JBSimio Inc.

[threestooges]

The central quad of the school is incredible. The design of the flowers is very stately (almost makes me wish that brick texture extended itself in some way to the parking lots... but those look fine on their own). I also like the fact you chose to add working lights. With the well done lights in the buildings, it would be a shame to have the rest of the lot dark. I also like the pool on the hotel. However, I think the framing of the cover could be a bit thinner. In relation to the windows, those things look pretty hefty. Would it also be possible to make one without the cover (I know the render takes a while, but that would be great for the warmer regions. Also, looking down the page while writing this, I noticed the elevator and swan addition. I'll take your advice and pass the compliments on to jestarr, but I should say something about the entryway thing (its actual name eludes me at the moment). I like the name along the sides of it, and the flower bed is a very nice touch (did you model each of the flowers, or is that some sort of texture trick?) but I think the name should be featured more prominently in the front of it somehow (but then again, it's not done yet, so I can't say too much yet). It's pretty amazing the quality you have and the speed with which you create it. Well done. It's also good to hear the trip didn't go too badly either. Take it easy.

[Pat]

licking my lips here, yum yum Jon some mighty tastie stuff here.... Hey have you by a chance tried to add one of Pegs lite cones to SG lamps??? that might be an option if you dont like those lites.... heres what im thinking a small shot from LE.....




btw that is "peglite_ShortLite-NoCone---StreetLight"

[Strechnitz]

great progress on both lots JB.

I like the flowerbeds and the overal look of the Westlake campus. just a question I believe you started with different buildings for the dormitories. will you add those to the complex or have you discarded it/them. just curious.

And the covered driveway and the swimmingpool look very good. on the swan ... "conference centre" and "I don't know" are great working titles   you could stay in the majestic theme. than you could name it Imperial, Metropolitan, Cosmopolitan. etc. although I would reserve the "Imperial" for a bigger hotel if you'd plan on making one. or you could use titles as Bellevue  or Bellair. Hope these help to make up your mind

Strech.

[Shadow Assassin]

Swan Plaza wouldn't be a bad name for the hotel.

It looks great, though.

[JBSimio]

John:  Thank you!

Matt:  Thanks!  The quad wasn't actually too hard to do thanks to some great props by Dolphin66.  For the hotel, I may try an open air version although it will take some tinkering.  The textures would be way to bright without the glass right now.  Too beefy?  Hmmm... I thought I actually got those proportions fairly close.  I'll play with it a little more.  The flower bed on the carport is actually modeled in there.  For the name, I will probably have some sort of sign at the driveway.  I might still get it on the building somewhere, but I don't really know for sure yet.

Pat:  Thank you!  Peg's light cones look very close in size to the ones I tried already.  The problem is that in the game the cone doesn't hit all the lights at every rotation (actually different ones depending on the rotation) and raising it up high enough to cover all 5 lights wasn't a good look either.

Strech:  Thanks!  You're right, the original boys dorm was completely different.  I still have the model, although I can't remember now if I ever finished it or not.  It (and a couple other things) may still get used for the modular lots.  I kind of like the "Metropolitan" idea... hmmm.  I already have plans for the "Swan Imperial" so that's not an option.

SA:  Thank you!  Swan Plaza has a nice ring to it as well.

[Pat]

LoL Jon after i posted last night i went and played, I was gonna come back and remove that thought as i found out the same thing lol... But hey its scary to know that it seems we are on the same lite link lol 

[JBSimio]

Pat:  Dear Lord... that is scary!!! 

More progress on Westlake... and a number of different areas to look at.  Let's start with the latest overview, shall we?



It dawned on me after my update last night, that I had never finished the back of the Student Center.  So I did that first.  Before anyone asks about the fancy street lamps along half the driveway and not the other, there is a reason for that.  My thought is that it would be a semi-public area for visitors and parents coming to events in the Student Center... but beyond that curve to the loading area, it really isn't.  So that's why (that doesn't mean I'm right... it's just my explaination!)



Next up is the spot I'm really not sure about just yet.  The pond fills this area quite nicely and creates kind of an informal place for the students to relax.  At the same time, I'm not sure if it's really a good fit or not just yet.  If it stays, I'll dress it up a bit better (and fix the sparkle effect which I know is overflowing right now)  Votes for or against this idea are most appreciated.



Around the corner a little bit to the back of the Academic Building.  I still feel like the shaded areas need something... but I don't know what just yet.  Or maybe they don't really need anything at all and I'm just crazy.  Y'all can be the judge there too.



Finally, I started (key word... started) on the front.  I like the large flower beds and the variety, but they might be a little too informal.  I'm not entirely sure yet.  Still a fair bit to do here, so don't bother telling me it needs trees.    I know this... but just haven't gotten there yet.    The statue is another thing that may not last long.  It may change to a different one... or it may just go away completely.  It's very much a work in progress up in this area still.



That's it for now.  Maybe more tonight... we'll see.  I actually have the weekend off, so a lot of things could get accomplished in the next few days!  Suggestions are always appreciated.

JB

[Fledgeling]

The water feature puts the "lake" in westlake.

