It’s the first Monday in May… before you gawk over the looks donned on the red carpet of the Met Gala, here are news stories you might’ve missed over the weekend, including Germany’s ambitious plan to cut transit costs for riders, the chosen design scheme for Hollywood Burbank Airport, and a Post Malone-designed Raising Cane’s in Utah.
Germany Beings €49-per-month national rail subscription
The vast majority of Germany’s public transit system will be accessible through a €49 ($53.78) monthly subscription service starting today. The plan builds on Germany’s summer 2022 experiment with the €9 ticket during a high inflationary period, which allowed users to participate in a trial scheme similar to the one being instituted now. While continuing the prior scheme came under fire over questions of budgetary priorities, reflections on the country’s overly-complicated ticketing system—especially in interregional travel—called for an overhaul similar to what has now been instituted.
The new service can be subscribed to through the state rail service, Deutschbahn, as well as numerous regional partners, and is open to anyone traveling in Germany regardless of nationality. Public metro systems, buses, trams, light rail services, ferries, and most regional express services are covered by the pass. Higher-speed services including the Intercity Express (ICE), Euro-City Express (ECE), Intercity (IC), Eurocity (EC), and Railjet (RJ) connections are not covered by the pass. The €49 is lower than most citywide or regional subscription services, meaning that public transit users across the country will benefit under the new system. While this does not address the country’s longer-running maintenance issues, it will provide immediate savings to riders.
H/t to Deutsche Welle
Clemson announces new College of Architecture, Art and Construction
Last week, Clemson University announced a restructuring that will establish a new College of Architecture, Art and Construction (CAAC), separate from the College of Arts and Humanities. The CAAC will include the existing School of Architecture, Department of Art, and the Nieri Department of Construction, Development, and Planning. In its current iteration, these programs host 858 undergraduate and 274 graduate students in five undergraduate and 11 graduate degree programs.
George J. Petersen, the Provost Distinguished Professor of Educational Innovation at Clemson University, has been appointed interim dean of the newly formed CAAC.
Petersen said that “The disciplines and the research in this new college support and reflect the land-grant mission of Clemson University and are very much aligned with Clemson Elevate,” referencing the university’s goals under its Elevate plan. From 2014 to 2022 Petersen was the founding dean of Clemson’s College of Education.
Hollywood Burbank Airport’s new design has been chosen
The Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority (BGPAA) has announced the final design for an upgraded terminal at Hollywood Burbank Airport. As AN previously reported, Corgan had been selected to present three designs for a 335,000-square-foot airport that would hold space for 14 gates.
The final design, “Icon,” was inspired by the “film industry’s roots.” The design includes a swooping canopy that folds into the facade itself, and a prominent, all-glass entrance. Emily Gabel-Luddy, Burbank Commissioner and BGPAA president said “The Commission looked at what would be a ‘statement of arrival’… The Icon’ affords that statement with its roofline and its deep shadow-giving cover over the plaza and arrival point, but also how it goes across the face of the parking structure.” This forewent the other proposals, whose designs were centered around a more “human scale,” and a midcentury modern approach. In addition to Corgan, the design-build project team includes Holder Construction, Pankow Builders, TEC Constructors and Engineers, and Joint Venture. Construction is scheduled to begin next spring.
A shrimp-themed installation opens in Florida
Shrimp lovers rejoice! Fairgrounds St. Pete has staged an installation that features jumbo shrimp arranged around the edge of a larger-than-life martini glass. Titled Shrimpfinity, the work is the brainchild of Felici Asteinza and Joey Fillastre of Milagros Collective.
The six-foot-tall sculptural version of the popular cocktail snack is situated in front of a backdrop decked out in pink and shrimp-themed decor including a crustacean-inspired, hand-painted wall coverings; a shrimp-shaped disco ball; and an audio track playing squeaking noises recorded from the marine animals.
In the Tampa Bay Times, Asteinza described why the design collective chose to focus on shrimp: “The pink aesthetic is super fun, and being from the Gulf coast … [shrimp] have always been a big part of our lives.”
Shrimpfinity will be on show at Fairgrounds St. Pete, an immersive indoor museum in Florida, for at least a year. Admission starts at $22 for adults.
H/t to Tampa Bay Times
Post Malone designed a pink Raising Canes in Utah
A Post Malone-designed Raising Cane’s opened in Midvale, Utah on April 13. The fast-food chain, which specializes in chicken fingers, had been contacted by Post Malone with the idea to design a location near his home. Post Malone, who is friends with Raising Cane’s CEO Todd Graves, designed the dining room, restrooms, and exterior of the renovated building.
The building’s exterior was painted pink with motifs from Post Malone’s iconic tattoos. The dining room includes personal items of his on the walls in addition to a ping pong track system, “celebrat[ing] Posty’s love for pong,” and a Post Malone-themed vending machine. The bathrooms were designed with a medieval theme, which includes a suit of armor.
