kdog08 Posted September 2, 2010 Share Posted September 2, 2010 ..........unfortunately, all those great amenities do not make the building more appealing. I'm with totheskies on this one. Hopefully these amenities will help guests spend more money in downtown Houston! They had me at the free cooked to order breakfast. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrLan34 Posted September 2, 2010 Share Posted September 2, 2010 Courtesy Shuttle to downtown destinations... i'm liking this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jax Posted September 2, 2010 Share Posted September 2, 2010 It's not half as nice as the rendering, but it could be much worse. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Howard Huge Posted September 2, 2010 Share Posted September 2, 2010 It's not half as nice as the rendering, but it could be much worse.That seems to be a running theme in Houston construction, save for Hines 47. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
'Stonian Posted September 2, 2010 Share Posted September 2, 2010 I agree with you Jax! My great disappointment with this building is that they got us all excited with the rendering that was initially released only to drastically delete it's most aesthetic features. In essence they over-promised & under-delivered! Imagine getting promised a Lexus (or at least a fully loaded Toyota Avalon) and end up only getting a base-model Corolla. Now there's nothing wrong with a brand new Corolla, it's just less what we expected lol As I've stated before, had they simply put out the true rendering & built this Embassy Suites as is, then I dont think we'd have half the complaints and "ugly" comments as we're having here. Truth be told, the final product is in line with a typical Embassy Suites and not any uglier. So whoever is comparing this to that Sheraton in DT Dallas is going way overboard. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highway6 Posted September 2, 2010 Share Posted September 2, 2010 I agree with you Jax! My great disappointment with this building is that they got us all excited with the rendering that was initially released only to drastically delete it's most aesthetic features. In essence they over-promised & under-delivered! Imagine getting promised a Lexus (or at least a fully loaded Toyota Avalon) and end up only getting a base-model Corolla. Now there's nothing wrong with a brand new Corolla, it's just less what we expected lol As I've stated before, had they simply put out the true rendering & built this Embassy Suites as is, then I dont think we'd have half the complaints and "ugly" comments as we're having here. Truth be told, the final product is in line with a typical Embassy Suites and not any uglier. So whoever is comparing this to that Sheraton in DT Dallas is going way overboard.Guess what... You aren't buying the Corolla or Lexus here.. You (The People) aren't buying anything.Changes always happen in the design process for any number of reasons. Renderings take time, Time is money. Clients don't give a hoot about updating the renderings months and months down the line to update and appease the masses.Renderings are not contracts with the people. Haifers put way too much stock in renderings. Most renderings happen very early in the design process for the purpose of getting a client and investors excited, and to come up with a rough idea of what the finished product will look like. 6-12 months down the line when you're dealing with code issues, permitting issues, details, and getting construction documents out the door.. nobody cares about making sure the renderings are updated.Haifers should accept the fact that changes are guaranteed to happen and that 99% of finished projects will never match the renderings you see when a project is announced. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KinkaidAlum Posted September 2, 2010 Share Posted September 2, 2010 Actually, if you're a property owner, you did spend $ to help build the Embassy Suites. The E.S. received upwards of $5 million in tax breaks and incentives to build in that location. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highway6 Posted September 2, 2010 Share Posted September 2, 2010 Actually, if you're a property owner, you did spend $ to help build the Embassy Suites. The E.S. received upwards of $5 million in tax breaks and incentives to build in that location.Changes nothing..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbigtex56 Posted September 2, 2010 Share Posted September 2, 2010 Changes always happen in the design process for any number of reasons. Renderings take time, Time is money. Clients don't give a hoot about updating the renderings months and months down the line to update and appease the masses.The original promotional poster for Tenneco Tower shows a different entryway than was actually built. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
20thStDad Posted September 3, 2010 Share Posted September 3, 2010 Come on guys, complimentary cooked to order breakfast?? Forget all the rabble about ugly, hook me up with a waffle stuffed with a 9 egg omelet with a pound of bacon in it! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houston19514 Posted September 3, 2010 Share Posted September 3, 2010 Actually, if you're a property owner, you did spend $ to help build the Embassy Suites. The E.S. received upwards of $5 million in tax breaks and incentives to build in that location.Actually, I'm pretty sure the subsidy was only relating to hotel occupancy tax, not involving property tax at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subdude Posted September 3, 2010 Share Posted September 3, 2010 It's not half as nice as the rendering, but it could be much worse."It could be much worse" is hardly something to rally around. If the design is rubbish it should be criticized. This is an architecture board after all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheNiche Posted September 3, 2010 Share Posted September 3, 2010 Imagine getting promised a Lexus (or at least a fully loaded Toyota Avalon) and end up only getting a base-model Corolla. Now there's nothing wrong with a brand new Corolla, it's just less what we expected lol.That's not an analogy that I think that most people will be able to relate to. And it's a weak analogy. Nobody promised you anything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
