – one that developers might prefer you call “weathered steel.” It’s not exactly uncommon – both this New York Times piece and this Deadspin post from yesterday cite other structures that have used the stuff – but it’s aso hard to argue from either piece, especially Deadspin’s, that the weathered steel is actually a good idea, architecturally. While there are functional reasons to use it, the Times points out:

Weathering steel — often known by its old brand name, Cor-Ten — develops a fine layer of rust, which then acts as a protective coating against moisture, slowing its own corrosion process almost to a stop.

It’s also still, you know, rust. Deadspin:

Pittsburgh’s U.S. Steel Tower, which opened in 1970, was built to showcase [weathering steel]. It turned all the surrounding sidewalks (and a few neighboring structures) brown. The company tried power-washing the stuff off, but they couldn’t make it all go away. A large, complicated public sculpture from 1967 was crumbling by 1991.

So, we’ll probably be looking at some brown spots on the sidewalks outside the Barclays Center (even despite precautionary measures taken to ensure the dripping from the intentionally-rusted metal), at least. Even if the rusting outer layer succeeds at protecting the building’s actual exterior, one would hope the building would look good. After all, weathered steel is supposed to be partly about looks, too. So, will it be worth it from an aesthetic standpoint? Will the Barclays Center make up for those brown rust splotches on sidewalks and spotty history of the material itself with beauty beyond reproach?

I’m not an architect, granted. But come on: that looks like sh-t.

http://www.sportsgrid.com/media/barclays-center-rust/

Kidd · 08-29-2012, 11:57 AM

It's kinda working for me tbh

**Dre** · 08-29-2012, 11:57 AM

I get the whole Industrial Brooklyn thing but....nah

I mean from some blocks away it could look like an abandoned building

Kidd · 08-29-2012, 12:01 PM

It would look better if they made the new glass section more prominent in the design.

TheAnswer · 08-29-2012, 02:30 PM

It's ok I guess, looks better in person. As long as the inside is nice, then it doesn't really matter.

kbdullah · 08-31-2012, 10:39 AM

I wonder what this is going to look like when its seen on TV. I'm not a fan.

**Headliner** · 08-31-2012, 02:53 PM

I don't see the need for it. I liked the initial designs better. I'm not too bothered though because I'm more into the inside of the building. I've been looking at the website for pictures and different areas of the inside and it looks really promising.

**Cinco de Mayo** · 09-01-2012, 12:24 PM

Why would you spend that much money on a state-of-the-art arena and then make the outside look like the freaking Philadelphia Spectrum?

Tragedy · 09-02-2012, 12:31 PM

It looks like shit, having seen it in person

**Krstic All-Star** · 09-05-2012, 02:27 PM

Yeah, just drove by it and didn't care much for the look either. I like my stadiums gleaming

Mr. Hobbes · 09-05-2012, 02:42 PM

Wow WTF? Stadiums are supposed to be sleek and clean. That's how they complement the city's skyline. This looks like a stain.

From a distance, it's like 'what's that brown thing?'

ChosenFEW · 09-18-2012, 01:24 PM

Yeah, looks shitty.

But as long as the nets win games then ppl won't give a ****.

YankeeNETicS · 09-24-2012, 01:39 PM

Those are old pics.
You should see it in person to appreciate it.
The pattern and color blends well in the community.

08-29-2012, 11:57 AM	#3 (permalink)
Dre do better Join Date: Jun 2003 Age: 25 Posts: 41,325 Rep Power: 21474887	Re: The Barclays' center coated with rusty looking metal I get the whole Industrial Brooklyn thing but....nah I mean from some blocks away it could look like an abandoned building

08-29-2012, 02:30 PM	#5 (permalink)
TheAnswer Genius Level Talent Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 1,560 Rep Power: 1995994	Re: The Barclays' center coated with rusty looking metal It's ok I guess, looks better in person. As long as the inside is nice, then it doesn't really matter.

08-31-2012, 10:39 AM	#6 (permalink)
kbdullah Star Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 3,429 Rep Power: 1266257	Re: The Barclays' center coated with rusty looking metal I wonder what this is going to look like when its seen on TV. I'm not a fan.

08-31-2012, 02:53 PM	#7 (permalink)
Headliner ____________ Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 1,892 Rep Power: 665818	Re: The Barclays' center coated with rusty looking metal I don't see the need for it. I liked the initial designs better. I'm not too bothered though because I'm more into the inside of the building. I've been looking at the website for pictures and different areas of the inside and it looks really promising.

09-01-2012, 12:24 PM	#8 (permalink)
Cinco de Mayo ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Join Date: Aug 2002 Age: 30 Posts: 26,619 Rep Power: 21474873	Re: The Barclays' center coated with rusty looking metal Why would you spend that much money on a state-of-the-art arena and then make the outside look like the freaking Philadelphia Spectrum? __________________ JOHNJOHNJOHNJOHN JOHNJOHNJOHNJOHN JOHNJOHNJOHNJOHN JOHNJOHN JOHNJOHN JOHNJOHNJOHNJOHN JOHNJOHNJOHNJOHN JOHNJOHNJOHNJOHN JOHNJOHN JOHNJOHN JOHNJOHN JOHNJOHN JOHNJOHN JOHNJOHN JOHNJOHN

09-05-2012, 02:27 PM	#10 (permalink)
Krstic All-Star Legal Smeagol Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Unemployed, in Greenland?!? Age: 34 Posts: 30,661 Rep Power: 19240053	Re: The Barclays' center coated with rusty looking metal Yeah, just drove by it and didn't care much for the look either. I like my stadiums gleaming __________________ LIPA delenda est

09-05-2012, 02:42 PM	#11 (permalink)
Mr. Hobbes Legend Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Seattle Posts: 19,469 Rep Power: 21474863	Re: The Barclays' center coated with rusty looking metal Wow WTF? Stadiums are supposed to be sleek and clean. That's how they complement the city's skyline. This looks like a stain. From a distance, it's like 'what's that brown thing?' __________________ don't edit me bro

09-18-2012, 01:24 PM	#12 (permalink)
ChosenFEW NY NY big city of dreams Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Home of the Brave Posts: 2,493 Rep Power: 1685825	Re: The Barclays' center coated with rusty looking metal Yeah, looks shitty. But as long as the nets win games then ppl won't give a **. __________________ Where Amazing Happens?!?!?** http://youtube.com/watch?v=ysT8RA6JQks Gina Carano Fan Oh Yeaaa Baby

09-24-2012, 01:39 PM	#13 (permalink)
YankeeNETicS Star Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: I-80 (3,000 miles from NJ), US50 (3073 miles from Maryland) Posts: 4,151 Rep Power: 1590026	Re: The Barclays' center coated with rusty looking metal Those are old pics. You should see it in person to appreciate it. The pattern and color blends well in the community. __________________ There are 10 types of people. One who understands binary, and one who doesn't.

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