JBSimio Inc.

[witry]

Regarding other buildings:

Maybe the dorms should be R§ housing with built-in bus stops - after all, students tend to walk around campus.
I'd make the law school serve as a mini-Bureau of Bureaucracy.

Other possible departments include Agriculture, Engineering (good for I-M), Computer Science (good for I-HT), Education (good for your schools), and Environmental Science.

Nice work.

[Hogmeister]

Hogmeister:  That is a very impressive looking school.  I see quite a few elements that I used in some of the early buildings for this project.  I wonder where those steps go off to the left in the first picture... 

Here is what you asked for, Chem labs, lol





and here is an old view of the back of the building from a distance

[TheTeaCat]

I really like the arts building, and the additions of the classrooms from it look good too.
Am i right in seeing a sunken courtyard there?  I do hope so as it definitely adds that extra special touch.   

Great work mate

regards
Derry

[Pat]

Jon haven't seen you around for a few days and I hope all is well.... Did you get that move or are you bogged with RL??? Let us know either way pease...

@ Hogs love those buildings 

[thundercrack83]

Magnificent progress, my friend! And I agree with you on the curved wall, too. It does look great!

[JBSimio]

TopCliff:  Thank you!  I was thinking the first production may be "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" since that was the one I participated in during my college years.  (OK... actually my college year!)

Diggis:  A fair point, thank you... I'll remember that when I come back to the stand alone version.

Xxdita:  There will be a courtyard area in the U shape of the classrooms... it probably doesn't show up too well just yet though.

Simdad:  I debated having separate buildings and I still haven't entirely decided yet.  Part of my decision so far is based on keeping the reward chains as simple as possible (although they're not going to be "simple" in the best case anyway).  Separate buildings would probably add more work to that aspect of things, but we'll see how it progresses.  Since no one has successfully guessed yet, the actual theater is based loosely on the Bass Performance Hall in Fort Worth, Texas.  (I hope that's the right name...  )  And I never mind constructive criticism.  Frankly, that's the whole point of having this thread!

Pat:  Thank you!  I'm glad you like the skylight.  I think I'm going to deepen the colors a little bit on that.  The lighting for it should be pretty distinctive too if I can pull it off.

Witry:  Good ideas, thanks!  I decided not to make the dorms growable just because there's no single good way to make them grow in the right places.  I'm not even sure if bus stops can be added to a growable residential lot.  The Bureau of Bureaucracy idea sounds good and I hadn't thought of that one yet.  Your thinking about the other departments falls right in line with some of my eventual plans, and I'm sure you'll see some of those very ideas in time.

Hogmeister:  Wow!  From those first pictures you posted, I never would have envisioned the final result at all.  That's a lot of additions over time.  It's very interesting to see how they pulled it all together.  Your photo library never ceases to suprise or impress me.  Thanks for posting those!

Derry:  Thank you!  You definitely see a courtyard, although it isn't sunken at the moment.  Now that you mention it though, I'm quickly warming to the idea.  It would make a nice compliment to the sunken garden area from Washington High School too.

Pat:  Answers to follow...

Thundercrack:  Thank you!

I apologize for the lack of updates this past week.  The job transfer is progressing rather quickly and I've been a bit bogged down lately with that and a few other things thrown in just to make life interesting.  The simple part of the story is that the cold/flu/whatever-I-had a couple weeks back is still kicking around and I keep having employees call in sick.  So I've had some pretty long days at work due to that little bug that refuses to go away.

In the moving department, there have been a few developments also.  The plan at this point is for my replacement to be hired no later than the end of February.  This part of the process is all happening at the corporate level.  I'm not interviewing or taking part in any of the hiring process... which is exactly the way I want it really.  Many of my employees don't seem to believe me on that part and keep trying to ask me who it is going to be and so on.  I keep saying I don't know anything about it and that I'm not involved in that decision.  And still one or two have threatened to quit if it ends up being this person or that person... then they stare me down waiting for me to "admit" that I really am involved.     So I remind them (for the umpteenth time) that I have nothing to do with who gets hired to take my place and if they want to quit at that time, it's completely up to them.   Anyway... replacement hired by the end of the month... and I will be moving no later than April 1st.  It could be a week or two sooner, but that depends on how much time I need to spend training the person who takes my place here.  This is a little sooner than I originally expected and I've been rushing around trying to get some last minute things wrapped up.  I have several more dentist appointments to squeeze into the next six weeks which I finally got set up today.  I also still have to find a place to live and figure out how to move everything there, but I can't really do that yet because the final destination hasn't been decided.  It's narrowed down to three or four places, but I won't know exactly which one for another week or so.  So that's where things stand at the moment.

