Staunton - A Google SketchUp City

[toyota74]

Good stuff out of you Patrick....great
sketchup craftmanship.

[Patrick]

Thanks guys! :yes:

Amazing. Love the urban feel to it. Looks like you already have a lot of the downtown finished.

Just wondering, what render settings do you have Staunton on?

So far I only have 8 blocks down, there's much more to come! I usually mess with the different settings, so far I don't have a set rendering setting, they all seem relatively simular to me!

Density!

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g266/pag293/neatcopy.jpg

[BoiseAirport]

Incredible work, as always!!! :)

The more I look at Staunton, the more it reminds me a bit of the way Gotham City was featured in the film "Batman Begins." I hear ya though on the Sketchup crashes, it's a huge inspiration killer for me when I have an idea and I'm building it out, and I get that stupid error report. As much as I love Sketchup, I so wish it could handle some of the complex modeling I do.

Still though, with each post you continue to blow me away with not only how intellegently detailed you've made Staunton, but how consistently you're modeling it with such a high standard. It really feels like a city that could realistically exist in an alternate timeline. :)

[Dac150]

Very cool to see this back in action . . . I like your new approach and I look forward to seeing much more . . . feels like I'm back in summer '07. ;)

[verticalextropy]

! IT'S ALIVE! So happy the mother of all cities is back up giving us inspiration!

[verticalextropy]

The Wilson City Center is very beautiful and gate-like, the suspended curved volumes are hot. But the little arch connecting both towers doesn't fit - at all. You can't have the slight curves of the towers and the perfect semicircle of the connecting arch at the same time. I'd drop the arch and replace it by some other kind of lobby gate with a similar curve to that of the towers.
Maybe replace the arch with something like this (http://www.hoteliernews.com.br/HotelierNews/Hn.Admin/UpLoads1/Imagens/2010/1203/923ecc0e-8194-4941-8c25-16d4b748841a/hilton-1oooo.jpg) and this (http://www.aci.aero/aci/aciworld/img/Buenos%20Aires/BUEHIHI_Hilton_Buenos_Aires_gallery_welcome.jpg).

[Patrick]

Incredible work, as always!!! :)

The more I look at Staunton, the more it reminds me a bit of the way Gotham City was featured in the film "Batman Begins."

AH! I love Gotham City in the Christopher Nolan films, Staunton is very much feeding off that Gotham City vibe! Thanks!

I've been so busy, working 7 days a week at 2 jobs and being a full time college student, alas, Staunton is still very much alive! Still slowly working on the East End of the financial district, which is home to mainly filler buildings. Livingston Square is where Galcorp and most of the 600+ foot skyscrapers will be located. Livingston Square should be the next district in line, so stay tuned!

http://i55.tinypic.com/ruuut1.jpg

[Patrick]

Hey guys, just wanted to let you know that Staunton is still very much alive, and I am working on it! I think about Staunton all the time in class, frequently sketching up new ideas. As you guys know I hate showing the undeveloped areas of Staunton and much of the crown of Downtown is still very much undeveloped which is why I'm not updating so frequently. The Financial District is coming along quite nicely. I also finished the Leadenhall Building-insipired Galcorp addition, which was completed in 2006, a fresh new 21st Century face in the skyline, one of my favorites I'm sure you all will love it! Expect pictures very soon! :yes:

[Patrick]

By the early 2000's, ever-expanding Galcorp had the sufficient demand for more office space downtown. One Galcorp Plaza was already fully occupied serving as Galcorp's World Headquarters and home several other major financial-based tenants. Galcorp's leaders pushed for an office annex across the street to accommodate the growing company's needs, named Two Galcorp Plaza.

http://i39.tinypic.com/qs4nkl.jpg

After several height reductions and redesigns, city officials finally approved a 749 foot, 45 story design featuring a distinctive sloping wall and cross bracing. The architects of Two Galcorp Plaza tried to minimize the impact of the building's shadow and bulk with it's right-triangle shape, making up for One Galcorp Plaza's infamously large intimidating appearance in the skyline.

http://i43.tinypic.com/vmvplf.jpg

The building started construction in 2002 and opened in 2005 to much praise from critics and locals alike. Two Galcorp Plaza shares it's lot with several other refurbished historic office buildings to the south and features a sweeping sunlight filled lobby. Please note in this last image One Galcorp Plaza has been hidden, it would be located directly to the right of Two Galcorp Plaza.

http://i39.tinypic.com/14bopz8.jpg

Also seen in pictures I & II is The Aphrodite, completed in 1998, a super-luxurious condominium that serves as a residence for the Chairmen & CEO's of Downtown Staunton, located between One Galcorp Plaza and the Gloucester Building, within walking distance of the Stock Exchange and Livingston Square. It rises 691 feet, 63 stories.

