brijonmang

here is their video for the projec: http://goo.gl/8F3IH4

I really enjoyed the fly-bys in that video.  The tower at the end was really interesting to me too.  It would fit in with the current UP towers but doesn't look like a one-off.  It would be a nice addition to the rapidly growing uptown skyline.

I hear since Houston is the space city, they're going to build a SPACE ELEVATOR in midtown! This guy on an internet post said they'll demo the Greyhound station and put it there. Total Height: 22,236 MILES! The FAA has to approve it, but I think with Captain Spock's Jedi mind trick, they should be able to secure funding from Omnicorp! 

Has anyone else heard this?  I feel like this is pretty unlikely.  Of all of the downtown proposals this probably has the lowest chance of happening.

How long before we have a website set up to keep this one from being built?

Looks like HAIF needs another night out so those of us who didn't get to see the image the first time around can take a gander

Well now you're just trying to use Lockmat...

What Montrose said but I would say closer to the second ones with their sharper features and more squarish footprint. I realize those don't have a square look to them but the proposed building is more square with what looked like slight curvature on the sides

Disclaimer: I had a few beers myself before viewing

Oh I understand. I think he has not seen it. It would be announced, since Skansa and Hines are speeding up development. What a waste of time.

There are actually a decent few of us that have seen it as referenced earlier in the thread. It hasn't been shown publicly so that poster was told that legal action could be taken if he posted it online. Like others have said, it's a nice looking building in a great spot.

I'm thinking of going and checking out World of Beer tonight around 8 or 9 pm. If anyone is interested. I know it's last minute but I just decided to do it. :-)

Do you live in the area? I work there and would be down to meet up with anyone if there's some forethought

It's Koinikoi19 trying to interact with us in the future

http://www.houstonarchitecture.com/haif/topic/28377-hey-guys/

Unfortunately I see grown adults texting on I-10 every day on the way to/from work.  I wish they made a device I could put in my kids cars that disabled text function and only allowed phone calls to certain people and emergency numbers. 

I honestly think I see more people using cellphones than not using them while driving these days.  I don't mean just taking a call but holding them up in front of their face or down in their lap trying to write a message or surf/facebook whatever.  It really pisses me off.  I think it's amazing there aren't more accidents from people driving while cell-phoning.  

Why?

What Houston needs are buildings that can get stabilized quickly. We don't need more buildings that sit empty for years and scare investors away again.

Maybe he meant Houston needs 100+ buildings?  In that case he may be on to something as he didn't specify the function or size of buildings.  I'd argue that we need 100+ buildings of varying services at any given time here in Houston.

Update from today:

http://s7.photobucket.com/user/brijonmang/media/skyhouse1_zps4821c0ce.jpg.html'>

I think they have gotten into turbo-time seeing as they were just pouring the columns for the second floor yesterday and are now laying forms for the third floor.  I think the main reason they are able to go so fast is because of the forms I circled in red.  They arrive by semi and the crane is able to lift and place huge sections at a time instead of having to build them all by hand on site.  

The area in green is some graffiti I noticed on the Savoy.  Going back I saw that it happened on the night of Friday, June 28.  Can't make out any people on the roof in the time lapse shots but when the sun comes up, the paint is there.

http://www.click2houston.com/news/former-astroworld-gm-at-helm-of-new-theme-park-grand-texas/-/1735978/20889098/-/ka3dyf/-/index.html

 

I don't expect that this park will be everybody's cup of tea but I have to admire Chuck Hendrix for trying to make it up to Houston for the loss of AstroWorld.   Just think, if everything goes right, Houston won't be the largest metro in America without a theme park anymore. Welcome to the big time, Houston!

 

Oh, I mean - this sucks. It looks cheezy. It will be hot and full of annoying, rude, ugly people. I hate their guts. I hate everything.

 

The new improved Mr. X relates to all! 

Whatever your prescription is... I want some.  Or are you just high on Hines after today?  Either way, pass it on brah. 

What do you other posters think this does for the other buildings that were still waiting on tenants downtown?  Could this be indicative of strong demand driving a larger scale building and quicker timeline or is this just Hines trying to get out in front of the crowd to ensure quickest return on investment? I could see it either way but I'm not in the know like many others here.

It may just be an illusion, but the far side of the grove (north-west side) appears to go slightly higher than the other side in the rendering. 

I think that's just a product of the groove.  The white line around the roof matches up exactly with it going from the recessed portion back to the standard facade.

Don't you mean more of a sunrise since the Sun is coming out of the east?

Oh sure let's all nit-pick the hungover guy.  REAL cool. 

It looks to me that the just didn't get the lighting right in the rendering.

Agreed, I think they were really trying to play up the sunset. Kind of like the renderings of the BHP building in uptown where it looks gold.

while i admit i wasnt blown away by the design (but its finally official!!!), look at the rendering and tell me it does 1500 Louisiana or 1400 Smith Street any justice. those buildings look mediocre in that rendering too but they look great in person. i think this tower has potential to turn out much better than what this rendering shows. there also appears to be a recessed section in the tower on the right side (and probably a matching recessed side on the left). i guess we will find out more about the building as more renderings become available, but i wouldnt write it off just yet..

This is how I feel about it with that rendering as well.  It looks very squatty from this angle despite the fact it's probably around 750'.  It is somewhat underwhelming but the existing buildings look very dull compared to reality.  The lower pedestrian levels do look very cool and modern though.  I look forward to seeing more.

Here's a really rough update adding the Hines building and just for fun I threw in a filler building basically in the location of the Stream/Linbeck tower.  If Lockmat would like to provide me with a teaser look again I could draw something up a little closer but I also don't want to get him in trouble.  

http://s7.photobucket.com/user/brijonmang/media/DtownSkyline_zpsfc4a0b55.jpg.html'>

Edited to include 5 Allen Center as per Urbannizer's post.  I didn't include it because it seems pretty unlikely to happen at this point (my opinion) But it could at least be included in this fantasy portrayal anyway.

That is massive!  Agree with others that the design is pretty...eh but considering it's a year away from breaking ground it may leave time for some tweaks? Wishful thinking but it is definitely exciting and the best part is it's already "fully leased".  

FYI they are pouring the second floor today, this thing should really start moving now.

It looks like the pour for the second story floor is imminent.  After that I think you'll see this thing start to go up like Houstonian (N-ATL) was saying.

Where do these employees park?

There is currently underground parking for the building but I don't think enough for all of the employees.  A neighbor of mine works in the building and I know he parks at one of the surrounding parking garages.

Very nice. In my opinion, an upgrade over its current appearance--- which I'm not a huge fan of.

 

My question is, is this an architects weekend project that were seeing or is there substance to possible renovations? 

I remember hearing about this building getting renovated for a while now.  When Exxon moves it's employees to the new complex this building will be looking for tenants again and I don't think it will be an easy sell without renovations.  I'd say there is substance.

That definitely modernizes this building in a much needed way.  I remember someone talking about how tired they are of the all glass look but I think this still combines enough of the old floor awning overhang while adding a new roof element to keep it from looking "too glassy".  I think Kirksey has done a good job with this concept.

Thanks for sharing! Cool shots from the former Astros skipper!  

Update... guys are removing what I would call the "skirt" of the Astoria trailer and have a dumpster on site... is it possible they are preparing to move it?

Maybe considering they were at 50% sold according to Por Favor Gracias last week.  Don't know why else they would be cleaning up unless they decided not to build.  Don't think that's the case though.