I'll try to get some updates here and there, but it will probably be pretty hit and miss for the next little while.  Time isn't on my side right now and when I do have time, I'm usually too brain dead to do much BATting.  I have been playing the game a little bit lately, so maybe there will be some pictures in the "Show us your..." threads soon.    On the plus side... catching up on this thread has given me the itch to work on this building a bit again, so maybe I'll have something later tonight or tomorrow again.

JB

[DFire870]

Glad to see you're doing okay Jon. And it seems that sickness is going around -- a few weeks ago one of the schools in the area had like half of the students not attend school one day.

Anyways, the move sure is happening fast... Is the company paying for the move? Just wondering since the two most recent times my family moved (Phoenix, AZ to Corpus Christi, TX and then Corpus Christi to Austin, TX) the company paid for the entire move. Of course, that's not how all companies do it but I would think in your case this would be true.

-- John

[oldrogue]

So glad you are back Jon.... now I can quit worrying   I sure hope you get lots of rest before the move, cause that will be a tiring experience....I've moved many many times in my life...and love being set down in one place now.... best of luck and will be curious where you end up in Calif.  Not as curious as you tho .  have a good evening and bat 200 new things to release tomorrow ....or maybe go to bed and sleep...your choice

[Pat]

Jon im glad you are still kickin and great to hear that the move is progress pretty fast... Just remember you need to make time for yourself OK promiss me that, dont want you to get burnt out to fast... take it easy and looking forward to anything you throw my way..........

[JBSimio]

John:  Several schools in this area have had the same problems lately... gotta love flu season!  My company will pay for the move... but unfortunately it's always done on a reimbursment basis.  So I'll have to come up with the money initially and then wait around to get it back eventually. 

Duane:  Thanks!  I didn't mean to worry anyone... it's just going to be a bit hectic around here for the next couple months I think.

Pat:  Alright, alright... I'll try to sleep at least two nights each week from here on out!   

I have a little bit of an update tonight.  I managed to get the classroom sections of this one closed in.  It's still fairly rough, but the general layout is in place now.





I added a "basement" level surrounding what will eventually be a sunken inner courtyard.  I still have a lot of work to do before that will really take shape so it may not be too easy to see it just yet.  I'm a little concerned with the overall size of this one so far.  Not so much the size itself, but just the fact that the classrooms are so plain looking at this point.  It's probably not unrealistic, but it just seems boring to me so far... especially for such a large building.  I'm sure I'll find a way to mix things up eventually, but I just haven't figured it out at this point.  I was going to try to texture some of the main theater, but didn't get that far yet.  Most of the grey areas on the front will be textures I need to make from scratch... which is always a very time consuming proposition for me.  That will come maybe next time.  Anyway... that's about it for now...

JB

[XiahouDun]

  Thats all I can say Looks really good. Can't wait to see the courtyard.

[oldrogue]

lookin good jon......this one is getting to be kind of special...

[threestooges]

Jon,
That is absolutely spectacular. I love the sunken courtyard idea, and the entrance just off that area is a great spot for one. As for the classrooms looking a bit plain, I would say leave them that way. Anything too fancy might detract from the main auditorium, and I would advocate dressing up the courtyard and surroundings to spruce up the buildings. Put a couple of tree planters down there for students to congregate under or maybe a fountain (or perhaps I'll pipe down and let you do the creative work). Glad to hear things are progressing with the move and that the company will (eventually) pay for it. Flu season does seem to be getting going. You'd think people in law school would stay home when they are ill (unless is a dastardly plan to infect others so that THEY are forced to miss class... nah) and so far I've avoided it (knock on wood) but boy are people in my class hacking and coughing up a storm. Sorry I haven't been around to comment lately, but law school (and the job hunt) have been keeping me busy. Glad to hear that you are doing well though (and that you'll at least be getting some sleep). Take it easy, and I'll talk to you later.
-Matt

[Pat]

LoL Jon you are funnie....  Im glad you are promissing to at least sleep 2 days a week (snickering).....   So lemme guess you are worried about the overall Lot size after you are done with this am I understanding this thought or did i loss something here? 

