Top of 621

[What is a Rivercat?]

What will it be when it's finished?

[innov8]

400’

Just about every project you can think of is featured on the first page of the
Sacramento Proposal/Approval/Construction Thread – III (http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=126483) thread. Sugit has done
a great job of updating projects under construction, Approvals Gained,
Site Prep Stage, Awaiting Official Construction, Planning, Approval Stage,
Transportation and Streetscape Development, Recently Completed, and Cancelled projects.

There is also the Sacramento - 621 Capitol Mall (http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=86268)thread. It has a ton of great photos and info to view too.

[bennywah]

Ithink he meant what will the actual crown look like especially since Taylor said he had a surprise in store?

[goldcntry]

The latest Issue of Sactown has a great article by Rob Turner, "Blue Light Special" that describes what's in store for the crown... exciting stuff! To quote:

"... He [Sol Lewitt] combining a spectacular lighting display high above the city with a design by Michael Hayden. Scheduled to be unveiled in April, when the building opens, the artwork will occupy a 68-foot-high, 150-foot-wide section fo the structure's crown facing south onto Capitol Mall. It will be comprised of nearly 100,000 tiny LEDs..."

:tomato: :tomato: :tomato:

[What is a Rivercat?]

thanks bennywah, goldcntry

[innov8]

Doho... sorry Rivercat, I interpreted the question wrong :doh:

[TowerDistrict]

I found this in a quick search for the designer, Michael Hayden (http://www.thinkinglightly.com/portfolio.cgi?category=Hayden)...

the site is crap and the pictures prolly don't do the work justice. But I'm
thoroughly intrigued. Can't wait to see what's in store for the US Bank Tower.

[innov8]

http://img300.imageshack.us/img300/6181/621cm120070908jpg200709en3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/4347/621cm220070908jpg200709io4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/1926/621cm320070908jpg200709je4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/549/621cm420070908jpg200709xz9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/9232/621cm520070908jpg200709io5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[jsf8278]

I checked a couple of other threads and didn't see anything posted about this article, so if its already posted, I'm sorry.

I was waiting in line at Natural Foods Co-op and picked up the newest issue of SacTown Mag. There's an article in about the guy who is designing the lights for the crown of 621. The article is interesting. Essentially he said it will be comprised of 100,000 mini lights that will resemble the American and Sacramento Rivers. Apparently the lights will be moving as well. Maybe something like the water tower above the Alhambra Safeway?

That's about all I can remember from the article. Sounds kind of cool. Also sounds like it has the potential to be very very corny. I hope this guy pulls it off.

[BrianSac]

I checked a couple of other threads and didn't see anything posted about this article, so if its already posted, I'm sorry.

I was waiting in line at Natural Foods Co-op and picked up the newest issue of SacTown Mag. There's an article in about the guy who is designing the lights for the crown of 621. The article is interesting. Essentially he said it will be comprised of 100,000 mini lights that will resemble the American and Sacramento Rivers. Apparently the lights will be moving as well. Maybe something like the water tower above the Alhambra Safeway?

That's about all I can remember from the article. Sounds kind of cool. Also sounds like it has the potential to be very very corny. I hope this guy pulls it off.


Yeah, especially from the back, it looks like a billboard on Times Square. I expect a marquee in neon adverstising a Broadway Musical. :)

Maybe it should have giant neon letters saying "I Love Sacramento", corny I know, but a positive statement.

Whatever it is I hope it is bright and visible and lite every night, all night.

[ozone]

Forgive me if I'm a little cynical when it comes to promises of lighted tops and/or buildings to make amends for lousy architecture. Remember the promise they made about Cal EPA? And what happened to the best feature of WeSac ziggurat?

[aufbau]

Forgive me if I'm a little cynical when it comes to promises of lighted tops and/or buildings to make amends for lousy architecture. Remember the promise they made about Cal EPA? And what happened to the best feature of WeSac ziggurat?

