Jax Posted September 20, 2012 Share Posted September 20, 2012 I noticed that today too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrLan34 Posted October 3, 2012 Share Posted October 3, 2012 skyline is changing 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
infinite_jim Posted October 11, 2012 Share Posted October 11, 2012 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purdueenginerd Posted October 14, 2012 Share Posted October 14, 2012 Impressive project from an engineering standpoint. I initially assumed the new facade would simply obscure the old... however, It would appear theyre removing the original facade as they put up the new one. Very neat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jax Posted October 31, 2012 Share Posted October 31, 2012 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lockmat Posted November 1, 2012 Author Share Posted November 1, 2012 wow, from what I can tell, this is looking pretty good. Anyone know if this looks as good up close? Infinite Jim? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kbates2 Posted November 2, 2012 Share Posted November 2, 2012 I see it every morning, I think it is looking great. I didn't realize they were pulling down the old facade. They are moving fairly quick, save for the staggered north-west corner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tumbleweed_Tx Posted November 2, 2012 Share Posted November 2, 2012 looks to me like the rock part is staying,just the windows are being replaced 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purdueenginerd Posted November 2, 2012 Share Posted November 2, 2012 looks to me like the rock part is staying,just the windows are being replacedI live near this tower. The structural facade is being removed, ie, the brown "rock" and their counterpart black windows. Its being replaced by the new blue facade. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Broadfoot Posted November 29, 2012 Share Posted November 29, 2012 About to move so I figured I would go ahead and grab a few shots while I still have the vantage point. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TxDave Posted December 1, 2012 Share Posted December 1, 2012 The new exterior looks like it will be a sleek & refreshing update, however the original look was not really all that bad, similar to surrounding neighbors (also not bad).I assume there must have been some functional need (beyond aesthetics) for the complete recladding, especially for a government building (e.g. structural deficiencies, stronger security, environmental efficiencies)Has that been explained? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chi-Char-Hou-Dal Posted December 1, 2012 Share Posted December 1, 2012 http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/local&id=8887183Federal spending waste in Houston?Did anyone post this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatesdisastr Posted December 1, 2012 Share Posted December 1, 2012 http://abclocal.go.c...ocal&id=8887183Federal spending waste in Houston?The federal government has been way off their rocking horse for a long time. Even though this project looks nice, certainly not worth taxpayer money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mfastx Posted December 2, 2012 Share Posted December 2, 2012 I don't really see it as a big deal, but whatever. I don't think it's wastful for the government to keep their buildings in good condition. But now we're getting into politics so I won't comment further. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triton Posted December 3, 2012 Share Posted December 3, 2012 (edited) But was it ever in bad condition?Edit: I'd rather have that $86M go to infrastructure rather than this. Edited December 3, 2012 by Triton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texasota Posted December 3, 2012 Share Posted December 3, 2012 More infrastructure!Less turning perfectly good brown buildings blue! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mfastx Posted December 3, 2012 Share Posted December 3, 2012 I'd also like for more money to go to infrastructure, but theres so much more wastful spending to pick on. And really, the feds are spending it on infrastructure, it's just their own infrastructure, lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
infinite_jim Posted December 7, 2012 Share Posted December 7, 2012 (edited) So if a bldg owner gets a platinum LEED cert., it's a waste of money? That's news to me. Edited December 7, 2012 by infinite_jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
infinite_jim Posted December 7, 2012 Share Posted December 7, 2012 The federal government has been way off their rocking horse for a long time. Even though this project looks nice, certainly not worth taxpayer money.STAY IN SCHOOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LTAWACS Posted December 10, 2012 Share Posted December 10, 2012 STAY IN SCHOOLWhy? What's wrong with what he said? Please elaborate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
