For those who have been with Franklin Today since my blogging started in 2007, you know how I am with the looks of a new building's exterior. I believe that quality developments should have quality architecture associated with them. Well, in the case of the Sacred Heart at Monastery Lake senior/retirement complex, some high quality architecture isn't needed to get the job accomplished.
In the renderings below, you'll notice that while the complex is all one structure, it is planned to be built in phases. Apparently the architect and the folks at Sacred Heart want that to be known, for every phase has a totally different feel in architecture.
The first phase, which will be on the left side of the renderings, has a more contemporary look and reminds me of something that is built on the east side of Milwaukee. Not too shabby. The second phase, which consists of the 1-2 story "Main Street" building where the main entrance will be located, has a blend between modern Churches and Gothic castles, which will be located in-between the first, east side, phase and the third phase, which looks relatively suburban. Again, the third phase is very acceptable in my book.
I can live with the first and the third phases, but that second "Main Street" phase needs to be modified! If the Gothic castle look was eliminated, and rather blended in more with the brick colors and paneling of the other phases, it would look 10x better.
I'm a huge fan of high quality, upscale architecture on our projects. My record has clearly shown this over the years. However, I'm not afraid of saying pieces of high quality architecture shouldn't be in a particular project. The castle look could work out with a standalone Church, but not with a complex like they're proposing.
