Memorial Hermann Medical Plaza At 6400 Fannin St.

[houstonmacbro]

Here is a pic I took today of the building from Midtown. Contrary to what has been said in this thread, I think the building has made a good mark on the city compared to some recent buildings.

Click:

i think in terms of skyline interest, this building makes quite an impact for the medical center.

[bachanon]

it looks like an industrial structure in the pictures posted. the topper was not executed well. it looks better at night.

[ricco67]

I think we need pictures of Lindsey Lohan doing a naked backwards crab walk. Multiple angles.

Good luck with that, let me know how that works out for ya'.

[Jonah]

Here you go, ask and you shall recieve.

Look at all of those disgusting looking powerlines. It seems like Houston more than any other city has those powerlines sagging over the sidewalks. I wish the city buried those things under the sidewalks like the majority of other cities. It can make a nice area, like the one in these pictures, look a little run down.

[interestedobserver]

I think last night was the first time they had the lighting on at the top. It's a rainbow affect which slowly pulsates, for lack of a better description.

If I remember tonight, I'll take a photo and post.

But it was a nice surprise, definitely unique, and should make a nice visual impact on the skyline. I have only seen it from very up close, but bet it looks good from far away as well.

[sevfiv]

i saw the lights last night, too...however, there was no movement - just pink, and a tinge of blue/purple on the edge.

the night before i swear it was all blue - probably in the "test" phase, though

like the building in general, i think it's tacky

Edited December 13, 2006 by sevfiv

[houstonmacbro]

i've seen the lights before, but not any shimmering going on. never really in the medical center area at night so haven't had the chance. hopefully i will get down that way over the holidays.

[interestedobserver]

I might have been imagining the 'pulsating' effect. But for some reason the lighting, to me, doesn't seem to be staid. It appears to have some sort of movement to it... (I'm probably hallucinating, however...)

Here are some crappy camera phone shots from earlier tonight (click for larger version). Sorry for the quality.

[WesternGulf]

^^Nice lighting but I hate the colors. Looks like an attempt to light an 80's structure. They need to keep it monochromatic.

[houstonmacbro]

i love it. it reminds me of the great skylines of nyc and philadelphia which take great pride in lighting the crowns of their buildings.

this one was built to specifically showcase the 'crown' with its lantern top.

[houstonmacbro]

well, now that i am looking at it, the multi-colored 'rainbow' is kinda gaudy.

[sunsets]

They seem to be cycling between solid colors and that ugly-ass rainbow. I hate the rainbow.

The sold colors are cool, and they change every 15 seconds or so, which is quite distracting when you're seeing that effect for the first time.

[MexAmerican_Moose]

i have yet to see this tower at night and all of these comments make me want to go look at it

[sevfiv]

just saw it and the colors are now solid-cycling...much better than the multi-at-once, imo

[Guest danax]

Here is a pic I took today of the building from Midtown. Contrary to what has been said in this thread, I think the building has made a good mark on the city compared to some recent buildings.

Click:

I wonder if architects take into consideration what a tall structure will look like from ground level. I would think that they certainly would, but this one has a diabolical "carved pumpkin" look to it with those triangular "eyes" staring out at the city and, with the "lantern" on top, we've got the full-on halloween treatment, or could it be they're copying Ricco's HAIF user icon? . Maybe they can add some teeth. Should we call it , "The Great Pumpkin"? Nice job, Charlie Brown. Not exactly the effect you'd want when designing a building for curing illnesses.

p.s. Thanks sevfiv for the link collection. I merged all but the 3rd one as that discusses several projects. However, your other links are now circular.

[dbigtex56]

I think some huge stubbed-out cigarette butts emerging from the top of the building would look wholly appropriate.

[houstonmacbro]

i just saw it last night. the colors cycle very quickly. like several seconds apart. i like the blue and green.

[Montrose1100]

i just saw it last night. the colors cycle very quickly. like several seconds apart. i like the blue and green.

Its almost the same as Reliant Energy Plaza. (When its in its ecstasy rainbow stage.)

[houstonfella]

I enjoy the changing colors. Any building can have green neon or white lights that never change, but now our new buildings reflect lighting which changes hues in a subtle and cool, slow display.

[houstonmacbro]

I like it. Saw it again tonight.

[sevfiv]

i see it (the lights) at least once a day and the building more than i care to count. while the lights seem to be less frenzied each day, it is still a little...odd. maybe it's growing on me

[thepony]

Cool building, but it is already causing traffic on Main St going toward downtown to be exponentially worse at evening rush hour.

[Subdude]

Note merged threads.

[ricco67]

noted.

[Subdude]

noted.

Well, good.

I know it sounds silly, but I think it's a good idea for us to alert when threads have been combined. Otherwise people might freak out because they think their topic was deleted. Of course, sometimes they freak out anyway.

[Metro Matt]

The sold colors are cool, and they change every 15 seconds or so, which is quite distracting when you're seeing that effect for the first time.

I'm sure thats the same thing critics said about Transco Tower at night when it was first built.

[Jax]

I heard there was supposed to be a bunch of retail/restaurants in this tower. I walked by it the other day when I was on my way home from Rice and I didn't see any retail, at least at ground level. Does anybody know what's up with that? Is the retail hidden away in the building or is it not open yet? I was hoping it would be at ground level. THe Chipotle / Starbucks at thee BCM building is so popular, it seems like somebody would try to copy that. I would love it because it would mean more eating options within walking distance of Rice (food at Rice isn't the best).

[WesternGulf]

Yes, they are kind of hidden. Some are actually in the skywalk. Some deli place is suppose to be opening up. Also a Walgreens and Starbucks will be opening on the first floor.

[Jax]

Any idea if it's supposed to be visible from the sidewalk, or is it tucked away inside the building somewhere? That kind of sucks that some of the retail is in the skywalk, but I guess it's better than nothing. I like the way they did the street level retail at BCM. Only problem is I only go there when I walk from Rice. When I am driving through it is absolutely impossible to stop and eat. It's always full of medical people though.

[WesternGulf]

Some of the stores may be visable from the sidewalk, but you still have to walk inside the lobby area I believe to enter. If you are familiar with the Calpine Center in downtown, it is built the same way. I guess if they made the retail more inviting, they would have to make too many sidewalk alterations for aesthetic purposes. If you haven't noticed, some of the sidewalks on the northside of the Medical Center around the Hermann station are like neighborhood sidewalks.

Edited April 9, 2007 by WesternGulf