Then I hope 621 isn't co-opted by the state government at some future time. At least with the ziggurat the lights were on until the money store went under. Personally, I don't remember ever seeing Cal EPA with it's lighting scheme on.

[ltsmotorsport]

I still want the lighting on the fed courthouse turned back on. I wonder who you'd have to e-mail to beg for that to happen.

[innov8]

CBS 13 did a little piece on Sactown's 621 scoop today. I now think the top will be impressive.

http://tinyurl.com/28kl95

[goldcntry]

Oh man... I can't Wait!!!!

[BrianSac]

I wonder if the 500 capitol mall building will obstruct the views of the top of 621's lighted artwork? :rolleyes:

[arod74]

Probably not much. The 2 buildings are not directly facing each other. About the only view it might block is on 50 right where I-5 splits north and south before going over the river to west sac..

[creamcityleo79]

the view will be blocked from 80 coming in from west sac. Twice in the last couple weeks we've been driving back from sf and the building was completely hidden by wells fargo and capitol square (I think that's the name...the big green one). It wasn't just for a short time either. It was a long stretch.

[Ryan@CU]

the view will be blocked from 80 coming in from west sac. Twice in the last couple weeks we've been driving back from sf and the building was completely hidden by wells fargo and capitol square (I think that's the name...the big green one). It wasn't just for a short time either. It was a long stretch.

I've noticed that too. 601 comes out of nowhere

[Web]

Sorry I just can't resist.....yeah 601 is NOwhere.....and Nasssi is Nowhere also

[BrianSac]

Probably not much. The 2 buildings are not directly facing each other. About the only view it might block is on 50 right where I-5 splits north and south before going over the river to west sac..

great, our one and only skyscraper for the decade with a spectacular light affect and it has limited views, too bad it couldn't have been 100 ft taller!: you can barely see 621 now, and 500 capitol mall is not standing yet

[enigma99a]

Sorry I just can't resist.....yeah 601 is NOwhere.....and Nasssi is Nowhere also

What is 601? :D

[JeffZurn]

What is 601? :D

Where Aura was going to be (next to 621)

[Web]

I see that Epic is also dead since Libeskind(sp) has pulled his designs due to lack of payment......(has Nassi even paid an electric bill??}

I say good riddance to this sheister......(although he still claims he can use the design....I hope the architect etc SUE him if he tries)

[innov8]

http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/937/49621cmtop120071115fpa2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/6829/621cmtop220071115ffl8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/2441/621cm720071115fcq4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[Ryan@CU]

Great shots! Thanks!

[urban_encounter]

great, our one and only skyscraper for the decade with a spectacular light affect and it has limited views, too bad it couldn't have been 100 ft taller!: you can barely see 621 now, and 500 capitol mall is not standing yet



621 a Skyscraper?

Maybe a skyscratcher ...;)

If memory serves me correctly, David Taylor had no clue that 500 Capitol Mall was going to go up right behind 621.

[innov8]

They are testing a small section of the crown lights tonight.

[urban_encounter]

They are testing a small section of the crown lights tonight.

photos??

[innov8]

Sorry, no pics... my laptops in the shop that I do all my photo stuff on.

Go check it out :tup:

[TWAK]

is the top going to be exposed looking like that all the time, or is there going be glass around it?

[Ryan@CU]

is the top going to be exposed looking like that all the time, or is there going be glass around it?


I've been wondering the same thing.

[innov8]

It's going to look like the photos above. LED light are durable when made to be used out doors.

[TheDerek]

great, our one and only skyscraper for the decade with a spectacular light affect and it has limited views, too bad it couldn't have been 100 ft taller!: you can barely see 621 now, and 500 capitol mall is not standing yet

not to mention the building en west sac, even though its only 19 stories stands out more than anything, mostly due to the fact there is nothing around it

[innov8]

http://img517.imageshack.us/img517/9937/621cmtop520080111frp3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img517.imageshack.us/img517/6339/621cmtop1020080111flx6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img181.imageshack.us/img181/2756/621cmtop2220080111fnu7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

More from the top here: SACRAMENTO | 621 Capitol Mall | 402 FT / 123 M | 25 FLOORS (http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=86268&page=35)

[urban_encounter]

http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/937/49621cmtop120071115fpa2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


Don't know if anyone has noticed, but they have the indented portion of the strip running up the facade of 621 illuminated at night now???


