fkp5 Posted May 10, 2014 Share Posted May 10, 2014 (edited) I hope that isn't a new design. The Ziegler Cooper proposal looked pretty good. I also think that it would be better if this was converted into residential. We might be able to get all of our office proposals built if this one wasn't adding more office space to the market. Edited May 10, 2014 by fkp5 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollusk Posted May 10, 2014 Share Posted May 10, 2014 they are actually trying to open up the tunnel system to the surface to bring more of the mole people outside.. which has been on the mayors agenda for a while now. as of right now the only external street level entrance to the tunnel system that i know of is at Wells Fargo. An entrance that frequently has the steps roped off and the doors locked during business hours, for some Providence unknown reason. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollusk Posted May 10, 2014 Share Posted May 10, 2014 Note - Another good way to get the mole people above ground is to close off their tunnel access, as will soon happen for two years +/- to people trying to get to/from Chase via their only link with the bulk of downtown through the hub under the expiring Houston Club Building. I can't help but wonder what the over/under will be on some sort of interim solution. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subdude Posted May 15, 2014 Share Posted May 15, 2014 Note - Another good way to get the mole people above ground is to close off their tunnel access, as will soon happen for two years +/- to people trying to get to/from Chase via their only link with the bulk of downtown through the hub under the expiring Houston Club Building. I can't help but wonder what the over/under will be on some sort of interim solution. Nothing wrong with mole people... A similar situation arose a few years back when the old Woolworths was demolished for a parking garage. The tunnel was closed briefly, but as soon possible a temporary plywood tunnel was built through the basement level and construction continued. Then the new tunnel opened and what had been the temp tunnel was finished out. There's no way they would block tunnel access during a full two-year construction period. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rsb320 Posted May 15, 2014 Share Posted May 15, 2014 We just go an email that starting Jun. 1 would e closed 2 years. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollusk Posted May 16, 2014 Share Posted May 16, 2014 Nothing wrong with mole people... You are correct, Subdude. I've been a dedicated mole person for my entire adult life. Yesterday the tunnel heading into the soon to be JW Marriott at 806 Main (and from there to points east) got walled off, leaving only narrow passages to access 801 Travis's mailboxes and shuttle elevator. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triton Posted May 16, 2014 Share Posted May 16, 2014 We just go an email that starting Jun. 1 would e closed 2 years. huh? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Montrose1100 Posted May 16, 2014 Share Posted May 16, 2014 huh?I think he/she means the building will close June 1st for approx. 2 years time for redevelopment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OkieEric Posted May 16, 2014 Share Posted May 16, 2014 FWIW, I've got a meeting scheduled in the building for after June 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triton Posted May 16, 2014 Share Posted May 16, 2014 FWIW, I've got a meeting scheduled in the building for after June 1 I'm sorry, your friends played a cruel joke on you. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollusk Posted May 16, 2014 Share Posted May 16, 2014 er, I think the two year closing may have been part of a digression into tunnel closures, and in particular the hub under the soon to be gone Houston Club building. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nucleareaction Posted May 17, 2014 Share Posted May 17, 2014 No way the building is closing on June 1, I know several people at 800 Bell that aren't moving to the new campus until early 2015... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Urbannizer Posted May 24, 2014 Share Posted May 24, 2014 Meh. Hopefully this is not the final look. Looks thinner than the actual building and the previous renderings. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fernz Posted May 24, 2014 Share Posted May 24, 2014 I'm one of those now who likes the existing design better. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monarch Posted May 24, 2014 Share Posted May 24, 2014 beautiful, ultra modern, sleek. talk about an architectural achievement, to dig deep into the old.. and bring forth a renaissance of design. BRAVO! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texasota Posted May 24, 2014 Share Posted May 24, 2014 Yeah this is pretty horrible. It was bad enough that they were ruining such a distinctive design, but now each new iteration just looks cheaper and less convincing than the last. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollusk Posted May 24, 2014 Share Posted May 24, 2014 Yuck. I get the concept of wanting to make the floor plates bigger, but this is a mistake. Anyone want to bet that in 40 years or so, someone will be trying to replace the fins to honor the original design, just as we're now trying to repair the damage caused by the '60s pasted on cladding on things like the JW Marriott? 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoustonIsHome Posted May 24, 2014 Share Posted May 24, 2014 I agree with Texasota and mollusk 100%.They are ruining a unique looking classic to create something that's bland and ugly from the get go. Just like the Texas Tower I guess this will make it easier to demolish. I Can hear it now, they will say the building is no longer historic, it has lost its character, let's just demolish it and build something else. The Texas Tower was so attractive, and they just crippled it to the point where no one would care if it goes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triton Posted May 24, 2014 Share Posted May 24, 2014 It looks to be similar to the other one... it just looks a lot more conceptual and less realistic since the building isn't that skinny: 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cloud713 Posted May 24, 2014 Share Posted May 24, 2014 yep.. its a damn shame.. TBH the new design isnt THAT bad. hopefully the lighting at the top will be color changing or something, but im really bummed they are replacing a 60s mid century modern design. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fernz Posted May 24, 2014 Share Posted May 24, 2014 yep.. its a damn shame.. TBH the new design isnt THAT bad. hopefully the lighting at the top will be color changing or something, but im really bummed they are replacing a 60s mid century modern design.I agree it isn't THAT bad, I wouldn't mind it if it was another infill project. But if you are redoing an iconic building, it should be better than "not that bad", it should be awesome. And they should somehow honor the original design, maybe with horizontal bands of contrasting glass, or even glass fins like BG place. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cloud713 Posted May 24, 2014 Share Posted May 24, 2014 a 45 story infill project? heh.. i completely agree though. if they are going to redo the building, they should keep the old design and convert it to residential with balconies on the fins. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scarface Posted May 24, 2014 Share Posted May 24, 2014 I too hope that by changing the design, they do something more interesting with the lighting than what's currently on top of there now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
houstontexasjack Posted May 24, 2014 Share Posted May 24, 2014 I thought the original idea in the renovation was to turn the Petroleum Club into lighting (I might be off on that). It looks as if these newer proposals indicate the Petroleum Club floors will be usable space. I prefer the opportunity for some signature lighting elements Downtown. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArchFan Posted May 24, 2014 Share Posted May 24, 2014 Compare the thicknesses in these two renderings: one thinner than the current building, one thicker. What's up with that? The inconsistency seems rather sloppy. Is the firm doing the designs using interns who aren't talking to each other for these renderings? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
democide Posted May 24, 2014 Share Posted May 24, 2014 Does anyone know who made these renderings? I checked the Ziegler Cooper website and I don't see them. I'm not a fan of these renderings, but love the one's that the architecture firm has on their website. I guess these were made at a moment's notice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Urbannizer Posted June 26, 2014 Share Posted June 26, 2014 http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=k3Y4bAZZLWk 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arche_757 Posted June 26, 2014 Share Posted June 26, 2014 Well that cost a lot of money! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
democide Posted June 26, 2014 Share Posted June 26, 2014 Beautiful! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H-Town Man Posted June 26, 2014 Share Posted June 26, 2014 I like the shot where it's just two guys having drinks and good ol' boy talk... "You know, I thought the Audi A7 was better than the A6... but not quite as good as the A8." "Heh, yeah, I see what you mean." "Heh heh heh..." 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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