[figui]

westlake academy is getting really nice imo.
looking at the overall view, i think the lake shuld be a little smaller.
about the shaded areas, i think its right as it's now.
and about the front, i like the flower beds, but i'd change that statue for two statues, one on each side of the path.

just thinking loud

mauricio.

[DFire870]

With the position of the lake, maybe it should be renamed "Eastlake".

Anyways, there should be a few more trees, and the pond is a nice touch, although it looks like it's missing something.

Oh, and I didn't see them before, but I really like the vines on the buildings, it gives it that special old-world charm.

-- John

[Pat]

Jon WoW that is something else there!!! My god man you truely are ADD overdrive lol.... I truely cant think of thing to change..

[JBSimio]

Fledgeling:  I'm going to assume that means you like it... 

Mauricio:  Thank you!  I'll see if there's a slightly smaller pond to choose from.  The statue will almost definitely change the more I look at it, but I don't know what it will change to just yet.

John:  It could be Northlake too... only I know which way this is really facing right now!    (actually, it is facing south... but it was more fun for me this way)  There will still be more trees before it's done.  I'm glad you like the ivy.

Pat:  Thanks!  Speaking of ADD...

I have the basic deck on the back of the Swan "still to be decided."  I also reworked the wall where the atrium meets the hotel... meaning the door and steps are there now and the old windows have been removed where necessary.  I'm thinking that the lower deck will be a sun deck with lounge chairs and maybe a few planters.  The upper deck will be a concessions or bar type area with a couple tables and stuff.





These are medium quality renders this time.  I wanted to check the lighting with everything in place to make sure the atrium still showed up as planned.  I've also already fixed the deck boards on the upper deck so they match the lower size better.

JB

[pvarcoe]

The academy is looking just super.
I'm not sure about the lake.
Given it's size, it may be positioned a little to close to the building.

But overall...Wow. Beaautiful work!

...Just saw the update on the hotel. What a nice atrium.
That looks real good JB

[simdad1957]

I like the lake and I don't think that it is too large at all. Mount Allison University, near me in Sackville NB, has a "swan pond" on its campus and is one of the defining features of the institution. Maybe all the your pond needs is a swan or two (LOL). Wait; didn't Herbert Maloney, the owner of the Swan Group (including the Swan Majestic) go to Westlake Academy? Maybe that's where the "swan" name in his corporation comes from! Hmmmm, he did spend a lot of time spooning with his future wife down by the shore of the pond.

Don't mind my aimless wanderings. Excellent job as always.

[JBSimio]

Pvarcoe:  Thank you!  The pond is still under consideration, but I think it will stay in some form or another.

Simdad:  Thanks!  I love your tie in with Herbert Maloney!  I actually didn't use a name in that story line yet, so that could still get worked in somewhere.  I always smile when the stories behind the buildings get some attention.

Marc:  Thank you!  I considered leaving the quad completely open with some benches along the paths, but it just looked too plain to me.

I dug around the old Westlake folder a little and found the building the Strech was talking about.  At least I think this is the one...    It's not completely finished yet, but it doesn't need much.  This is Centenial Hall:



This one was actually based loosely off my freshman dorm in college by the same name.  It actually caught fire that year.  I was coming back from my late night job at Perkin's around 3AM and smelled smoke coming out of the room 4 doors down from my own.  Two other guys and myself ended up being the heroes that woke everyone up and emptied the building.  Stupidly enough, we were all so intent on pounding on doors and getting people out of bed that none of us ever thought to simply pull the fire alarm!  Just my fun fact for the day...

Anyway, this really just needs lighting and ivy to be finished and could easily find its way into the modular set.

JB

[tag_one]

Cool building. Alway nice to hear a small real life story behind it. Great to hear you saved people from a fire 

[Pat]

LoL Jon yea that probley would have saved some time and smoking on your behalf to pull the alarm, But hey gotta love having some fun  .... Anyways I think you really should have Centenial Hall included in the modular set i think it would make a fine addition to it....

[vester]

For some reason or another, that building reminds me of a prison.

[figui]

that Centenial Hall is great
and the update of the swan something is nice too!

mauricio.

[JBSimio]

Tag_One:  Thanks!  I should mention that the fire didn't do a whole lot of damage except for smoke, but we did all have to move out for a while.

Pat:  Thank you... I'm glad you like it.  Too bad you hadn't been in Minnesota around 1993 or 94... 

Vester:  I can see where you would get that idea.  Hopefully the ivy helped that perception a little.

Mauricio:  Thank you!

I decided I might as well go ahead and finish Centenial Hall up so it would be ready when the time comes.  It took a little longer than I had hoped because I had this really goofy light leak on the ivy.  I have no idea what was going on there, but it's fixed.  So here are the finished day and night shots for that one:





I also spent a little more time with the campus lot.  I think I'm getting pretty close to finishing!     Most of the front is finished and I just need to do around the left hand side behind the boy's dorm.



I changed the statue in front and then switched the one in the quad as well so they wouldn't be the same.  I'm starting to add some "life" to things.  I also made some minor changes around back, but nothing worth showing a new picture of yet.  I did look for alternate ponds, and the only thing I found that might work is about half the size of the one I've got now.  Personally, I'm thinking that may be a little too small... so we'll see.  I may be back yet tonight depending on what I decide to play with next...

JB