infinite_jim Posted December 11, 2012 Share Posted December 11, 2012 Why? What's wrong with what he said? Please elaborate.The article is obviously Ted Poe propaganda. Get a clue wackjob. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatesdisastr Posted December 12, 2012 Share Posted December 12, 2012 (edited) The article is obviously Ted Poe propaganda. Get a clue wackjob.I forgot that the government is the most efficient entity at spending money. What was I thinking. Edited December 12, 2012 by fatesdisastr 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benenglish Posted December 12, 2012 Share Posted December 12, 2012 (edited) I assume there must have been some functional need (beyond aesthetics) for the complete recladding, especially for a government building (e.g. structural deficiencies, stronger security, environmental efficiencies)Has that been explained?To some extent. See my post earlier in this thread, dated Nov 9, 2010.To summarize - The building was inefficient in many ways, leaked like a sieve, and was not designed with security in mind. The standard security measures now required at federal buildings of this size were shoehorned into insufficient space and there were significant problems.I retired from there about 18 months ago but my old group invited me to come back for a Christmas lunch yesterday. I stopped by my old office and got the tour.The folks I talked to weren't interested in the architectural changes so I didn't get much from them. The basics that have filtered down to the workers are sparse.First, the building is being made "green". There's a big pipe now from the roof down right through the middle of the building. I'm told that when it rains, the sound of rushing water is pleasant for a while...then gets kinda irritating, depending on your proximity to the pipe and what's around it. I don't know if that's all a part of the "green" conversion or just a way to get the water off the roof that used to leak into the top floors like crazy.Second, the cladding is kinda weird when viewed from the inside. It's about six inches away from the building and the workers have been told (this is hearsay and should be considered unreliable) that once it's up, the exterior walls will be moved out to meet and seal with the new cladding. Whatever the mechanics, it's clear to me that someone is making an effort to stop the water intrusion that plagued the building so badly for so many years. Back in the day, if your window faced a strong wind while it was raining, you were likely to feel some water drops that simply shouldn't have gotten inside. If they're fixing that, more power to 'em.Third, regarding security, if you visit the building now the pedestrian entrance has been moved to the middle of the Smith street side. The temporary security portal is such a HUGE improvement over the way things were done since the OKC bombing that it clearly demonstrates that work was needed on that aspect of the building. When the final construction is finished, the main pedestrian entrance will once again move to the Louisiana side and, if the renderings I've seen are anywhere close to the final product, the final results will be well worth the money spent on them.But was it ever in bad condition?In my opinion - having worked all over the inside of that building for most of the last 20 years - yes, definitely, absolutely, positively.So if a bldg owner gets a platinum LEED cert., it's a waste of money? That's news to me.What's a "platinum LEED cert."? Edited December 12, 2012 by benenglish 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
infinite_jim Posted December 12, 2012 Share Posted December 12, 2012 (edited) I forgot that the government is the most efficient entity at spending money. What was I thinking.Is the gov't going to sell the property soon? You might have a point if it was...@benenglshLEED cert. = going green (i.e. improving structural and mechanical performance thereby lowering fixed costs) Edited December 12, 2012 by infinite_jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purdueenginerd Posted December 13, 2012 Share Posted December 13, 2012 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leadership_in_Energy_and_Environmental_DesignThis is a general explanation of LEED Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jax Posted December 14, 2012 Share Posted December 14, 2012 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chi-Char-Hou-Dal Posted January 8, 2013 Share Posted January 8, 2013 You know how I know this is a federal government project? They are adding one piece of reflective glass per week. lolSeriously though... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purdueenginerd Posted January 8, 2013 Share Posted January 8, 2013 (edited) You know how I know this is a federal government project? They are adding one piece of reflective glass per week. lol Seriously though... Its because theyre doing construction with mast climbers. which have load capacities from 2,000-8,000 lbf (they have single mast climbers---the load capacity of those is likely less than 2000 lbf) Window panes like that weigh about 400-600lbf. Do the math, You can't really stage 100 window panes per mast climber /edit Edited January 8, 2013 by Purdueenginerd 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chi-Char-Hou-Dal Posted January 8, 2013 Share Posted January 8, 2013 That makes sense and will passify me for a couple weeks; expect another snappy email from me at the end of FEB 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
infinite_jim Posted January 15, 2013 Share Posted January 15, 2013 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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