Once the blue crown is illuminated, 621 will join the Ziggurat at looking good (at night)...


I'm going to start taking some night pictures around town at night as Spring and Summer edge closer and hopefully post them after i come up with a collection. (Assuming my camera will take good night photos.?).

I really wish we could get the entire skyline illuminated, because even with the modest height and desnisty i think Sacramento has one of the most beautiful collection of towers that when illuminated make it one of the most striking night skylines in the state. Of course most of Sacramento's towers are failrly new.

[innov8]

Don't know if anyone has noticed, but they have the indented portion of the strip running up the facade of 621 illuminated at night now???


Once the blue crown is illuminated, 621 will join the Ziggurat at looking good (at night)...


I'm going to start taking some night pictures around town at night as Spring and Summer edge closer and hopefully post them after i come up with a collection. (Assuming my camera will take good night photos.?).

I really wish we could get the entire skyline illuminated, because even with the modest height and desnisty i think Sacramento has one of the most beautiful collection of towers that when illuminated make it one of the most striking night skylines in the state. Of course most of Sacramento's towers are failrly new.

They had it lit up this morning? I'll keep an eye out to see if I can catch
it again if they do it again. I've been working on a night time set of photos
over the last few months too... I'm curious to see your after dark perspective
of the city Jim.

[TWAK]

i saw the strop lit up tonight as well, it looks nice as hell

[northbay]

yes, photos please :D

[urban_encounter]

They had it lit up this morning? I'll keep an eye out to see if I can catch
it again if they do it again. I've been working on a night time set of photos
over the last few months too... I'm curious to see your after dark perspective
of the city Jim.


better yet, I would like to have a professional photographer (like you) accompany me when i go.. :cheers:

BTW it is illuminated again tonight

[arod74]

I really wish we could get the entire skyline illuminated, because even with the modest height and desnisty i think Sacramento has one of the most beautiful collection of towers that when illuminated make it one of the most striking night skylines in the state. Of course most of Sacramento's towers are failrly new.

Yeah totally, when you don't have a lot you gotta "shake" what you have. Just think how much better it would look at night if the Fed courthouse, the EPA building, Dark Vader, and the Zig were lit to go with the Wells building, the former US bank building, and 621. Does anyone know what kind of lighting if any the Calpers building is going to have?

[urban_encounter]

Yeah totally, when you don't have a lot you gotta "shake" what you have. Just think how much better it would look at night if the Fed courthouse, the EPA building, Dark Vader, and the Zig were lit to go with the Wells building, the former US bank building, and 621. Does anyone know what kind of lighting if any the Calpers building is going to have?


none that I'm aware of..

[creamcityleo79]

Yeah totally, when you don't have a lot you gotta "shake" what you have. Just think how much better it would look at night if the Fed courthouse, the EPA building, Dark Vader, and the Zig were lit to go with the Wells building, the former US bank building, and 621. Does anyone know what kind of lighting if any the Calpers building is going to have?
You mean the CALSTRS nuilding?

[innov8]

Last night I got a couple shots, the wind was bad so excuse the quality.
The northern side of the tower that has a strip will also be light up.

http://img352.imageshack.us/img352/5319/621cm220080302fjs7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/6350/621cm320080301fdy4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[NikeFutbolero]

The top better make up for the ugly parking structure :yuck:

[downtownserg89]

the top finally makes its big debut next month, correct?


gah i can't waaaait :)

[creamcityleo79]

the top finally makes its big debut next month, correct?


gah i can't waaaait :)
You would say that! :P

[goldcntry]

You would say that!

