In either case, the project team will work with the City to propose storm-water management alternatives that meet or exceed current standards. The schemes being contemplated are based upon two distinct approaches to respecting the existing architecture, as designed by Alden Dow. Of course we will never know what Dow would do, if he were alive today, but its very likely that he would not design the addition in the same idiom as a building completed 40 years ago. Our society, city and buildings are much different today. Buildings are constructed using materials that didn't exist in 1960.
People work on networked computers as opposed to a centrally located mainframe or a typewriter.
We expect our civic buildings to 'speak' to the community rather than 'tell' the taxpayers their role. I think it's safe to assert that Dow, as a creative person, would respond to the times and designed a building for the next century not the last. One of the major problems to overcome in the existing Larcom building is the lack of separation of Police and City Hall visitor traffic at the main entrance. This is often confusing for those on city business and inappropriate for those involved with police business in the main lobby. Security is compromised by this confusion and by the general lack of controlled access to City offices.