Office Tower At 1111 Travis St.

[lockmat]

This is downtown Houston, it will be an extremely rare occasion when something will be built without a garage.

I didn't say anything would have been built without a garage. But zoning could have required that any new developments on Main put their garages on Fannin or Travis.

I don't know if they're different, but I'd rather have a few simple and better design standards to accomplish this.

I know I lean towards govt staying out of an owners' business, but if they really wanted a garage on main they could still apply for a variance.

[htownproud]

As someone that takes the light rail to work (and they're aren't many if us), I absolutely understand why they would not face this towards Main. As a practical matter, dropping people off or picking them up would be a nightmare. The road is one lane there. It wouldn't work.

Also the bums down there are awful. I wear headphones so I don't have to deal with them. But they are still an eye sore. If I was spending a hundred million dollars, I would try to lessen the impact of homeless as mush as possible.

Also, this doesn't really look like a parking garage.

Finally, why is rail suppose to be something you build towards? In Chicago, folks don't build buildings so they face the L.

[Slick Vik]

As someone that takes the light rail to work (and they're aren't many if us), I absolutely understand why they would not face this towards Main. As a practical matter, dropping people off or picking them up would be a nightmare. The road is one lane there. It wouldn't work.

Also the bums down there are awful. I wear headphones so I don't have to deal with them. But they are still an eye sore. If I was spending a hundred million dollars, I would try to lessen the impact of homeless as mush as possible.

Also, this doesn't really look like a parking garage.

Finally, why is rail suppose to be something you build towards? In Chicago, folks don't build buildings so they face the L.

What do you propose to "do" with the homeless population? They are human beings too.

[Subdude]

What do you propose to "do" with the homeless population? They are human beings too.

 

That's another pretty obvious topic-hijacker.  If you want to discuss the homeless, create an appropriate topic for it. 

 

[swtsig]

I didn't say anything would have been built without a garage. But zoning could have required that any new developments on Main put their garages on Fannin or Travis.

BUT YOU CAN'T EVEN TELL IT'S A DAMN GARAGE.

From the rendering all it looks like from main is a 7 or 8 story glass building with ground floor retail. Hell from what we can tell the cars wont even be entering from main, so what difference would your "zoning" rant even make? I swear the incessant whining on this board is downright pathetic. If you want to complain that the building perhaps should be taller I'd at least understand but from a desgin perspective it isn't like any building I can think of in houston and it sure as hell isn't just a "box."

Y'all have become downright insufferable.

[Texasota]

we need better renderings of the main side.

[Triton]

This link was already posted but it looks like some people didn't even click it. There is ZERO entry from Main:

 

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showpost.php?p=6322560&postcount=5593

[DrLan34]

Main street side looks like a short rise building that encourages pedestrian activity.  

 

There is no car entry on Main as stated above.

Edited November 3, 2013 by DrLan34

[cloud713]

since people are too lazy to click links.. lol

Main street side with ground floor retail


did anyone else notice this..?
"extension of pedestrian walkway if Main Streets 1 lane of traffic is closed".. maybe that idea to close main street to traffic was more serious than we thought?

Edited November 3, 2013 by cloud713

[Tumbleweed_Tx]

that block of main is already closed to northbound traffic

[cloud713]

that block of main is already closed to northbound traffic

oh i didnt realize that the northbound lane south of MSS and the southbound lane north of MSS were closed. i thought Main was only closed at the block of Main Street Square. i guess closing just those sections of the street wouldnt have much impact on the traffic.

[Montrose1100]

It is what it is. A neat little office building.

[Triton]

It is what it is. A neat little office building.

Exactly. I guess I'm one of the few but I actually like it. People were expecting a supertall?

I'm pretty sure for months before this demolition we heard what the general height/floor count would be and that it was going to be somewhat of an oval building. Sounds like we got what we heard.

Having the traffic enter from the south and exit to the north makes sense to me. Don't really see what all the hubbub is about.