Well, SOMEone had to! :jester:


:tomato: Light it up baby! :tomato:

[TowerDistrict]

Yeah, I'm stoked on that cause 621 is the only tower i can see from my house.
and i won't be able to see it once the trees grow their leaves back.

[arod74]

the top finally makes its big debut next month, correct?


gah i can't waaaait :)

If I recall correctly, I don't think we will see the full light show until June serg..

[urban_encounter]

Last night I got a couple shots, the wind was bad so excuse the quality.
The northern side of the tower that has a strip will also be light up.

http://img352.imageshack.us/img352/5319/621cm220080302fjs7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/6350/621cm320080301fdy4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Interestingly enough, there are now two parallel rows of lights running up the front of the building.

Noticed it tonight on my way home...

[SactownRob]

If I recall correctly, I don't think we will see the full light show until June serg..

They were going to push it back to June, but are now trying to keep on the original schedule for April. Fingers crossed....

[TowerDistrict]

You working late, Rob? I saw the lights on way up there.... ;)

[SactownRob]

You working late, Rob? I saw the lights on way up there.... ;)

Yep. Deadline is nearing, so no sleep for us this week!

[innov8]

This morning I saw six or seven guy's walking around up there in the crown,
it looked like they are installing stuff for the lighting.

[downtownserg89]

ARGH i'm getting all ansy and can't wait for those lights to turn on.:slob: :slob:

TO TURN ME ON!!

hahah joking. :jester:

i'm growing impatient.

if i have to i will break in that building and install some flashlights with covered seran wrap or however you spell it, and boom there you have it, cool lights on the top of 621, dollar tree style.

[NikeFutbolero]

well I saw it lit up right now on my way home from dixon..i didnt have a camera on me just my cell phone so I went to some parking structure downtown and went to the top to take a picture of it..It's the absolute worst picture ever, but you get the idea. Sorry about the extremely crappy quality.

http://i25.tinypic.com/r2mcsm.jpg

[innov8]

You did alright... since the lights arn't moving yet your shot makes them feel like they are.
I got out last night and got a few. More here: http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=86268&page=36

http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/1885/621cm620080426fxc0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[SacTownAndy]

From today's Bee:

U.S. Bank Tower’s light show to debut in Sacramento
By Jon Ortiz - jortiz@sacbee.com

Published 12:00 am PDT Monday, April 28, 2008
Story appeared in BUSINESS section, Page D1

If all goes as planned, the Sacramento skyline will debut it latest addition sometime around dusk tonight when the top of the new $130 million U.S. Bank Tower begins to glow.

You'll see the display from any freeway or street south of Capitol Mall with an unobstructed view of the 25-story building's top.

What you won't see: the beaming pride of Kevin Furry, head of the Rancho Cordova arm of Lighting Science Group Corp., an international player in high-tech illumination.

His firm is on the leading edge of advances in light-emitting diodes. The technology, once limited to wristwatches and calculator displays, now turns high-rises into towering, energy-efficient video screens and powers the lights inside the New Year's Eve ball that drops in Times Square.

"We're basically a new industry," Furry said during a recent interview at his Rancho Cordova offices. "We're seeing breakthroughs almost as significant as when Edison created the light bulb."

The 43-year-old Furry got his start in the $5 billion global LED industry with a miscalculation.

In 1994, he and some friends made four lava lamp-style lights for themselves. A casino, intrigued by the designs, offered to buy some. Furry sold his boat to fund the project.

"Then they backed out," Furry said. "I had 20 of these things just sitting in my house."

Undeterred, and excited by LED advances in color and intensity, Fuzzy kept moving. His company, then known as LED Effects Inc., produced large casino displays and other electronic message boards.

The lights illuminating the Channel 10 tower on Broadway, next to the Capital City Freeway–Interstate 5 interchange, came from LED Effects.

From those beginnings, LED Effects garnered contracts big and small locally and around the world.

