Holyoke Sign Draws Mixed Reviews

What's big, yellow and shaped like a crossword puzzle?

It probably won't become the next Harvard Square icon, but a massive stylized sculpture of yellow and silver metal bearing the words "Harvard Yard Information" certainly drew a lot of attention yesterday.

While some surprised passersby said they thought the sculpture was a welcome addition to the Square, others said they felt the sculpture's modern style was out of place at Harvard.

Kelly McCarthy, a Somerville resident who said she frequents the Square, said she thought the free standing sign, intended to provide visitor information, is "going to take a while to get used to."

Others were more candid. Mark Gauthier, a chaplain for the United Ministry at Harvard, said the sculpture is inappropriate because it is out of keeping with Harvard tradition.

"Harvard has been around for 350 years," Gauthier said. "This modern art stuff is trendy--it's a 90s thing and it's going to be out."

The sign and the renovations to Holyoke Center are part of the "Shops by Harvard Yard" project, which when completed will feature 14 new stores.

Wendy Prellwitz, a partner with Cambridge-based Prellwitz/Chilinski Architects, which is overseeing the project, said yesterday her firm intended the sculpture and renovation to Holyoke Center "to bring some color to an otherwise gray dated building."

Prellwitz said her firm had collaborated with the Clifford Selbert design firm to create a design which "feels like a sculpture but looks like a sign."

And installing the statue was far from easy, said Wendy Kondo, the sculpture's designer, who said Harvard RealEstate had to get a variance from the CambridgeZoning Board before they were allowed to erect thesculpture.

Still, Kondo said HRE persevered. "We wantedsomething that wasn't just a sign, but that wouldbe a landmark for the square," Kundo said.

But a professor of marketing at the HarvardBusiness School who asked not to be named said hethought the sign and the entire idea for thestores at Holyoke Center were a poorly conceived.

"I know the area well," he said, "and I don'tthink this thing is going to fly. They've got thewrong merchandise and the wrong stores."

Officials at Harvard Real Estate, which issponsoring the project, did not return phone callsyesterday.

Kristen Sudholz, executive director of theHarvard Square Business Association, said herorganization was pleased with Harvard RealEstate's efforts.

Sudholz said she had heard lots of reaction tothe sign and that opinions were varied.

"I think it's mostly a matter of personaltaste," Sudholz said, adding, "Some people liketraditional things and others like more modern."

Sudholz said the sculpture had certainlymanaged to catch the attention of the entirecommunity. "You can't miss it," she said

Still, Kondo said HRE persevered. "We wantedsomething that wasn't just a sign, but that wouldbe a landmark for the square," Kundo said.

But a professor of marketing at the HarvardBusiness School who asked not to be named said hethought the sign and the entire idea for thestores at Holyoke Center were a poorly conceived.

"I know the area well," he said, "and I don'tthink this thing is going to fly. They've got thewrong merchandise and the wrong stores."

Officials at Harvard Real Estate, which issponsoring the project, did not return phone callsyesterday.

Kristen Sudholz, executive director of theHarvard Square Business Association, said herorganization was pleased with Harvard RealEstate's efforts.

Sudholz said she had heard lots of reaction tothe sign and that opinions were varied.

"I think it's mostly a matter of personaltaste," Sudholz said, adding, "Some people liketraditional things and others like more modern."

Sudholz said the sculpture had certainlymanaged to catch the attention of the entirecommunity. "You can't miss it," she said