[Dac150]

I like that your new layout has an identity of its own; I don't look at these shots and see obvious resemblance of any city . . . . keep up the good work, the flow is great.

[Flamesrule]

Amazing!

[Patrick]

Thanks guys!

I like that your new layout has an identity of its own; I don't look at these shots and see obvious resemblance of any city

:banana:

http://i44.tinypic.com/5x7wab.jpg

[Flamesrule]

Amazing stuff, Patrick!

[Jarrod]

Yay! I"m excited to see the progress again :D AWESOME FRIGGIN' JOB!

[Foun10Head-X]

Excellent texturing, modelling work on Staunton. It's been awhile since I hopped on over to SSP. Hope to see more.

Happy Holidays.

[Fluffybagel]

Wow, you put lots of work into this, I can tell. Very distinctive layout, love it!:tup:

[Flamesrule]

I miss this project.

[Vellu]

Good to see this one's still going on! Looking really good - maybe better than ever.

[Patrick]

Staunton is still semi-alive! I have all these ideas for Staunton but not enough time to model them! I promise i'll post some new updates a.s.a.p. :yes:

[Flamesrule]

Can't wait to see your next update!

[Derek]

I purposely haven't checked on Staunton's status in a long time. It continues to amaze me. :)

[Pingyao]

Damn you Derek, I thought Patrick had done an update!:haha:

[dansgas1000]

This is one of the best cities on here :)

Keep up the good work, can't wait for another update

[Codster121]

Hi patrick, your city is awesome, in fact it is so awesome it has inspired me to build my city of Lakeport, it has a thread so you can see it.

i'm not so good at highway ramps though, here is a picture of my city:

http://i1361.photobucket.com/albums/r671/Codster121/Lakeport-Centurybridge_zps31804e11.jpg

Link to my other models (i also build works of art on 4 wheels):

http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/search?uq=1304000089455495697621172&scoring=m

[Patrick]

Happy to announce that after 2 years of no progress (and completely falling off the SSP radar)

Staunton is back baby!!! :notacrook:

After looking over the thread countless times in the past few months, I realized that I put all this time into Staunton and yet never saw it finished. It's sad because I came so close several times only to start fresh instead of continue on. I'm hoping to complete Staunton once and for all, including neighboring cities Jefferson and New Ganton. I have plenty of ideas to keep me rolling for the next few weeks and an awesome layout already. Hopefully there are a few people out there who still check in on this sub-forum every once in a while, I really do miss the days of an active SSP sketchup community, maybe there's hope for a renaissance! :shrug:

Anywho, here is Staunton as of now, as you can see not much has changed in the past 2 years. I just recently started working on the area to the front/right of Galcorp. Expect a few more po-mo skyscrapers in this area, the older part of the financial core will rise up in the empty space in the back-center. I'm trying to stay away from old Staunton classics and design completely new buildings instead (with the exception of Gloucester and Galcorp, of course) so this should be fun! :yes:

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g266/pag293/stauinoo_zpsa9a9fe4a.jpg

Here are some street level renders, nothing too cray as the city is still very small, but check out these sexy canyons!

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g266/pag293/stauntonisback_zps217ab1cc.jpg

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g266/pag293/stauntion_zpscb28757f.jpg

Stay tuned!!!

[Derek]

It's about time! :)

[BoiseAirport]

YES! :banana:

Patrick, I'm not even joking, your work on Staunton indirectly had a pretty profound influence on my life (I don't think I'm the only one either). I recall it really kickstarted cityscape creation on SSP. Those days when we all had Staunton, Palm Dunes, San Felix, Scottsburg, Gold Coast City, etc. all going... man those were some good times. Not only that, but I know for me at least it kept inspiring me to see how far I could push Sketchup in realism and detail.

My enjoyment from those days ended up being a huge reason why I switched my major in college. Not only that, but I put a lot of my SSP Sketchup modeling work in my portfolio, and it was part of why I got hired at the design firm I'm currently working for.

So, for that... Thank you for working on Staunton, and I'm glad to see it back! :D

[gregSt]

Great news, can't wait to see the next update!

[Skydragon42]

I've always liked this city (I've been lurking here for a long time, I remember Sun city;) ) Anyway keep up the good work:) And check out my city if you like.

[Vellu]

Wow, this happened a lot faster than I could've hoped for! The start looks very promising. I think that even when you're using textures of the same quality as in the previous version, this version still looks clearly better and more realistic - a difficult thing to accomplish considering the previous versions of Staunton were incredible themselves. It's easy to tell that you haven't stopped studying cityscapes while you've been on your Staunton break.