It made stage lighting for Feather Falls Casino in Butte County and developed the lighting system that wraps the exterior of the Chanel Boutique in Osaka, Japan. That project, using more than 125,000 white LEDs, displays animated text, videos and graphics.

The firm also built the LED-illuminated curtain wall at the base of New York City's Seven World Trade Center and assembled the new ball that dropped in Times Square on New Year's Eve.

Last year, Furry's company merged with Lighting Science Group Corp., an LED manufacturer based in Dallas. Lighting Science, with 2007 revenue of $2.78 million, is the biggest U.S.-owned player in the industry. Furry's company assumed the buyer's name.

The massive art display at the U.S. Bank Tower, at 621 Capitol Mall, employs the latest LED technology. Santa Rosa artist Michael Hayden created the two-part concept.

The first piece, "Lumetric River," uses LED projectors installed on the roof to show a video of running water that will "flow" across the building's 80-foot-tall louvered top.

The tower's atrium continues the water theme inside, with 194 LED panels measuring 2 feet by 2 feet, each hard-wired into the building and controlled by specially designed software. It's called "The Rapids."

Hayden arranged the atrium panels to give the impression that visitors are viewing water coursing across an 80-foot expanse. Each panel has a mirrored side that will cast refracted light during the day. At night, the embedded LED projectors in each white "Chiclet" continue the flowing water theme that starts on the roof.

David S. Taylor Interests, the local development company that built U.S. Bank Tower, hasn't said how much it paid Hayden or Lighting Science. A company official confirmed it runs into "the hundreds of thousands of dollars."

The building is about 60 percent leased with contracts pending on another 20 percent. U.S. Bank, the main tenant, moved in last week. Others will move in over the coming months.

Shelly Willis, administrator of the Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission's Art in Public Places, said that Hayden and Lighting Science are helping push the area's public art projects forward.

"We don't have a lot of work in new media in this city on that scale," Willis said. "This opens up innovation. It shows what's possible."

http://www.sacbee.com/103/story/894283.html

[Majin]

Does 500CM have any special lighting diplay on it?

[urban_encounter]

It was illuminated and rotating when i drove by last night, so it appears they've already had the debut.

I really wasn't impressed at all. In fact it's a bigger let down than the building design itself.

[TowerDistrict]

^^^ ouch!

how about if you compare it to the light display on the Alhambra water tower?

[ozone]

I'll wait to see it tonight to make any judgement. But as I've said in the past no Vegas-esque light display will make up for the awkward design.

[urban_encounter]

It looked a little sharper tonight and i think the artists were across the street with radios trying to tweak it. It does rotate through the colors, but it also looks like they're trying to get a message to E.T.

As Ozone said, a night time Vegasesque light show, doesn't make up for what is otherwise a porrly designed high rise.


Still anything that illuminates the night sky is a plus imo. (It sure can't hurt).

[SactownTom]

I was driving south on 5 and saw the lighting design from the freeway. I didn't realize you would be able to see it from the north side of the building. I have to say, I thought it was pretty cool. I think the building makes a great addition to the Sactown skyline.

[urban_encounter]

The artist was interviewed tonight on cbs13 and apparently they still have two more rows of LED lights to add...

[snfenoc]

The ass-f#$ks over at Photobucket have the site down, so I can't post the photos I took this evening. However, let me give my overall impression....

NOT WHAT I EXPECTED :(

Now, I understand there are some rows of lights to be added. I also understand the lighting software program has yet to be perfected (Really, tonight was a lot of testing). However, it's clear to me the lighting is not as fine as I thought it would be. The "pixels per square inch" just ain't there. I guess I was expecting something closer to a Vegas light show. The "river" effect looks like something out of an Atari 2600 game. I half expected a green, frog-like blob to jump down the canvas. After a couple hours, the movement became a little less retarded and flowed better, but it's definitely not what I thought it would be.

With that said, it still looks pretty awesome. The top is capable of producing a lot of colors and patterns. It should look pretty cool from a distance.