[H-Town Man]

BUT YOU CAN'T EVEN TELL IT'S A DAMN GARAGE.

From the rendering all it looks like from main is a 7 or 8 story glass building with ground floor retail. Hell from what we can tell the cars wont even be entering from main, so what difference would your "zoning" rant even make? I swear the incessant whining on this board is downright pathetic. If you want to complain that the building perhaps should be taller I'd at least understand but from a desgin perspective it isn't like any building I can think of in houston and it sure as hell isn't just a "box."

Y'all have become downright insufferable.

 

Don't understand why you get so angry. I've said it before... if you don't like hearing people criticize architecture and design, maybe an architecture forum is not the place for you.

 

And, since you mention it, you can tell it's a garage. The garage floors are clearly visible through the glass. I imagine cars will be too, although whoever did the rendering chose not to depict them.

 

Edited November 4, 2013 by H-Town Man

[Texasota]

I'd still like to see a ground floor site plan. I don't actually see any confirmation here that there is any retail.

[cloud713]

I'd still like to see a ground floor site plan. I don't actually see any confirmation here that there is any retail.

What do you think the glass windows along the bottom floor on main are? Windows into a parking garage?

[Texasota]

It's happened before. I'm not saying it's not retail; it probably is. A floor plan would offer some sort of confirmation though.

[cloud713]

It's happened before. I'm not saying it's not retail; it probably is. A floor plan would offer some sort of confirmation though.

true, i agree.. though they have been saying since this tower was first rumored that it would have ground floor retail, and all the other rumors about it have been true so far. we shall see.

[Montrose1100]

 if you don't like hearing people criticize architecture and design, maybe an architecture forum is not the place for you.

Wow now.. He is a great asset to this board! He was only pointing out holes in some poster's logic.

[H-Town Man]

Wow now.. He is a great asset to this board! He was only pointing out holes in some poster's logic.

 

He's welcome to point out holes in my logic. In this case, I think the hole was in his (see prior post). And I will go on voicing my criticism of designs.

[Guest Jackwood]

I think this website would be more of an asset if Urbanizer was the only one allowed to post. The criticisms do nothing. 

 

Edited November 4, 2013 by Jackwood

[Texasota]

You can criticize something without thinking it's terrible, worse than whatever is there, or even mediocre. 

Criticism is healthy and positive as long as its constructive.

[nativehoustonion]

I think it is a nice design.  Our Main S.t will become Main St. America with all the developments going on.  Office buildings, apartments, hotel, and light rail getting north side extension.  Everyone please be excited!

[H-Town Man]

I think this website would be more of an asset if Urbanizer was the only one allowed to post.

 

You must be the change you want to see in the world. - Gandhi

Edited November 4, 2013 by H-Town Man

[The Pragmatist]

For whatever reason, this reminds me of the buildings at the intersection of 290 and 610.

[Guest Jackwood]

You must be the change you want to see in the world. - Gandhi

 

Now you're adding some value to the internet.  You should stick to re-posting quotes that were thought up by smart people.

Edited November 4, 2013 by Jackwood

[nativehoustonion]

Urbannizer made it in the Chronicle!

[cloud713]

Urbannizer made it in the Chronicle!

wow, congrats urb! link?

nvm, i found this.. dont see any specific mention of urbannizer though, just a link to lockmats blog which mentions urb found it?

http://blog.chron.com/primeproperty/2013/11/rendering-of-new-downtown-office-tower-revealed/?cmpid=hpts

Edited November 4, 2013 by cloud713

[H-Town Man]

Now you're adding some value to the internet.  You should stick to re-posting quotes that were thought up by smart people.

 

I think you missed the implication...

[htownproud]

i don't understand the southbound traffic lane from Lamar to Dallas on Main.  Because you can't  take lefts over the rail tracks (which you would have to do if you were coming down Lamar), i don't see how anyone could ever use it.  so shutting it down makes perfect sense.