[ricco67]

according to this article, there seems to be a need in West houston (which they call the geologic center of the city, believe it or not) that will be completed in 2010, at which the old hospital will be vacated and renovated.


should make traffic fun there for a couple of years! Especially when you consider the various ramps to/from bw8 and I-10 are to be demolished in the near future.

I look forward to this being comleted, though. Should make for an excellent addition to the city.

[Pumapayam]

Quote

"As Houston grows to the west, certainly this population will become even more dense."

Will the amount of ghetto just north of it, it will be a long while before that is even feasable.

[TheNiche]

ricco67, on Monday, July 17th, 2006 @ 4:48pm, said:

according to this article, there seems to be a need in West houston (which they call the geologic center of the city, believe it or not) that will be completed in 2010, at which the old hospital will be vacated and renovated.
should make traffic fun there for a couple of years! Especially when you consider the various ramps to/from bw8 and I-10 are to be demolished in the near future.

I look forward to this being comleted, though. Should make for an excellent addition to the city.

I can't stand liars...especially in the non-profit sector. Too many of them.

They are building this thing for one reason only: this is Houston's demographic sweet spot for hospitals. The residents of 77024 (the fourth wealthiest zip code in the U.S.) are less likely to default on their healthcare loans and a disproportionate amount of the population in Memorial is 55 or older. It is a financial decision and that is the extent of it.

It has very little (if anything) to do with going where the people are.

[houstonsemipro]

I've heard it broke ground today.

[Trae]

Wow. This thing broke ground today! Talk about flying under the radar. I hadn't even heard of the possibility.

This will be HUGE. Here's a small rendering. Looks like it will have quite a crown too. This should be over 500 feet tall when all is said and done. Enormous!

[H-Town Man]

I want to see a source on this thing breaking ground today.

I also want to see a source for 77024 being the fourth wealthiest zipcode in the U.S. Msn.com did the top 10 wealthiest zipcodes in the U.S., and they were all in Southern California or New York.

[TheNiche]

H-Town Man, on Monday, July 17th, 2006 @ 9:58pm, said:

I also want to see a source for 77024 being the fourth wealthiest zipcode in the U.S. Msn.com did the top 10 wealthiest zipcodes in the U.S., and they were all in Southern California or New York.

Source was a coworker. Will check with him tomorrow.

[nate]

H-Town Man, on Monday, July 17th, 2006 @ 8:58pm, said:

I want to see a source on this thing breaking ground today.

It says so on the MemoralHermann website: http://www.memorialh...room/071706.htm

"Construction on 35-Story Tower Begins Today"

This post has been edited by nate: Monday, July 17, 2006 at 10:57 PM

[MexAmerican_Moose]

nice looking building....we need those kinds of designs in the TMC

[ENGcons]

Wow, I used to work on Hermann Projects and never saw this building in their master plan. Who is the Architect, and the Contractor for this Project?

[houstonsemipro]

Change the date. Ground breaking is in August. Here's the article... http://www.globest.c...n/147419-1.html

[ENGcons]

How in the world did a comapny like Anslow Baily Construction Ltd land a project like this? Hermann has a select group of Contractors they like to use and I do not remember a $700,000 a year volume housing Contractor being on the list.

[Wide Eye]

Memorial Hermann, the largest Houston-area hospital group, is working with a Houston-based real estate firm to build a new 35-story tower at the hospital's Memorial City campus.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nb/mem...ws/4052304.html

I'm curious how this would impact the neighbourhood, specifically the houses nearby...

(Sorry, I intended to post this under the "Memorial City Mall" topic. Don't know how to delete and re-post.)

This post has been edited by Wide Eye: Tuesday, July 18, 2006 at 12:08 PM

[Houstonian in Iraq]

Wide Eye, on Tuesday, July 18th, 2006 @ 4:57pm, said:

Memorial Hermann, the largest Houston-area hospital group, is working with a Houston-based real estate firm to build a new 35-story tower at the hospital's Memorial City campus.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nb/mem...ws/4052304.html

I'm curious how this would impact the neighbourhood, specifically the houses nearby...

(Sorry, I intended to post this under the "Memorial City Mall" topic. Don't know how to delete and re-post.)

It's all good. You must of just gone under new topic instead of reply. No biggy one of the moderators will fix it.

[King Owl]

Kinda reminds me of the Frost Bank Building in Austin with the crown on top. The Memorial Hermann tower will be 35 stories, though, while the Frost Bank tower is only 33. So to put this in perspective, this building would likely be the tallest building in downtown Austin if it were built there!

[Montrose1100]

With this and new one being topped in the Med. Center, Houston will surely have a place in "Medical Architecture" . Or atleast a top spot in the Tallest Hospitals in the world.

Who knows, we might actually make a name for ourselves... other then to do with Space, Enron, Bayous, Hurricanes, and such.

I believe this will be the tallest Hospital in the world, I think the title currently belongs to Guy's Tower in London Town.