If the first part is correct that you are worried about the lot size, may I now ask why? Is that this going to one of the bigger lots or what?  Sorry for asking so many questions but Im just trying to get a better grip on things  Either way I love the idea about the sunken courtyard and I cant wait to see how this takes shape... 


BTW welcome to pg 68....

[oldrogue]

Pat...I didn't realize it till you mentioned it...

Hmmmm this project of Jon's is what...let's see 2 for sure releases.. about umpteen buildings..... (umpteen is math nummer...means many/lots).... parking lots, walk ways ... all of this stuff (including co-eds...and he's worried about the size of this building! Pat, does this sound to you like this paticular building with lot might be really really big.....?

[JBSimio]

XiahouDun:  Thanks!  With any luck, I'll have a courtyard to show this weekend sometime...

Duane:  Thank you!  As usual, I'm getting carried away again... 

Matt:  Thanks!  You make a good point about detracting from the main theater... maybe it won't be such a bad thing after all.  I plan to have some planters around the transition from street level to the sub level, but that's as far as my vision goes so far!  Good luck with the job hunt my friend!

Pat:  Initially I was a little worried about the lot size itself.  It will probably be around 6x6 or 7x7... most of the other single building lots are 5x4 ish... with a couple in the 7x3 range.  So it's not that far out of line, I guess.  No, my main concern is that there is so much building with out a lot to look at yet.  Does that make any sense?  It's probably just me getting worried about nothing... who knows?  Thank you!

Duane:  Umpteen translates into 14 buildings (at last count)... and I lost track of the number of lots!   

So I was browsing some of the threads last night and saw some that a number of people were asking about midrise buildings.  It was said that there is a pretty large gap where we jump from 5 stories up to around 20 with very little in between.  I know a couple of the SHUR buildings have fit into that area... but I only have three or four of them too.  So I was digging around and discovered something I had started and then basically forgot about.



This is the Hurst Building... 10 stories tall on a 2x2 or 2x3 lot.  Not quite wall to wall, but a very tight fit none the less.  It still needs some work to finish it, but not a whole heck of a lot.  I know... it doesn't even have a door yet!  (They're over rated anyway)  It's another one of those decievingly simple looking buildings, but I kind of like it.  Would anybody be interested in seeing this in the near future?

JB

[Hogmeister]

Yes please! 10 floors of character, excellent idea. This is exactly the type of building that used to exist in many an American city and has been demolished in droves to be replaced by more 'economical' glass and steel boxes with zero charm. Perhaps it needs a utility block on top to house an elevator motor and central aircon fans to indicate a refurbishment and of course some satellite dish equipment and that's probably about it. 

[Pat]

OOOO oooo OOO I would I would lol..... Jon so lets see if the translation is clear now @ 14 buildings and Umpteen lots, does that sound right  ....   

there is so much building with out a lot to look at yet.  Does that make any sense?

Jon don't worry that does make alot of sense now.... So i guess I can say next is dont worry and lets see where the vision goes 

[oldrogue]

Yeah Jon...I sure would have a use for the Hurst building.....so much character and like you said deceptive in it's construction....works for me.

[JBSimio]

Hogmeister:  I couldn't agree more!  I'll take a city full of historic character over glass boxes any day.  I hadn't gotten to the roof block yet, but it's there now.  I threw in a satellite dish too since you asked. 

Pat:  I'll try to get this in your hands sooner than later then! 

Duane:  Thanks!  I'm glad you like it.

As I said, there wasn't a whole lot more that needed to be done for this one.  Since I slept on Sunday and Wednesday nights, I went ahead and mostly wrapped this up.  The textures need a couple more tweaks and I think the interior lighting could be just a touch brighter... but unless I'm missing something, this could get rendered tomorrow.





The texture tweaks will just be to try and bring the brick work out a little more.  You can see it now, but I think it may be a little too subtle in some spots.  I don't really remember where this building came from.  It's a picture I took... but I can't recall where I was at the time.  The more I look at it, I also notice that it is very similar to the Stearns Building.  Double windows separated by overly wide columns... a fairly beefy header between the second and third floors.  I'll have to put them side by side just to make sure I didn't make the same building twice. 

JB