'Stonian Posted September 3, 2010 Share Posted September 3, 2010 Niche, go back on vacation for a few more days please..., I was enjoying your absence! You're right, no one promised me anything. Bad analogy or not, you get my point. I understand that the developers of the Embassy Suites owe me absolutely nothing & that they are free to build whatever the hell they want on their land (well atleast in Houston they are). In the same vein, I'm free to criticize, be disappointed, give whatever analogy I choose & expect more for my city. Thank you Sir. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheNiche Posted September 3, 2010 Share Posted September 3, 2010 Niche, go back on vacation for a few more days please..., I was enjoying your absence!What are you talking about? I haven't been on a purely recreational trip in years. ...ugh, you made me contemplate my existence. More tequila is called for.You're right, no one promised me anything. Bad analogy or not, you get my point.No.I understand that the developers of the Embassy Suites owe me absolutely nothing & that they are free to build whatever the hell they want on their land (well atleast in Houston they are). In the same vein, I'm free to criticize, be disappointed, give whatever analogy I choose & expect more for my city. Thank you Sir.I am free to criticize your criticism. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
'Stonian Posted September 3, 2010 Share Posted September 3, 2010 Well try a little constructive criticism every now & then instead of the mumbo-jumbo rambling nonsense you often spit out bruh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C2H Posted September 3, 2010 Share Posted September 3, 2010 That's not an analogy that I think that most people will be able to relate to. And it's a weak analogy. Nobody promised you anything.It made sense to me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbigtex56 Posted September 3, 2010 Share Posted September 3, 2010 Imagine getting promised a Lexus (or at least a fully loaded Toyota Avalon) and end up only getting a base-model Corolla. Now there's nothing wrong with a brand new Corolla, it's just less what we expected lol That's not an analogy that I think that most people will be able to relate to. And it's a weak analogy. Nobody promised you anything. Well try a little constructive criticism every now & then instead of the mumbo-jumbo rambling nonsense you often spit out bruh.It made sense to me!It made sense to me, too. More tequila is called for. There's your answer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheNiche Posted September 3, 2010 Share Posted September 3, 2010 There's your answer.Tequila is always a viable answer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbigtex56 Posted September 3, 2010 Share Posted September 3, 2010 Tequila is always a viable answer. Ole'! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subdude Posted September 4, 2010 Share Posted September 4, 2010 Guys, keep it on topic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scarface Posted September 5, 2010 Share Posted September 5, 2010 Yep, another perfect opportunity for Houston, wasted. I drove by the building to see what everyone is so upset about. Not only is the back of the building facing the park, but also the crown where the lighted E is supposed to go. The renderings made it look like it was going to be a light on both sides. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asubrt Posted September 14, 2010 Share Posted September 14, 2010 Well the outside may be ugly, but the inside sure looks interesting:http://blogs.chron.c...hain_hotel.html 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lockmat Posted September 14, 2010 Share Posted September 14, 2010 Well the outside may be ugly, but the inside sure looks interesting:http://blogs.chron.c...hain_hotel.htmlFirst thought that it's busy, not necessarily over busy though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wernicke Posted September 14, 2010 Share Posted September 14, 2010 This is probably the ugliest building to go up downtown in the last 30 years... the worst part is it's prime location on the park and the fact that the city subsidized this crap. I mean if you're going to incentivize building something right on the CBD's most attractive feature, you should be able to demand a certain level of quality in design... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LegacyTree Posted September 14, 2010 Share Posted September 14, 2010 The interior design is much like the new Hyatt Regency's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrLan34 Posted September 14, 2010 Share Posted September 14, 2010 On a positive note, i was driving down 59N, then exited 45N and took a cruise by downtown.... At least the "better" side of ES faces the highway which makes for better skyline shots. I'm not saying this is ideal but it is probably better that the back is facing the park rather than the highway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highway6 Posted September 15, 2010 Share Posted September 15, 2010 Not only is the back of the building facing the park, but also the crown where the lighted E is supposed to go. The renderings made it look like it was going to be a light on both sides.I mean if you're going to incentivize building something right on the CBD's most attractive feature, you should be able to demand a certain level of quality in design...Oh snap... Have either of you two called the Architecture Police yet ?!?! I believe "Not matching renderings" is a Class C Felony now. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Urbannizer Posted September 21, 2010 Share Posted September 21, 2010 Pics taken earlier this month. Look closely at the rendering and the building in the 1st pic, you can see where they stopped. Link 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lockmat Posted September 21, 2010 Share Posted September 21, 2010 It looks like a face without eyes, a mouth and ears; the shape but no details. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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