Great to have Staunton back!

[Patrick]

Wow thanks for all the positive feedback you guys, really, it means a lot! :')

BoiseAirport, I am honored that Staunton has influenced your life in that way! I am more than inspired to continue on with Staunton after reading your response, what did you end up switching your major to anyways?

~~~

I've been working on the northeast corner of downtown, known to locals as Callahan Point, here is where you will find some of Staunton's most prestigious office real estate. This part of the financial district was majorly abandoned in the 1960's as companies moved to the several new boxy towers that started popping up in midtown. The completion of One Galcorp Plaza in 1979 signaled a new renewed interest in the area. During the height of the 1980's real estate craze, developers quickly started buying and demolishing blocks of old dilapidated buildings to make room for gleaming postmodern skyscrapers. Today the area is the pinnacle of the Staunton skyline, anchored by One Galcorp Plaza.

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g266/pag293/sunssseot_zps42299b60.jpg~original

One Galcorp Plaza, at 1169 feet and 83 stories, it is by far Staunton's tallest building. It is the tallest building outside of New York and Chicago, 6th overall in the nation. In the 1970's, mega-conglomorate, Staunton-based Galcorp was starting to becoming one of the most profitable enterprises in the world. It was decided that the company would move it's headquarters to one central building. Originally planned as the tallest in the US, city officials and locals shortened the tower to it's current height. The twin antennas, which were added in the years after it's completion, bring the total height to 1366 feet.

When it was completed it was very negatively received by the general public. The building and landscaped plaza replaced Staunton's original city hall, which had not been landmarked. Despite a preservation battle, the building was no match for Galcorp. It's destruction led to a much needed landmarking frenzy across the city, saving many historical buildings from simular fates. Today, One Galcorp Plaza is considered a Staunton icon, it has been integrated into the city's culture as a permanent fixture on the city skyline. The 80th floor observation deck is a popular destination for tourists and locals, providing sweeping views of Jefferson and New Ganton. The plaza is also popular lunchtime hangout, an underground concourse filled with retail and restaurant space is located beneath the building.

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g266/pag293/gally_zpsb3ce7d8b.jpg

After One Galcorp Plaza was completed the neighborhood saw a renaissance, old run-down buildings were replaced with towering office buildings with large lavishly landscaped plazas. I am trying to model a small portion of this area after Bunker Hill in Los Angeles, where I am drew my inspiration for the two major skyscrapers in Callahan Point, the AtlantiCorp Center and the Worthington Place.

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g266/pag293/wayup_zps257a7eaa.jpg

Completed in 1986, the 922 foot, 63 story AtlantiCorp Center stands as the 3rd tallest building in Staunton (for now). You may recognize this building from past incarnations of Staunton as the ELFThompson Center. I've increased the height of this bad boy, renamed it, and gave it a much more prominent place in the skyline, this building is huge! Located right next door is the 816 foot, 53 story Worthington Place, completed in 1989, it serves as the regional headquarters for Worthington Enterprises. This elegant postmodern beauty is known for it's two giant "W" logos placed on the north and south facades that illuminate the night skyline. The other two skyscrapers that make up this super dense cluster are Two Galcorp Plaza (2006) and the AmeriBank Center (2002).

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g266/pag293/atlanti_zps2d1c7cb3.jpg

As you can see, Staunton is no longer stuck in the past! Start expecting more 21st century buildings here and there, I'm ready to bring Staunton to the iPhone age!

Stay tuned for more! :tup:

[BoiseAirport]

BoiseAirport, I am honored that Staunton has influenced your life in that way! I am more than inspired to continue on with Staunton after reading your response, what did you end up switching your major to anyways?


Awesome! I was previously an English major, but I was neither particularly great at it nor was I enjoying myself. Took a year off and came back as a Graphic Design major. Never looked back. If you'd ever like any help with logo design, signage or branding for the fictional companies that populate Staunton let me know! :D

[Patrick]

Awesome! I was previously an English major, but I was neither particularly great at it nor was I enjoying myself. Took a year off and came back as a Graphic Design major. Never looked back. If you'd ever like any help with logo design, signage or branding for the fictional companies that populate Staunton let me know! :D

Hey me too! I love graphic design and all but working on Staunton lately has made me really yearn for a career in the architectural field. I go to the ASU school of design, which is connected to the school of architecture, so every day I pass by scale models former students have done and drool over them. I feel my true passion is in architecture but I am just not that good in math and other technical things whereas graphic design just comes to me naturally. If you have any logos of fictional companies you designed feel free to send them to me so I can adorn them atop some of my skyscrapers! :yes:

