ARB Has a Ball

By Teresa Rochester

The world is coming to Santa Monica. And we're not talking tourists.

The city's Architectural Review Board Monday night had a ball approving a giant metal globe that will sit out front of Universal Music's headquarters on the corner of Colorado Avenue and Cloverfield Boulevard.

The ARB bounced city staff's recommendation for a 10 foot diameter globe and went with Universal's request for a 15 foot globe that will sit on the corner in front of the massive building's entrance.

ARB members felt that a small ball would get lost in the sheer mass of the two-toned building, which was designed by local architect David Forbes Hibbert, who designed the downtown Toy's 'R Us building and the Ralph's market on 26th Street.

Universal not only got its wish but also got a laugh when board members and the city's mayor broke into laughter while discussing the size of the building and the globe, which may very well be the biggest ball on the Westside.

Terry Graboski, of Beck & Graboski Design Office, who designed the metal Universal globe, said that while the Santa Monica globe is big, it's not half the size of the globe at Universal Studios in Universal City.

"Trash the building. Keep the ball," said ARB member and surfsantamonica.com principal Iris Oliveras, who feels the giant globe may well be a landmark someday. "This is a very big ball." But it pales in comparison to the developments on Colorado. I think that the circular shape will help soften the impact of the buildings."

"In other cities you have icons which help people find their way. They mark locations. I'm hoping that this will become something like that. People might say, 'Turn left at the ball". "It is a very artistic logo. A coporate identity that functions as sculpture."

This was one of the few times in recent history a city board or commission agreed that bigger is better.

"I think it was mainly because of the mass of the building, the size of the globe was more compatible," said ARB Joan Charles. "It's not a pedestrian street."

Board member Alison St. Onge noted that the area is mostly a drive-by corridor and people would not be experiencing the globe on foot.

Along with the giant globe, the Universal Music office, which occupies the entire Arboretum Gateway Building, will also have two freestanding signs and one wall sign.

There is a ten-day appeal period before the globe's designers can get the ball rolling.