Edit*: Wait, this project is going up $335 million? Didn't some company buy Heritage Plaza for $130 or $170 (million)? I guess it is cheaper to occupy an older building, then build a new one.

This post has been edited by Montrose1100: Tuesday, July 18, 2006 at 1:39 PM

[Pumapayam]

What a great looking building and a perfect icon to see along the freeway. If it looks anything like the Frost building in Austin, this will be a hit!

[nmainguy]

ENGcons, on Tuesday, July 18th, 2006 @ 8:52am, said:

Wow, I used to work on Hermann Projects and never saw this building in their master plan. Who is the Architect, and the Contractor for this Project?

From http://www.globest.c...n/147419-1.html
Locally based Morris Architects designed the new tower while another local firm, Kirksey Architecture, is teaming with the regional office of Chicago-headquartered Perkins & Will Inc. for interior designs. Anslow-Bailey Construction Ltd. of Houston is the general contractor.

[TheNiche]

Montrose1100, on Tuesday, July 18th, 2006 @ 1:37pm, said:

Edit*: Wait, this project is going up $335 million? Didn't some company buy Heritage Plaza for $130 or $170 (million)? I guess it is cheaper to occupy an older building, then build a new one.

Yeah, not only is it a matter of depreciation as a result of aging and a weaker market for general office space (and particularly poor prospects for Heritage Plaza), but the cost of new medical office construction is considerably higher.

[VelvetJ]

Love the design of this building if it's the actual design. I'm so glad it's not a 35 story simple rectangle. Could quality designs be making a comeback to Houston?

I'm also thrilled it has a crown. I've wanted to see a spire or a crown somewhere on the west side for some time now.

[MexAmerican_Moose]

^^^ yeah, we do need more buildings with crowns or spires

[Pumapayam]

MexAmerican_Moose, on Tuesday, July 18th, 2006 @ 4:50pm, said:

^^^ yeah, we do need more buildings with crowns or spires

It indirectly represents the male phalic symbol.

This post has been edited by Pumapayam: Tuesday, July 18, 2006 at 5:15 PM

[Subdude]

Houstonian in Iraq, on Tuesday, July 18th, 2006 @ 12:21pm, said:

It's all good. You must of just gone under new topic instead of reply. No biggy one of the moderators will fix it.

I combined the two threads.

[Montrose1100]

Ok, so we have the Top hat with Center Point Energy Plaza, The Mayan Temple with Heritage Plaza, The Crown with The Royalton at River Oaks... this would be a 4th where the top is the focal point, no?

[nmainguy]

Montrose1100, on Tuesday, July 18th, 2006 @ 10:56pm, said:

Ok, so we have the Top hat with Center Point Energy Plaza, The Mayan Temple with Heritage Plaza, The Crown with The Royalton at River Oaks... this would be a 4th where the top is the focal point, no?

No. The new Memorial Hermann Medical Plaza at Fannin and McGregor

[TheNiche]

Montrose1100, on Tuesday, July 18th, 2006 @ 10:56pm, said:

Ok, so we have the Top hat with Center Point Energy Plaza, The Mayan Temple with Heritage Plaza, The Crown with The Royalton at River Oaks... this would be a 4th where the top is the focal point, no?

...not to mention Williams Tower, St. Luke's Tower, the Gulf Building, the Neils Esperson Building, the Bank of America building, the Exxon Building, the (newer) old Enron Building, Fulbright Tower, and the St. Joseph tower. I'm sure that there are more that I'm forgetting, but each of them has a crown of sorts.

[TheNiche]

TheNiche, on Monday, July 17th, 2006 @ 10:06pm, said:

Source was a coworker. Will check with him tomorrow.

He sourced Wikipedia, so take it with a grain of salt. It may be that how "wealthiest" is defined is just screwy (i.e. per capita, average, median, household income multiplied by the number of households, etc.).

In any case, the greater Memorial area still has a profoundly lucrative demographic as far as a hospital would be concerned.

Link

[Montrose1100]

TheNiche, on Tuesday, July 18th, 2006 @ 11:18pm, said:

...not to mention Williams Tower, St. Luke's Tower, the Gulf Building, the Neils Esperson Building, the Bank of America building, the Exxon Building, the (newer) old Enron Building, Fulbright Tower, and the St. Joseph tower. I'm sure that there are more that I'm forgetting, but each of them has a crown of sorts.

I meant where the (very) top is the most interesting part of the building. Bank of America has it at 3 slopes, not making the top distinct. And the Fulbright Tower's "Chevron" Logo is not exactly a crown.

I'm skeptical about the Williams Tower, because my eyes tend to look at the top/middle where it cuts back, not the brown top.

But I'll give you the Esperon Building, 1400 Smith St., Chase Bank Building, and Exxon.

[WesternGulf]

Courtesy of mbgriffith1 at SSP.

