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-   -   SACRAMENTO | 601 Capitol Mall "AURA" | FLOORS | 2005 | NEVER BUILT (https://skyscraperpage.com/forum/showthread.php?t=90073)

innov8 Oct 26, 2005 6:18 AM

SACRAMENTO | 601 Capitol Mall "AURA" | FLOORS | 2005 | NEVER BUILT
 
Aura 38 story residential tower

Provided by enigma99a
http://www.auracondos.com/images/ren...s/BCN90000.jpg http://www.auracondos.com/images/ren...s/BCN91100.jpg

Famed architect focuses on condos
- Dan Levy, Chronicle Staff Writer
Thursday, July 21, 2005

Architect Daniel Libeskind has designed major museums around the world as well as the original Freedom Tower proposal at New York's ground zero.

Now the globe-hopping architect is turning his attention to high-rise housing in Sacramento.

A 38-story condo tower by Libeskind is planned for downtown on Sixth Street near the state Capitol and the Sacramento River.

"Michelangelo built for popes and royalty -- why shouldn't ordinary people have the right to live in a beautiful environment?" Libeskind said Wednesday.

The 262-unit project, dubbed the Aura, has approvals for height, density, parking and other environmental impacts. But the city's Design Review Board won't vote on the tower until Aug. 17, and the Planning Commission still must approve a special use permit Sept. 8.

Whatever happens on the regulatory level, the $128 million Libeskind project is contingent on co-developers Craig Nissi and David Taylor buying the 1-acre parcel from the city by the end of the year.

Nissi, based in Denver, is confident that the land deal will happen. He said he has sold more $5,000 reservations for places in the Aura than there are units in the project.

"I'm 100 percent sure," the land deal will go through, Nissi said. "Our (condo) buyers are sophisticated about the product. They don't want to live in a glass box. They want to live in a great building."

People who get shut out of that building might have a chance to buy units at other Libeskind-designed towers in Sacramento, Nissi added. He said he has options on two parcels in town.

"We have secured other land sites because we are so gung-ho on the city," Nissi said. "We'll make sure you get in to the next project, which will start shortly after the Aura."

The red-hot temperature of the Sacramento housing market has a lot to do with Bay Area residents cashing out of their homes and buying cheaper digs in the capital city.

Another Sacramento high-rise condo project in the works, not far from the Aura site, would have twin 52-story towers.

State officials say Sacramento's population should increase by 38 percent by 2020 as the economy grows and diversifies and as retirees, among other groups, migrate to the city's comparatively slower pace of life.

Nissi said his Aura units, which will cost on average about $488,000 per unit to build, would start in the high $300,000s for a one-bedroom condo. Penthouse units will cost more than $1 million.

Libeskind already has condominium projects under way in Denver, where he also is designing the Denver Art Museum, and in Covington, Ky.

And he isn't the only famous architect getting into the condo game.

Frank Gehry, celebrated designer of the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain, and Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, has signed up to design a 40- to 50-story condo tower across from the Disney Hall.

To Libeskind, it's a natural progression from Roman villa to Sacramento high-rise. "Architects have done the homes of wealthy people for centuries," he said. "Now they are doing condos."

Unlike his twisting 1,776-foot Freedom Tower design, which was ultimately abandoned amid the politicking around ground zero, the Aura will be "crystalline and cut," Libeskind said.

"It will have sculptured forms for the balconies," he said.

Michael York, the Sacramento city planner overseeing the project, said the Libeskind design has taken people aback even as it excites them. "It looks like a double helix," he said. "That's not typical of buildings in downtown Sacramento."

"Prices here are going crazy," York added. "We feel like we're getting as expensive as the Bay Area. That's why (Nissi and Taylor) are marketing condos."
Daniel Libeskind.

(www.Auracondos.com),


http://www.auracondos.com/images/ren...s/BCN90600.jpg http://www.auracondos.com/images/ren...s/BCN90700.jpg

http://www.auracondos.com/images/ren...s/BCN90800.jpg http://www.auracondos.com/images/ren...s/BCN90900.jpg

http://www.auracondos.com/images/ren...s/BCN91000.jpg


Pics by Myself
http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/8731/aura172qe.jpg

http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/6118/aura104eq.jpg http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/7082/aura132br.jpg

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a1...Auranight2.jpg

Aura has posted 'views' from approximately the 28th floor:
Provided by Benhol








Provided by joninsac
http://www.bcndevelopment.com/images/gallery/25b.jpg http://www.bcndevelopment.com/images/gallery/24b.jpg

ltsmotorsport Oct 26, 2005 8:29 AM

Very cool. I'm glad you started this thread. Hopefully we'll see something start very soon.

Chad Oct 26, 2005 12:17 PM

I usually like glass tower, but this one is an exception. The design has gone too far too wired.

But it's great to have one tall glass joing the skyline for sure. Might looks a lot better in real life when finished.

Gulcrapek Oct 26, 2005 1:09 PM

It's too stubby for me, but it's cool.

Lecom Oct 26, 2005 1:47 PM

Does Libeskind create each of his designs by taking a glass box and slamming it with a hammer a few times?

GrowinUp Oct 26, 2005 2:20 PM

Setting up shop at Aura site???

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...y/100_0040.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...y/100_0039.jpg

colemonkee Oct 26, 2005 5:52 PM

In that first rendering, it shows the parking garage fronting Capitol Mall??? Why wouldn't they flip the building around?

ltsmotorsport Oct 26, 2005 6:57 PM

I think they wanted it to front L street, so that the condos would have some space between them and 621. I see where you're coming from though. At least there will be retail on the CM side under the garage.

skyscaper mamma Oct 26, 2005 8:05 PM

The workers on 6th are putting in the offsite utilities for 621 & Aura

Stephenapolis Oct 26, 2005 8:15 PM

That place is going to offer some fantastic views. I still love the design too. It is busy, but not too distracting.

Jularc Oct 26, 2005 8:19 PM

Oh I LOVE the desing! Wait to go Sacramento!!!

sugit Oct 26, 2005 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skyscaper mamma
The workers on 6th are putting in the offsite utilities for 621 & Aura

Welcome Mamma!

Nice! I was wondering what that was for. How did you find out?

Construction Guy Oct 27, 2005 1:05 AM

Why don't the "views" to the West show Saca's twin towers?

skyscaper mamma Oct 27, 2005 3:23 AM

Thanks for the welcome, you're such a friendly group. I heard from a reliable source about the utilities.

innov8 Oct 27, 2005 3:49 AM

Good to have you on board skymama:D

The twin towers are not in the views because they have not
been built yet... right;)

STERNyc Oct 27, 2005 5:08 AM

Beautiful, simply amazing. Congrats Sac-town.

ltsmotorsport Oct 27, 2005 5:20 AM

Yeah, I think this will be one of the favorite towers in Sac once it's finished.

urban_encounter Oct 27, 2005 6:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeCom
Does Libeskind create each of his designs by taking a glass box and slamming it with a hammer a few times?

Though I love Aura, I have to admit this is funny. (and perhaps there's some truth to it)



:haha:

urban_encounter Oct 27, 2005 6:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Construction Guy
Why don't the "views" to the West show Saca's twin towers?


Perhaps because they haven't been built yet................


More importantly; why in the rendering do they have snow caps on the coastal range???

;)

James Bond Agent 007 Oct 27, 2005 7:20 AM

This thing is just soooo cool!!


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