If you think Hunstman is a good building, you have a lot to learn about architecture and aesthetics.

Next time you attempt to quote me to support your own uninformed opinion, could you at least read my column? I never called the Cira "standoffish" - I seriously raved about it. That word appeared in the Inquirer's deck type and was written by a copyeditor, for reasons that are impossible to fathom. Possibly you know so little about newspapers and journalism that you think the writers write the headlines.

You can count me as "another voice on campus" that approves of this structure. I think that Skirkanich hall is a beautiful piece of architecture. It is well crafted with meticulous attention to detail regarding materials. Yes, it is a bold statement on a campus which is known for its red brick traditions. But this building (along with its neighbor, Levine Hall) is a statement that Penn's Engineering School is committed to creating innovative, bold, and well crafted buildings that will, hopefully, appear timeless. And rightly so. Huntsman Hall is glitzy, yes, but not a well crafted piece of architecture. Furthermore, its stocky massing makes it stand out like a sore thumb on the West Philly skyline. It is poorly planned (have you ever been caught in the traffic jam that occurs in the buildings halls after a few classes get out?) and its "forum" is a dark, uncomfortable space with far too little natural light. Skirkanich, on the otherhand boldly weaves its neighbors together by both respecting their scale and defying the convention to copy them. This bold statement which is subdued by the architect's attention to small details gives Skirkanich both an urban and human scale that Huntsman clearly lacks. p.s. All new buildings go through a "teething" period. I'm sure they will be able to fix the light and temperature problems that the users are experiencing.