I enjoyed the article about Cooper Union as well, having worked on the
project since last fall.

The idea of leaving things a little rough is right in line with where we
have been trying to guide the work. Is it OK to conceive of a building
like this as a kind of "stabilized ruin" ? It will be interesting to see
next spring. Conservation philosophies are constantly in flux. I think
19th century romantic writers, artists, architects and philosophers
would not have had a problem with the concept.

As for the goggle-less apprentice. I was standing just outside the shot
and it was a total set up. A carver would never use a cement chisel to
work on a carved bose like that. Besides, the Times photographer
wouldn't got to the top of the scaffold where the good photo-ops are.
She said she was not fond of heights and very tired, having just come
off of the Bush campaign.

Best, Nick Micros