The University of Clayhurst

[deadwoods]

Great to see you're back, and it's not just me not seeing the EP's on the LEXX.  Looking forward to the pack.

[JBSimio]

Jack_Wilds:  Thanks!

Cubby:  Thank you!

Noahclem:  Thanks!  I started as a counselor for a couple summers before I moved over to cooking full time.  The airport commuter lot is where I originally stole the idea from, to be honest. 

Glazert:  Thank you!

David:  Nice to see you back as well!

Well... things are getting closer.  I ended up making six commuter lots instead of the three I originally mentioned.  The extra three are actually for on campus eye candy.  It only made sense to have somewhere for the busses to drop off on campus, so that's what I did.  They're not actually functioning bus stops and so won't need road access.  They're just there for looks.  Here is the final images of everything in EP1:

First are the path and quad lots.  There are two additional quad lots made to match the Law School which are not shown here.  The single corner path is the only extra path lot that was requested.

Three functional shuttles.  These are the three that are intended for outlying city tiles where you don't want to build a full campus.  The different sizes also have different coverage radii and capacities, but the benefits are essentially the same regardless of the size you choose.  These are meant to mimic a bus to the main campus... they don't actually function as any kind of real mass transit.

Three eye candy stops meant to be placed on campus if you want the look.  The two larger ones are identical except for the width of the path crossing the driveway.  None of these are functional in any way.

Three new classroom buildings.  There are functional and eye candy versions of each one again.  Functional versions will, of course, require road access.

Seven new dormitories of various sizes.  These are all eye candy and don't require roads.

Campus Fire and Security buildings.  These also come in functional or eye candy versions.  Functional versions will, of course, require road access.

That should just about wrap things up!  I have a few final things to finish with these myself before I start contacting people to send them to.  I will hopefully be doing that over the next few days.  In the meantime, I need to pack.  I'll be heading back to Michigan overnight for a little family time over Christmas... weather permitting, that is.   

More soon,
JB

[Zacharuno]

I have nothing more to say than: I LOVE IT! This will be a great Christmas gift.

[Aaron Graham]

I love you work, you are another one of my heros, I love the schools you have made in the past. I would love to see more schools from you.

[Jack_wilds]

Glad your back and in good spirits.  the only snow storm is the one that maybe a factor Wens- Fri as it moves north-east thru the Midwest, so it oughtn't be an issue getting back to MI... the forecastors are saying 4-5" for the fox valley on  top of the 10+" from last weeks blizzard...

...don't know why, but I find it rather thrilling that the EP1 will soon be seen on my favorite LEX 

...have you decided on a campus mascot  as few thoughts were volunteered awhile back...
how about 'the chipmunks'    featuring 'Fester the growling chipmunk'  ala MI-gophers

...with this flurry of activity I hope haven't forgotten about the field-house, is it still intact and on track 
-honestly not wanting to sound impatient in any way, as I'm sure you got it all in the works for eventual lex release

Pleasant journey home, Have a very merry Christmas, may you find more and better than a lump of coal and kick-in-the-pants    

Jack of the snows 

[TiFlo]

Oh my... This is beautiful.

[bap]

JBSimio, you are about to violate your own principle: You are making education better SEVERAL great buildings at a time! Thanks for comming back in great style.   
Bap

[CabraBuitre]

Those ponds look great... just what I was thinking of!   

[Girafe]

Excellent pack concerning University with a nice variety of lots

really good job 

[mikeseith]

These new lots are fantastic.  I've been a big fan of The University of Clayhurst set.  Looking forward to the release.

[Ciuu96]

Wow, great lots! Love the dorms, and the other buildings are also great! Any chance for physics department building? 

[Terring7]

Great job, i like what i see
Just an idea. How about a planetarium? Some universities have it

[Sciurus]

Oh mon Dieu! I dream about that for a long time!! I hope they'll be released soon!

Guillaume

[XiahouDun]

You're back! Its like an early christmas present. And quite the return it is

[Jack_wilds]

...re-read the letter,

56000 meals  so being the cook how do you keep from 'over sampling' -as a good cook one must taste what one is preparing, long 10 hour days leaves little time to 'exercise' I recon.

What kinds of clientele does your camp cater to    what does the 'outdoors-environment' camp teach 
with 56000 meals it sounds like a big camp...

I suppose then with all the cooking you get rather sick of it, does that mean you 'go-out' alot during the off time 

with requests for EP2 already beginning with a physics-science department, and the planetarium... I chime in a 'natural resources-environmental-forestry department... and a famous well-loved-dean-of-past statue, and maybe a campus arts department theatre too... any thing more     

-have shovel will travel, well maybe just down the block 

Jack in the snows

[JBSimio]

Zacharuno:  Thank you!  This won't be under the tree in time for Christmas, but I'll try not to spend another year sitting on it either! 

Aaron:  Thanks so much!  I'm sure there will be more schools eventually as well.  I have one high school that I've been sitting on for a while now... just waiting for inspiration to strike so I can assemble another pack.

Jack:  Unfortunately, the Twin Cities got enough snow Monday afternoon to really throw things out of whack on the travel front.  I made it to Michigan just fine and nearly on time yesterday, but I can't say the it was pretty OR easy!  All's well that ends well, though.    Campus mascott?  No, I haven't made a firm decision on that just yet.  I have  decided that the school colors will be red and white (with or without black trim... still fiddling) but that's the only thing for sure so far.  Thank you for the kind wishes... you'll find your other burning question answered shortly. 

TiFlo:  Thanks!

Bap:  Thank you!  I guess I'm releasing multiple buildings at once... but I still make them one at a time! 

