cloud713 Posted January 25, 2015 Share Posted January 25, 2015 People have been complaining since the downgrade of Hotel Alessandra that we won't get an "iconic building" out of this current building cycle, but I've longed thought that this will be that building. Sure it wasn't designed by a "starchitect" but it does have visual impact and will look nice in the skyline.Gensler isn't a starchitect either, though I love their new Ballet Center. I completely agree. This is our iconic structure of the early 2010 boom years. And unlike the Alessandra which will be lost in the skyline anyways, hardly ever being seen except for up close, this one will have a large presence upon our city. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
por favor gracias Posted January 25, 2015 Share Posted January 25, 2015 People have been complaining since the downgrade of Hotel Alessandra that we won't get an "iconic building" out of this current building cycle, but I've longed thought that this will be that building. Sure it wasn't designed by a "starchitect" but it does have visual impact and will look nice in the skyline. Not sure if you're referring to anything I wrote, but since I used the word "iconic" for the original HA design, I want to clarify that I was only talking about that building. I'm with you and several others that would label 609 Main as "iconic" (although I personally like the original HA design more), along with 2929 Weslayan on a different level. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hindesky Posted January 26, 2015 Share Posted January 26, 2015 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hindesky Posted January 26, 2015 Share Posted January 26, 2015 2 in the gap 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H-Town Man Posted January 26, 2015 Share Posted January 26, 2015 I think this is a great building, but it's not iconic. When there's a nearly identical building two blocks away that merely has some different sculpting touches, it's not iconic. The two buildings are excellent compositions in a style that hearkens back to the exhilarating, clean-cut modernism of Mies van der Rohe, but they are not iconic. They have not etched themselves into the psyche of a large portion of Houston's population. Iconic buildings:The Gulf BuildingPennzoil PlaceThe Transco TowerWells Fargo PlazaFountain Place in DallasTower Life Building in San Antonio Great buildings that aren't iconic:NIels Esperson BuidingTenneco BuildingOne Shell PlazaBank of AmericaEnron Center Southboth Hines Main St. buildings In my humble opinion, the best office architecture to come out of this boom era is the Southwestern Energy headquarters. That is an inspired design, and whoever did it ought to be given an award. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
por favor gracias Posted January 26, 2015 Share Posted January 26, 2015 (edited) That's a great list, so much so that I may have to tone down my "iconic" statement about 609 Main and 2929 Weslayan to a watered down version of the term. I agree with just about everything you wrote, except I would label Bank of America as "iconic" also. I think that building says "Houston" more than any other building in this city, and that's saying something considering all the others you mentioned. HA's original design would have been iconic IMO as well...and the Memorial City tower could even be considered iconic in a "could someone please move this thing to Dallas" kind of way. Just curious, what are your thoughts on 2929 Weslayan? Edited January 26, 2015 by por favor gracias 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H-Town Man Posted January 26, 2015 Share Posted January 26, 2015 That's a great list, so much so that I may have to tone down my "iconic" statement about 609 Main and 2929 Weslayan to a watered down version of the term. I agree with just about everything you wrote, except I would label Bank of America as "iconic" also. I think that building says "Houston" more than any other building in this city, and that's saying something considering all the others you mentioned. HA's original design would have been iconic IMO as well...and the Memorial City tower could even be considered iconic in a "could someone please move this thing to Dallas" kind of way. Just curious, what are your thoughts on 2929 Weslayan? Well, I thought about BoA, but then I realized there would be three Philip Johnson buildings on the list. So when I thought of eliminating one, it seemed like BoA just hasn't generated quite the familiarity and instant recognition among locals as the other two. But it's an excellent building, done when PJ was at the height of his powers, and if you consider it iconic, I won't quibble. I think 2929 Weslayan is going to catch a lot of eyes and liven up a prosaic section of the inner west loop, but since it's a knock-off of a building in Chicago, I wouldn't call it an architectural landmark. The new technologies in architecture over the last generation have given birth to a number of fads - distinctive, off-the-wall designs that become famous and spawn knockoffs all over the place, but eventually the fad dies down. Frank Gehry is the biggest beneficiary of this. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luminare Posted January 26, 2015 Share Posted January 26, 2015 (edited) That's a great list, so much so that I may have to tone down my "iconic" statement about 609 Main and 2929 Weslayan to a watered down version of the term. I agree with just about everything you wrote, except I would label Bank of America as "iconic" also. I think that building says "Houston" more than any other building in this city, and that's saying something considering all the others you mentioned. HA's original design would have been iconic IMO as well...and the Memorial City tower could even be considered iconic in a "could someone please move this thing to Dallas" kind of way. Just curious, what are your thoughts on 2929 Weslayan? Google, Aqua Tower in Chicago and then compare it to 2929 Weslayan. Weslayan is a good building for Houston, but it's not exactly going to be Iconic not when it's on record with the firm saying that their building was inspired by the Aqua Tower which is more nuanced, and it pulls off the effect in a better way. This isn't anything bad against 2929 Weslayan, but a homage of a better designed building isn't exactly going to make it "iconic" just a good building. @H-Town Man As to the comment about this building not being "iconic" I'm simply throwing it into the ring as something that could potentially be one if we really need to put one in that category. I think for this one we need to wait till it's finished since a building it's very rare an unbuilt building can get the title of iconic. Finally.....I know that Architecture is a very subjective thing, but you seriously can't tell me with a straight face that a two 25 story something corporate building in the middle of suburbia with a metal bridge on top is "iconic" can you? I know it's hard to initiate sarcasm in text form, but I think I got a hint of it when you said it was an inspired design. Edited January 26, 2015 by Luminare 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H-Town Man Posted January 26, 2015 Share Posted January 26, 2015 (edited) Finally.....I know that Architecture is a very subjective thing, but you seriously can't tell me with a straight face that a two 25 story something corporate building in the middle of suburbia with a metal bridge on top is "iconic" can you? I know it's hard to initiate sarcasm in text form, but I think I got a hint of it when you said it was an inspired design. Did I say the Southwestern Energy HQ was iconic? Was it in my list of iconic buildings? I simply said it was in my opinion the best office building design of the current boom era. Edited January 26, 2015 by H-Town Man 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
por favor gracias Posted January 26, 2015 Share Posted January 26, 2015 I didn't even think about the Aqua Tower in Chicago "as per" my qualifications for labeling 2929 an iconic building. Maybe for Houston or some of its visitors (who don't know about the Aqua Tower) it could be, but you're both right...kinda hard to truly label 2929 as an icon when it has Aqua written all over it (although I think 2929 looks less tacky and much better overall). I have to agree that there have been no truly iconic buildings in this boom to date, but several very nice ones. I'd really like to see a few more landmark towers with pointed tops and/or antennas in Houston. The Southwestern Energy HQ has been a pleasant surprise, no doubt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoustonIsHome Posted January 26, 2015 Share Posted January 26, 2015 I don't think a building had to be beautiful or architecturally creative to be iconic. To me it just needs to stand out so much that I think of it first when I think of Houston. Saying that here are my most iconic.1. BOA2. Penzoil3. Gulf4. Williams5. Heritage Sad to say that giant monkey wrench is sort of an icon because many who are familiar with downtown knows what you are talking about when you call it that.Off the ones coming out right now I think only 609 and weslayan stand out. I would eliminate weslayan because you can see it from a far but it looses much of its wow from a distance. 609 to me I would have to wait and see. From the proposals, imo, only international would be very iconic. I doubt that even a taller original HA or 609 would be as spectacular from a distance. Does anybody else but me find chase interesting from up close. I think it's spectacular up close. I prefer Peninsula and Heritage up close too. BOA is best observed not too close not too far in my opinion. And finally, my favorite building in Texas is still esperson Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cloud713 Posted January 26, 2015 Share Posted January 26, 2015 Swn energy HQ is 10 stories. I wish they were 25. I agree they are some of the nicest looking suburban offices we got in this boom. Also agree with whoever said 2929 looked way better than the Aqua. The Aqua looks too much like a wrinkly old man.And let's face it, the only thing "iconic" about International Tower was that strip of color changing LEDs down the west side.. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Nate99 Posted January 30, 2015 Popular Post Share Posted January 30, 2015 14 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monarch Posted January 30, 2015 Share Posted January 30, 2015 rising rapidly! wonderful progress... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoninATX Posted January 30, 2015 Share Posted January 30, 2015 It's getting taller by the minute! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post brijonmang Posted January 31, 2015 Popular Post Share Posted January 31, 2015 From this morning: 609 Main by brijonmang, on Flickr 609 Main by brijonmang, on Flickr 609 Main by brijonmang, on Flickr 609 Main by brijonmang, on Flickr 609 Main by brijonmang, on Flickr 609 Main by brijonmang, on Flickr 16 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ANTHONYHTOWN Posted February 1, 2015 Share Posted February 1, 2015 Simply amazing amazing pictures!!! Thanks for posting!!! She is waking up and it looks like work is starting on the other side as well. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H-TownChris2 Posted February 1, 2015 Share Posted February 1, 2015 1.31.15 by H-TownChris, on Flickr 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Nate99 Posted February 6, 2015 Popular Post Share Posted February 6, 2015 11 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monarch Posted February 6, 2015 Share Posted February 6, 2015 steady progress... thanks nate99! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nativehoustonion Posted February 7, 2015 Share Posted February 7, 2015 Great pics nate99 looks like 45 more floors to go! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LTAWACS Posted February 7, 2015 Share Posted February 7, 2015 I think this is a great building, but it's not iconic. When there's a nearly identical building two blocks away that merely has some different sculpting touches, it's not iconic. The two buildings are excellent compositions in a style that hearkens back to the exhilarating, clean-cut modernism of Mies van der Rohe, but they are not iconic. They have not etched themselves into the psyche of a large portion of Houston's population.Iconic buildings:The Gulf BuildingPennzoil PlaceThe Transco TowerlWells Fargo PlazaFountain Place in DallasTower Life Building in San AntonioGreat buildings that aren't iconic:NIels Esperson BuidingTenneco BuildingOne Shell PlazaBank of AmericaEnron Center Southboth Hines Main St. buildingsIn my humble opinion, the best office architecture to come out of this boom era is the Southwestern Energy headquarters. That is an inspired design, and whoever did it ought to be given an award.Hrmm... That's a good list but I'm going to have to have to disagree with you on SW Energy... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Nate99 Posted February 12, 2015 Popular Post Share Posted February 12, 2015 11 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monarch Posted February 13, 2015 Share Posted February 13, 2015 awesome shot! cool... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timoric Posted February 13, 2015 Share Posted February 13, 2015 (edited) - Edited July 8, 2019 by Timoric Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoustonIsHome Posted February 13, 2015 Share Posted February 13, 2015 Are those floors really short? Hobbit levels?Doesn't look like they are really short, it's just that the bottom floor is really tall so it is making them look short Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClutchCity Posted February 13, 2015 Share Posted February 13, 2015 The floors above the lobby are parking as well so they generally aren't very tall. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luminare Posted February 13, 2015 Share Posted February 13, 2015 Are those floors really short? Hobbit levels? Parking levels are around 9-10 feet because they don't need the extra 2-4ft clearance for HVAC, plumbing, drop down ceiling etc.... Most people forget that the ceiling you are looking at is not the bottom of the next floor, but just the bottom of the drop down ceiling. You still have the clearance space that extends 2-4 feet to the next floor! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purdueenginerd Posted February 13, 2015 Share Posted February 13, 2015 You can scale it using the fall barricades if you're bored. Those are probably 2x4s (which have dimensions of 1.5x3.5) and theyre probably around 3-4 feet tall. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nate99 Posted February 13, 2015 Share Posted February 13, 2015 It may look a bit off in the picture, but it looks normal standing there. I'd bet that the thick beams in the garage section pictured are 7.5-8' from the floor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.