The sculpture is very nice.

I'll post my photos later.

[creamcityleo79]

The ass-f#$ks over at Photobucket have the site down, so I can't post the photos I took this evening. However, let me give my overall impression....

NOT WHAT I EXPECTED :(

Now, I understand there are some rows of lights to be added. I also understand the lighting software program has yet to be perfected (Really, tonight was a lot of testing). However, it's clear to me the lighting is not as fine as I thought it would be. The "pixels per square inch" just ain't there. I guess I was expecting something closer to a Vegas light show. The "river" effect looks like something out of an Atari 2600 game. I half expected a green, frog-like blob to jump down the canvas. After a couple hours, the movement became a little less retarded and flowed better, but it's definitely not what I thought it would be.

With that said, it still looks pretty awesome. The top is capable of producing a lot of colors and patterns. It should look pretty cool from a distance.

The sculpture is very nice.

I'll post my photos later.
try flickr.com. You can sign in with a yahoo acct if you have one.

[snfenoc]

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3267/2450709081_7fd6b23647_o.jpg


http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3122/2451534700_4142b82d0c_o.jpg


http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3056/2451534926_ffe980ed62_o.jpg


http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2095/2450709675_259168384c_o.jpg


http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3103/2451535296_d0c96abbca_o.jpg


http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2262/2450709969_71089a65d6_o.jpg


http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2050/2450710129_1467750557_o.jpg


http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3141/2451535778_f808c8804f_o.jpg


http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2210/2451535926_f0ec896cd6_o.jpg


http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2253/2450710545_113dc29b73_o.jpg


http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2135/2451536200_7690871911_o.jpg


http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3141/2451536538_7e5dc44635_o.jpg


http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2235/2450711111_cf88efebf2_o.jpg


http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2213/2450711241_8b6d947dfb_o.jpg


http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3217/2451536918_739ccef4ab_o.jpg


http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2251/2450711463_38df5a2b35_o.jpg


http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3132/2450711563_2c33412405_o.jpg


http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2321/2450711767_5fe96eb85f_o.jpg


http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2373/2451537448_cffd580923_o.jpg


http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2084/2450712217_f60125426f_o.jpg

[creamcityleo79]

Beautiful!

[Majin]

Damn thats a lot of light in that building. I haven't seen it in person but from the pics it looks awesome.

Too bad more buildings downtown don't follow suit, we could have a spectacular light show.

[JeffZurn]

Looks good, can't wait for it to be a reoccurring event

[SacTownAndy]

Love it or hate it, it's definitely going to get people talking. Now only if we could light up the Fed Courthouse and the Ziggurat again.


Here's a video from News10 that shows it in action:

http://www.news10.net/video/player_news10.aspx?aid=54665&bw=

[What is a Rivercat?]

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b279/TerbaerTerbear/close_encounters_large_09.jpg

♫Do Dee Do Do Doooooooo♫

[ozone]

Funny I thought of Close Encounters too when I saw it last night. I never saw the green and red lights though -only blue and pinkish ones. One of the problems with the whole light show on top is that it's pretty hard to see from the sidewalk level and from the west/riverside (which happen to be the best perspective people get of the skyline) or from the east. It might be kinda cool if if where turned around facing the river.

It's almost as if the building was designed to be viewed from the freeway (a giant lighted billboard). I can only look forward now to a couple of highrises being built around it to distract us from the embarrassingly ugly lady in the flashy evening dress.

[TowerDistrict]

probably looks killer from southside park - especially if you're standing next to the UFO...


http://farm1.static.flickr.com/51/189113752_f17482e4dd.jpg?v=0

photo taken by.... (http://www.flickr.com/photos/abrietta/)

[otnemarcaS]

Okay, I also saw the lights driving south on I-5 from Natomas yesterday and I must say I was not impressed. The so called flowing river effect just wasn't as vivid as I would have liked to see. However, judging by snfenoc's photos, it looks like there is a wide array of colors I did not see. Again, I just saw it briefly at about 9 pm with only the blue lights on so I hope the final product is more colorful. A skyline like San Diego's with different colors will surely enhance the look of DT Sac at night.