[mbgriffith1]

WesternGulf, on Thursday, July 20th, 2006 @ 1:55pm, said:

Courtesy of mbgriffith1 at SSP.

That's one freaky looking building... but I like it. Much more interesting than the other stuff around there.

[Coaster]

Very nice!

[TheNiche]

mbgriffith1, on Thursday, July 20th, 2006 @ 2:04pm, said:

That's one freaky looking building... but I like it. Much more interesting than the other stuff around there.

"Freaky"

[Montrose1100]

I looks more like a Casino, Entertainment Complex, or Luxury Hotel then a Hospital!

[VelvetJ]

WesternGulf, on Thursday, July 20th, 2006 @ 1:55pm, said:

Courtesy of mbgriffith1 at SSP.

I love this, if no other reason than it appears so different than what Houston has seen lately. I hope it turns out similar to what is shown here.

[houstonsemipro]

^^^ So, you telling me this is the final draft of the New 35 story Memorial Hermann tower they about to build in August, right?

Also, what's the other building for? Where you get this rendering at?

[Trae]

It's at Memorial Hermann's website. This building is taller than the Anadarko Tower.

[MexAmerican_Moose]

looks like a building that would go up in Las Vagas or something

[Subdude]

WesternGulf, on Thursday, July 20th, 2006 @ 1:55pm, said:

Courtesy of mbgriffith1 at SSP.

Just as an aside, is there a law of some sort that architectural renderings have to have multiple spotlights aimed at the sky? You see it all the time in renderings, but never really in real life.

A bit more garish than the usual hospital. It should be quite the landmark on the Katy Freeway.

[bachanon]

i can't find that particular rendering at the memorial hermann website.

the building is grotesque. i hope they tone it down. it looks like another opportunity for quality architecture bites the dust.

[WesternGulf]

http://www.memorialcity.com/

[TheNiche]

bachanon, on Thursday, July 20th, 2006 @ 5:18pm, said:

i can't find that particular rendering at the memorial hermann website.

the building is grotesque. i hope they tone it down. it looks like another opportunity for quality architecture bites the dust.

I'm with you on this one.

[brijonmang]

I really like the styling of the building on the left side...the hospital looks cheesy in this rendering...hopefully the real thing will be more like the building on the left.

[Mister X]

bachanon, on Thursday, July 20th, 2006 @ 5:18pm, said:

i can't find that particular rendering at the memorial hermann website.

the building is grotesque. i hope they tone it down. it looks like another opportunity for quality architecture bites the dust.

I'm so glad your not an architect. At least I hope to God your not.

[TheNiche]

Mister X, on Thursday, July 20th, 2006 @ 8:18pm, said:

I'm so glad your not an architect. At least I hope to God your not.

Because after all...no good architect would ever disgrace their clients with a complete and utter lack of colorful twirly spotlights. That would just be a travesty.

[Pumapayam]

WesternGulf, on Thursday, July 20th, 2006 @ 1:55pm, said:

Courtesy of mbgriffith1 at SSP.

What is that building behind it?

[bachanon]

Mister X, on Thursday, July 20th, 2006 @ 8:18pm, said:

I'm so glad your not an architect. At least I hope to God your not.

although i appreciate your opinion, i wonder if you've seen the kind of buildings being built in europe and asia right now? there are extremely creative, cutting edge, recent structures that utilize advanced technologies in engineering and materials, yet exercise restraint. this structure is a typical box with an ugly "topper".

less IS more.

[Mister X]

TheNiche, on Thursday, July 20th, 2006 @ 9:18pm, said:

Because after all...no good architect would ever disgrace their clients with a complete and utter lack of colorful twirly spotlights. That would just be a travesty.

Come on, west Houston could use a LITTLE flash and color. It's not like every building in town has a little personality.

bachanon, on Thursday, July 20th, 2006 @ 10:26pm, said:

although i appreciate your opinion, i wonder if you've seen the kind of buildings being built in europe and asia right now? there are extremely creative, cutting edge, recent structures that utilize advanced technologies in engineering and materials, yet exercise restraint. this structure is a typical box with an ugly "topper".

less IS more.

I mostly agree with you, but I don't think this topper is ugly, sue me.

This post has been edited by Mister X: Thursday, July 20, 2006 at 11:01 PM

[TheNiche]

Mister X, on Thursday, July 20th, 2006 @ 10:53pm, said:

Come on, west Houston could use a LITTLE flash and color. It's not like every building in town has a little personality.

There are better ways to give a building "personality". If I had to ascribe a "personality" to this building, it would be young, loud, obnoxious, and ill-mannered. If it were next to the Marq-e, that'd be one thing...but in the context of Memorial City... No.

[sevfiv]

reminds me a little of a mars-like space station. and maybe those spotlights are actually escape pods (a la spaceballs).

[dbigtex56]

So which is it, a hospital or a casino?

Because when I'm making life or death decisions, I want to be reminded of gambling.