CabraBuitre:  Thank you!  Those ponds are still the same ones I showed a while back... these pictures just don't have all the trees and props included which makes the paths and such easier to see.  Hope that wasn't decieving.

Girafe:  Thanks!

Mikeseith:  Thank you!

Ciuu96:  Thanks!  I haven't determined the specifics of future classroom departments, save two.  The only definites that I have will be a medical school and a school of performing arts.  Beyond that, things are still pretty up in the air.

Terring7:  Thank you!  Planetarium?  Hmm... I like that idea as well. 

Guilluame:  Thanks!  We'll get things wrapped up as soon as possible.

XiahouDun:  I'm definitely back... thanks for the welcome!

Jack:  I sample quite a bit... but I'm also constantly walking/moving while at work, plus a 20 minute walk through the hills on each side of the work day.  Our clientele covers a pretty broad range of people.  The outdoor education program is generally 6th-8th graders, but our retreat groups can be anything from grade or high school kids all the way over to adult groups with very discerning tastes.  So no... I don't cook a lot at my own house and when I do, it's very simple "bachelor food." 

Well, I've officially finished everything I can do with EP1 at this point until things come back to me for the final touches.  The two largest contributing members to this project are Andres and Tage (Ripplejet).  Andreas has been keeping very busy with the annual Advent Calendar (which you should certainly check out if you haven't already!) and Tage is currently having some computer issues that will take a little time to fix.  I'll be sending things to Andreas after Christmas and we'll just see how things go from there.  Things are definitely progressing, but don't expect a surprise upload tomorrow or anything!   

In the meantime... I was looking back over things and decided to dust off the Clayhurst Field House.  When last we saw this, the back was barely a glimmer and not even worth looking at.  That is no longer the case.  Here's the latest:



The large central opening will be a garage door type opening... probably with a nice C or UofC logo painted on.  The largest step left will be the roof trim and hiding the wierdness of those false fronts.  Beyond that, we're down to the little details before textures.

I've started a small list of ideas that you all have provided over the last 4 or 5 pages, but in the meantime, I'm debating the final direction of EP2.  I don't think there will be any new dormitories in this one.  The main focus will be the three athletic facilities.  This whole pack could actually be filled with "gift" type buildings... sports, bell tower, alumni center, etc.  Or it could add more classrooms right away... or it could include cosmetic additions (campus entry signs, walls, etc)  So many options... but the larger the pack, the longer the wait.  So anyone with suggestions or a "sense of direction" preference feel free to leave your thoughts here.

Until next time,
JB

[Jack_wilds]

...Thanks for responding its looking all better-n-better 

bummer on the travel front... here it was rather strange as it would snow the rain then sleet  then snow again  ...then I had to shovel it all -again!, then it got warm so it would sloppy melt... now its all froze -and I'm out salt 

As for possible game plan(s)...

... finish the field house first, a name for the fieldhouse 
... colors and mascot figured out to be announced when the fieldhouse is finished
... 2 to 4 items for alumni gifts aka a bell tower,
... 2 to 4 items for campus grounds aka a couple fancy-semi fancy campus signs
... the 'gifts' and campus clutter stuff and signage could be a release on to itself EP2a

then the buildings EP2b
2, 3 or 4 classroom-department buildings
... campus wide maintenance department building
... physics-science department with a planetarium
... medical department
... Arts department with theater
... Natural resources-environmental- forestry department
  prefer an architectural style indicative of late 80's thru 90's for one of the buildings; but with the university hospital/medical department/classrooms, a mix of style showing a series of additions over time... plus make one to be a university hospital and a second act as school...   

Then maybe expanding the athletics department EP2c or EP3

... or some combination there of,    just keep it fun, rather simple, maybe 'kill two birds' one stone approach,
so as to create a sooner than later EP2 release ideally before you run away and 'play-cook-at-camp' again   

...almost forgot to add, the field house is really shaping up  it looks like it should work alright 

I see a white Christmas in your future     

Jack

[Utvaw]

I'd suggest in the next pack to be the cosmetic things, signs, statues, sculptures, bell tower, etc; things that help establish the campus identity.  I think it would go very well with sports facilities and the whole choosing the mascot thing.

Also, while off topic, I'd like to throw my vote in for a planetarium.  They are common enough at universities, and I'd love to get ahold of one made with the quality that you put into your bats, as quality planetariums are lacking on the custom content scene.

[threestooges]

Good to see the field house getting another run through things. I think it'll fill a nice niche in the set.

As far as a path to follow with EP2, I think a few new academic buildings in more contemporary styles might be nice. I loved the angle you took with the Debussyman School of Design, and a few more modern (or at least 70s-80s style) buildings would help add the feel of a growing university.

Aside from that, I can't seem to recall any college-style stadiums. While a number of sports could be contained within the field house, a good football stadium (different from the pros) is something I can't recall seeing much of in the game.

There are a number of existing wall packs out there, and the paths seem to fit the bill as they are, so I don't think any expansion to those is needed too soon.

I think the best addition for the next pack would be the gift/classroom idea you mentioned. Everything else seems to be fitting together nicely.

Looking forward to seeing the release of this new pack whenever it gets there. Thanks for all the work you've done on this Jon (and Tage and Andreas).
-Matt

[Zacharuno]

I knew the pack wouldn't be here before Christmas, but it's kind of like that gift you're told about, but it's on back order, lol. I'm liking the field house. Glad to see you're already hard at work on the next one. Never a day off eh?

As for the next pack. I'd like to see more classroom buildings of various sizes. Though I'm going to have to disagree with threestooges over the style of the new buildings. I'd prefer to have more like the first three buildings. I'm a sucker for classic building designs. There are several buildings on my campus that I can't stand and neither can most of the students, faculty, or staff.