[econgrad]

I give it a 7 out of 10. Its ok, its something. Not something to brag about, but something to point out to to someone in your car while passing by.

[Surefiresacto]

I agree. It's an addition which will enhance Sacramento's night time skyline; something which many people on here complain that the city is lacking.

[downtownserg89]

oh my.

i was not aware that the light's were on!

i'll check it out on my way home from sac city

from that photos up there it looks pretty sexy.


but it doesn't look like what i was expecting :(

whatever,

either way it adds cool points to the sac skyline.

[otnemarcaS]

Extra LEDs will add to Sacramento building's artistic lighting
By Jon Ortiz - jortiz@sacbee.com
Published 12:00 am PDT Saturday, May 24, 2008
Story appeared in BUSINESS section, Page D1

http://media.sacbee.com/smedia/2008/05/23/19/904-6B24LIGHTS.embedded.prod_affiliate.4.JPG
Large panels of light-emitting diodes are suspended in the U.S. Bank Tower's lobby atrium. The display has been designed by artist Michael Hayden to suggest an abstract waterfall.
José Luis Villegas / jvillegas@sacbee.com

Nearly a month ago, the louvered top of the new U.S. Bank Tower briefly glowed with a cutting-edge light display that promised to change Sacramento's nighttime skyline.

Since then it's been dark.

The building's developer, Sacramento-based David S. Taylor Interests, and Santa Rosa artist Michael Hayden shut down the project to add more light-emitting diode projectors to the roof. Workers will install them Wednesday. On Thursday, the "Lumetric River" display will again light the 25-story office building's crest.

"I'm telling people that it will be on for good then," said Ellen Warner, who oversees the building's design and construction for David Taylor Interests. "But I have to tell you, after working on this for two years, that hiccups happen."

"Lumetric River" is the first and most visible piece of the $130 million U.S. Bank Tower's ambitious two-part public art project. It uses the the building's five-story, 150-foot-wide crest to capture digital images of rushing river water projected by powerful roof-mounted LEDs.

The water theme continues in the building's atrium with a second piece that uses LED video technology to suggest an abstract waterfall.

Last month the developer and the artist flipped the switch for the rooftop array. They weren't satisfied .

"There were gaps that the average person wouldn't have noticed, but we did," Warner said. "There were a couple of spots where we wanted to add more lights."

Taylor Interests has kept the display offline while the Rancho Cordova unit of Dallas-based Lighting Science Group Corp. manufactures the extra LEDs. Lighting Science built both parts of the U.S. Bank Tower display.

Taylor Interests executive Warner hasn't said how much the company has put into U.S. Bank Tower's art but confirmed it runs into "the hundreds of thousands of dollars."

[TowerDistrict]

Saw the top lit up last night at about 9:30 last night. Either the sky wasn't dark enough, or the LEDs are not bright enough because it's tough to see at all. It was very underwhelming from a distance. From 12th Ave / Sutterville you can't even tell they're on unless you're trying very hard to notice.

Don't want to judge too harshly on something I haven't got a good view of yet - but I can't help but to think what "hundreds of thousands of dollars" spent on other parts of the building may have done for its overall appearance?

[BrianSac]

:previous:
I saw it too at around 10:00pm coming from Davis. I almost got in a freaking accident sticking my neck out the window trying to see it. Those damn trees keep getting in the way, :). I keep hoping for more lights, like maybe they aren't done yet.

After passing it, I threw my head around to get one last look as everyone in the car screamed at me to keep my eyes on the road. :)

[Majin]

I saw it yesterday too, the brightness needs to be at least doubled.

