strickn Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 http://www.trinity.edu/mkearl/death02/deat...e/01Define.html is likely to get a "modern" neighbor. The site is on Memorial Woods Drive, 77024, facing the Katy Freeway directly west and south of its interchange with 610. Kirksey has designed a 16-storey speculative office building and 1,500-space parking garage on what is currently First Baptist Houston's west lot. First Baptist's homepage suggests, "Parking off-site is one of the easiest ways that HFBC members can support the church's ministry. Doing so opens up on-site spaces for visitors, families with young children and individuals with physical limitations. Refer to the online map for available parking options, shuttle routes, and drop-off/pick-up locations." From the day we moved to this location (April 17, 1977), finding room for parking has been a challenge. In fact, the first published "master plan" for this site specified a parking garage on the west parking lot. Since that time, financial constraints and questions concerning feasibility have thwarted at least three attempts to construct a parking garage. This opportunity is the first that brings no additional financial obligation to HFBC and actually returns funds to HFBC in the form of lease payments to the church and the elimination to the church of parking leases and shuttle fees. In April of 2007, representatives of the Gerald Hines Company met with Pastor Gregg and several Deacons to explore the possibility of commercial development on our west parking lot which would include a parking garage containing about 1500 spaces. Following the meeting, Hines paid for a feasibility study including traffic, engineering and architectural issues. In a presentation to the Deacons in August of 2007, Hines asked for a vote of approval to investigate the economic viability of such a project. Now, in January of 2008, they are asking for a congregational vote ensuring the "surety of the proposal." In other words, if Hines can locate the tenants, Trustees of HFBC have the authority to enter into a ground lease. Garage construction would begin no earlier than January 2009 and take approximately 1 year to complete, while the office tower will begin upon 40% pre-leasing. Fun-to-learn-from bunches of renderings, site plans, floorplans and graphical timeline in http://www.houstonsfirst.org/pdf/hines.pdf , so I won't merely post the pictures. Latest design & info as 9/2015: http://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/real-estate/article/First-Baptist-owned-land-to-get-office-tower-6504225.php 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pumapayam Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 Nice design, especially with the parking garage in the back, although it would have be nice to maybe to a blend of the parking garage structure and building together and maybe get a few more stories out of it, like a 20 or 22 story building with a parking garage attached on the rear side. But this works.Maybe the rest of the surface lots will have the same treatment eventually.Great post. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lockmat Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 http://www.trinity.edu/mkearl/death02/deat...e/01Define.html is likely to get a "modern" neighbor.What am I missing here w/ this site? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pumapayam Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 What am I missing here w/ this site? Read further down, and you will see this link to a .pdf http://www.houstonsfirst.org/pdf/hines.pdf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lockmat Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 (edited) Read further down, and you will see this link to a .pdfhttp://www.houstonsfirst.org/pdf/hines.pdf Thanks. I saw that, I'm just wondering what that other link has to do with this. Also, looks like this wont be finished until 2010 at the earliest. Or maybe later? Edited March 19, 2008 by lockmat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
musicman Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 Thanks. I saw that, I'm just wondering what that other link has to do with this.read the whole sentence that the link is in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Great Hizzy! Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 The building design is similar to what's going up in the Energy Corridor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strickn Posted March 19, 2008 Author Share Posted March 19, 2008 Nice design, especially with the parking garage in the back, although it would have be nice to maybe to a blend of the parking garage structure and building together and maybe get a few more stories out of it, like a 20 or 22 story building with a parking garage attached on the rear side. But this works.Maybe the rest of the surface lots will have the same treatment eventually.Great post.Well, they're envisioning only 400K gross square feet, so if a tenant interested in the building's naming/signage rights for that kind of visibility were to prelease as much as 120K rentable square feet, Hines would have met its 40% cutoff and might be in a position to expand the tower.What I particularly like is that, since this deal has to meet a congregation's approval, the whole reasoning is explained much more fully than real estate projects typically care to let the public understand. I say that not in terms of "eye candy" but of planning method, I guess.And thanks, Puma... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KinkaidAlum Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 I am never a big fan of stand alone office towers adjacent to freeways. I'd hate to officed in a building like this one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeebus Posted March 20, 2008 Share Posted March 20, 2008 I am never a big fan of stand alone office towers adjacent to freeways. I'd hate to officed in a building like this one.Lunch and lunchtime errands are always the biggest issue with these type buildings. You're so isolated that you either have to bring a lunch, buy something from the typical cafe on the first floor, or burn 2 hours driving to a "near-by" restaurant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highway6 Posted March 20, 2008 Share Posted March 20, 2008 Lunch and lunchtime errands are always the biggest issue with these type buildings. You're so isolated that you either have to bring a lunch, buy something from the typical cafe on the first floor, or burn 2 hours driving to a "near-by" restaurant.First 15 minutes of your daily afternoon commute will all be within site of your office if you have to head out West on 10 to go home.. that would suck.I agree.. traffic always sucked when i worked 10 between kirkwood and DairyAshford. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pumapayam Posted March 20, 2008 Share Posted March 20, 2008 First 15 minutes of your daily afternoon commute will all be within site of your office if you have to head out WestSo true! Even now, everyone leaves the office in a general 30 minute window at the end of the day, and the people exiting the garages and trying to enter the freeway is such a slow process. But this location may fair a bit better since the new overpass that leads to the HOV lanes is improved and gives easy traffic free access home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triton Posted March 25, 2008 Share Posted March 25, 2008 A new 16-story tower being built by Hines is planned to be built on First Baptist Church's parking lot at the south side of the Katy Freeway, just outside the Loop. The congregation of the church actually voted to allow this building to be built. For more info, click here to be directed to Swamplot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PuroAztlan Posted March 25, 2008 Share Posted March 25, 2008 Wow, move over Burj Dubai 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H-Town Man Posted March 25, 2008 Share Posted March 25, 2008 Seems like a pretty daring move by Hines. Are they sure Houston can absorb 16 stories in this climate? We only gained 94,000 jobs last year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wxman Posted March 25, 2008 Share Posted March 25, 2008 Seems like a pretty daring move by Hines. Are they sure Houston can absorb 16 stories in this climate? We only gained 94,000 jobs last year.Forgive me, but are you being sarcastic? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lockmat Posted March 25, 2008 Share Posted March 25, 2008 I'm pretty sure there's a thread on this already. Although I think the renderings are new? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triton Posted March 25, 2008 Share Posted March 25, 2008 I searched HAIF and found nothing. Sorry if there is one... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lockmat Posted March 25, 2008 Share Posted March 25, 2008 (edited) I searched HAIF and found nothing. Sorry if there is one...It's cool. I just mentioned it for the sake of combining them. I actually couldn't find it either.Here it is: http://www.houstonarchitecture.info/haif/i...showtopic=15366 Edited March 25, 2008 by lockmat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H-Town Man Posted March 25, 2008 Share Posted March 25, 2008 Forgive me, but are you being sarcastic?Sarcastic? Why would you think that was sarcasm? We are talking about a 16 story building in a city that has seldom built anything so tall outside of downtown. Not only is the height a concern, but I would hesitate to try something that architecturally daring in the fastest growing city in the United States. It's wider than it is tall. And it's not like the location, near the corner of I-10 and 610, offers much visibility.Hard to believe that the same firm that built a 64 story tower on Post Oak Blvd. would throw caution out the window like this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LTAWACS Posted March 25, 2008 Share Posted March 25, 2008 Seems like a pretty daring move by Hines. Are they sure Houston can absorb 16 stories in this climate? We only gained 94,000 jobs last year.Given the rate of stagflation they better hurry up and start drilling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PuroAztlan Posted March 25, 2008 Share Posted March 25, 2008 Forgive me, but are you being sarcastic?Why in the world would we be sarcastic about this awe-inspiring monument of modern architecture? Santiago Calatrava himself would marvel at its earth-shattering brilliance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ricco67 Posted March 25, 2008 Share Posted March 25, 2008 Why in the world would we be sarcastic about this awe-inspiring monument of modern architecture? Santiago Calatrava himself would marvel at its earth-shattering brilliance.now to clarify for some of us small bus passangers:Are you being sarcastic or are you being geniune in your feelings about this? I have to agree that the statements are a bit over the top. It sounds like something *I* would say if I was sarcastic about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lockmat Posted March 25, 2008 Share Posted March 25, 2008 I read it as pure sarcasm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GovernorAggie Posted March 25, 2008 Share Posted March 25, 2008 And it's hilarious! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheNiche Posted March 25, 2008 Share Posted March 25, 2008 Given the rate of stagflation they better hurry up and start drilling.Construction costs have stabilized. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
editor Posted March 25, 2008 Share Posted March 25, 2008 Merged topics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maxer Posted March 25, 2008 Share Posted March 25, 2008 Here's another shot of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lockmat Posted March 25, 2008 Share Posted March 25, 2008 wow, cool. It slightly reminds me of discovery tower; the top does. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triton Posted March 25, 2008 Share Posted March 25, 2008 wow, cool. It slightly reminds me of discovery tower; the top does.The top is actually quite nice. The rest of the building is blah imo, but that light blue is cool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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