Gary

With developments like this, I don't for one minute doubt that Houston will look like Trantor or Coruscant by 2018.

Well then maybe you should change your signature.

You're both wrong guys, CLEARLY the pic reminds him of Allison Scagliotti of Warehouse 13 fame, seeing as to how its an image of a large wet spot with the reflection of a big spire in it.

LOL!

Yes, I'm back. I'll be stopping by from time to time due to popular demand. Thanks!

Hilarious! You "liked" your own post.

I'm a little confused as to which block it is too. Am hoping that it doesn't include teardown of  the Gingerman and Kelvin Arms.

I can't understand why some here have a problem with many of us wanting something other than glass and stucco boxes. Almost as if were being accused of being spoiled children.

Houston is my city of choice, and I love it. having said that I want the best for my city, and when a building comes down the pike that will forever change it's skyline, I for one am hoping for something that shines.

The problem with exterior features is all related to the cost of curtain wall.  About 5 years ago the bottom fell out of the glass market and something called unitized curtain wall started to become the norm.  Unitized curtain wall has a ton of benefits beyond traditional stick built glazing including: (energy performance, structural performance, keeping water out performance).

 

Once unitized systems became the standard, it became cost prohibitive to do anything else in the spandrel portion of the facade.  We can use metal panels, stone, etc but in order to keep cost down they are typically glazed into the curtain wall.  Combine that with the fact that there are less than 10 proven unitized designs on the market right now leads us to the era of "the boring glass box"

 

Architects are fighting this like mad but they are up against significant challenges from developers (cost).  We are seeing products start to compete but this glass box trend is going to be around for a while.

Great post. Wasn't aware of the "unitized curtain wall".

Sure hope this isn't the final product. While it's great to have another tall tower, this building is pretty bland. It's in such a high profile area and has the opportunity to really shine if done with a little pizazz. Surely Chevron is aware of this and in the end will wow us.

And so it begins...

 

From the Chronicle... 

 

 

Yep, they razed the old 4 story building that was at that corner a couple of weeks ago. Looks like they're serious.

I said this earlier in the week, but will repeat... As much as I love Houston, it's a real shame that this current boom is putting out such boring architecture. We have/had a real chance to put some classic stuff up that would be with us for generations. Unfortunately we don't have those once great Houstonians who went out of their way to build world class structures.

The boom is great and I'm proud of my city, but this is a damn shame.

 This is going to be really nice infill. Andrew, those are very good pics.

Infill?

 

I wish this were going up on a vacant lot.

Ditto

Boring...

If they had built this in Sweden, I imagine they would have designed it differently.  However, they are investing in Houston, so they planned things according to what they think will be most profitable in this market.  <sigh>

Got to agree here. Not that we never get anything good, but it's just good. It's a shame we don't have at least one leader in the community like of old. Someone with enough clout that might push for greatness like this city once did. Don't get me wrong, I love Houston! I just think that there are some big oppurtunities being missed during this boom.

Forgive my ignorance, but maybe someone could give a little insight to the crane height currently in place. They look to be about 10 stories high and do not seem to be the type that have an extention pod (whatever it's called).

Thanks in advance 

 While I understand business is business, to me this setup is just plain moronic.

Parking is woefully needed around The Continental Club. At least on the weekends. I welcome it.

Thanks for the pics, but am I the only one on the forum that thinks this McDonalds is stupid? This makes almost zero sense. Don't understand the hype.

3/30/2013 Weekly McD update:

 

3/2/2013:  Holes in the ground.  Steel in the holes.

These holes can't be for the teirs to Astoria.  I see no foundation at all.

Fun pics! Next time would be great if you could get some of the homes behind Anderson Fair. Some neat places in that section.

They started on both cranes today. Very quick progress since groundbreaking.

Sorry, bad post

Not to bad... West Houston is becoming a beast.

_{By the way, great news. The West end of town is exploding. Unfortunately it's going to further the traffic problems at I-10 and Eldridge. Oh well, that's progress.}

I agree. People should not be allowed to do whatever they want.

I agree. Especially regarding you being allowed to post on HAIF.

It's obvious most houston sports fans are idiots... Just read this thread. Posts made w such conviction and certainty, folks scoffing at the notion of bringing one of the greatest qbs of all time bc we already have schaub, yada yada yada.

Be careful what you call an entire city my friend. Especially when you don't seem to have a clue to the system that Kubiak runs. This is a run first, bootleg pass offense. That is not condusive to Mannings style, at all. The Texans looked very good last year and most agreed that they were only getting better. Why on Earth would you change a system that was working just to get a guy who was possibly done for his career. Know one could have predicted the year he's having. And even if he was healthy it would have been ill advised. Again, you would have to change the entire offensive system.