[otnemarcaS]

Now that the artwork has been running for a while, how do people feel about the display? Personally, it does not enliven the skyline or building like I thought it would. I would have preferred to see something with vivid changing colors than the bland soft blue flowing river theme. Heck, the blue neon streaking up the Esquire Plaza building looks much better than the top of 621 to me. And we are not even going to compare to the ziggurat which is just beautiful when lit up at night. Also, my last complaint is why the front display faces motorist heading north on I-5. I drive mostly south into downtown from Natomas and you can see the back of the display for prolong periods of time. When I've driven north into downtown, seems like you can only see the display unobstructed for maybe 5 to 10 secs at freeway speeds near the Q street exit and then not again till you almost exit J street. A dual sided display would have been better.

Just don't get it. The photos in snfenoc's post #69 shows a multitude of colors during the test phase but I have not seen anything but blue everytime I've driven into or past downtown. Has anyone seen any changing colors?

Anyway, all in all, this artwork just fails to impress IMO.

[BrianSac]

:previous:

I agree it fails to impress, but its better than nothing.
I hate to say it but I knew it couldn't be very impressive mainly because the building isn't tall enough and because that billboard thing is geared toward a one-sided view. I would bet $5 that the choice to use blue subdued light was influenced by the the nimrods in this town that would complain about the light being to bright.

I said this before long time ago, but the Mormon Temple in Folsom/Rancho was forced down in height and environmentalists forced the Mormons to reduce the amount of illumination because they said birds would fly into it and kill themselves. What could have been another impressive temple in California like the ones in Oakland, LA, and SD was reduced to obscurity. (i'm not Mormon by the way, but I do appreciate the beauty of Mormon temples)

[sugit]

Like the rest of the building, underwhelming for me. When I do see it, it just looks like it was an afterthought. Like otnemarcaS said, it would be much better if it was dual sided.

I'm a much bigger fan of the Esquire blue neon. Clean, simple, blends into the building well and adds a nice pop.

[urban_encounter]

I've noticed that they're no longer illuminating Wells Fargo Center.

I wonder why?

[innov8]

Wells Fargo has started turning out the lights in July and August in an effort
to conserve energy. We should see them back on this week.

[urban_encounter]

Wells Fargo has started turning out the lights in July and August in an effort
to conserve energy. We should see them back on this week.



Glad to hear that; thanks Mike.


Can't believe i didn't notice til now.

[goldcntry]

:previous:
I said this before long time ago, but the Mormon Temple in Folsom/Rancho was forced down in height and environmentalists forced the Mormons to reduce the amount of illumination because they said birds would fly into it and kill themselves. What could have been another impressive temple in California like the ones in Oakland, LA, and SD was reduced to obscurity. (i'm not Mormon by the way, but I do appreciate the beauty of Mormon temples)

I am, and am in complete agreement with you. It's absolute idiocy to minimize the lighting of the Sacramento Temple - my guess is that the Folsom Auto Mall didn't want competition with their lights (which IMHO are many magnitudes brighter and more apt to attract night flying birds the the single spire of the Temple would have). :hell: But that's what you get when dealing with the Folsom planning commission and "concerned citizens."

http://www.sacfrg.org/images/sleepytomato.gif

[ozone]

Oh gosh. There's nothing to be said for good taste anymore? I personally could care less about lighting a church chain since all of their buildings look pretty much alike -ugly and weird.

[econgrad]

Oh gosh. There's nothing to be said for good taste anymore? I personally could care less about lighting a church chain since all of their buildings look pretty much alike -ugly and weird.

Taste? we are now basing our development regulations based on taste and backing them up with false environmental arguments? Man, I think the development process is ugly and weird....

[goldcntry]

Oh gosh. There's nothing to be said for good taste anymore? I personally could care less about lighting a church chain since all of their buildings look pretty much alike -ugly and weird.

Hmmm... -ugly and weird. Well I guess it's all in the eye of the beholder... :rolleyes:
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m126/goldcntry/SacTemple1.jpg
Great pic taken by Aaron Nuffer last year...

[BrianSac]

:previous:

Nice, but it should have been 3 times as tall and illuminated all night long.