~~

So I have been working on Staunton pretty frequently lately. I'm constantly thinking of new ideas for Staunton, I haven't felt this inspired in a while and it feels great!

I have been focusing on the city's financial heart, the skyline starting to resemble the original 2006 version. RC&T, Sloan Pharmaceuticals, and Kent Plaza are back from the dead. RC&T has been reduced in size but now has a much more prominent location in the skyline. Kent Plaza has been jacked up an extra 200 feet or so making it the 4th tallest building in Staunton. The small two-block park in the center will be Livingston Square and the empty block just to the left of Galcorp Plaza will house one of the city's grand cathedrals.

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g266/pag293/financial_zps0c4adb7b.jpg~original

Here we see the start of the Staunton Expressway (David Aldrich Expressway) I'm excited to finally introduce freeways to Staunton, something the city has always lacked. The expressway is still in it's preliminary stages, expect to see onramps/offramps and exit signs soon!

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g266/pag293/expresswway_zpsd73c43c0.jpg~original

The city's tallests viewed from the Stock Exchange District (Stock Exchange is the green capped building to the bottom of the picture). 1 Allied American Plaza has also made it's way back into Staunton (on the left).

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g266/pag293/coree_zpsb2de8239.jpg~original

Watch out for more updates! :tup:

[Pzuriz]

cool as always! I started making a freeway in Grace City too, hehe, i hope it helps the traffic. BTW,what is GALcorp dedicated to?

[Austin55]

Smexy

[Vellu]

Great stories and great pictures! Perfect! The skyline looks very interesting with the different heights, shapes and architectural styles. The prominence the Galcorp Plaza has in the skyline is fantastic! You can really feel the power Galcorp had (and maybe still has) at the time it was built. My favorite shot is the one looking towards the sky with the four towers rising from the corners.

[Patrick]

Thanks for the comments guys!

The heart of the financial district is finally coming together. Here is where some of the largest buildings in the city in terms of floor space are located.

Looking down Market Street toward the Staunton Stock Exchange.

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2863/9994709315_440e688efb_h.jpg

One Allied American Plaza and GrantProvident Square towering over the financial district.

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5542/9994106574_2793c125e7_h.jpg

Callahan Point, with the imposing facade of the AtlantiCorp Center in the foreground.

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3684/9994109504_30c1706249_h.jpg

Looking east down Warner Street, Sloan Insurance is to the right.

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3700/9994111374_5491be3ad7_h.jpg

[Skydragon42]

The city is looking really good:tup:

[Patrick]

The skyline is finally gaining some mass, time for a skyline shot!

Looking South beneath the Ganton Bridge.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7331/10045141135_3c06b811ca_h.jpg

[Skydragon42]

The city is looking good:tup:

[Vellu]

Nice skyline shot! The Galcorp has same kind of presence in the skyline as the old WTC had in NY, but I also like how the AtlantiCorp Center dominates the left side of the skyline.

The canyon shots look great too! I think the Stock Exchange looks even better at the end of that street than the Chicago Board of Trade looks at the end of LaSalle Street.

In some edition of Staunton you had street textures with cars in them. I think especially those canyon shots would benefit from them and make them look even greater.

[Skydragon42]

I just noticed that you have a tower that looks like the Empire state building!
I actually like it the best of all your buildings, keep up the nice work.

[Patrick]

Thank you for the comments guys, I appreciate them, really!

Nice skyline shot! The Galcorp has same kind of presence in the skyline as the old WTC had in NY

I'm really happy you noticed that because that's exactly what I was going for with Galcorp! It's so huge that it can be seen from virtually anywhere in Staunton, just like the Twins!

I just noticed that you have a tower that looks like the Empire state building!

Yup that's the Gloucester Building! It's been with Staunton from the very beginning, it didn't always look that similar to the ESB. After it's makeover the building became a hybrid of the ESB and 500 5th Avenue, both buildings designed by Shreve, Lamb & Harmon, so if Staunton was real it would have been designed by the same firm as the ESB.


~~~

Downtown is getting closer to completion, it just needs a lot of filler buildings and infrastructure. I created a SSP-esque diagram of Staunton's tallest, of downtown's top 12, only 3 have made it from the 2006 incarnation, 5 are from past version, and 4 are completely new. It should be noted that Staunton will eventually have a uptown, so the lineup is bound to change. Before I can get to uptown I still need to model the freeways that encircle downtown, the city's grand cathedral, train station, shopping mall, ferry terminal, and low rise waterfront district. Staunton is finally going to have a grand park again, this is where Fort Staunton and the city's art museum will be located. Fort Staunton Park is going to be huge and will face Jefferson and the south river.

The uptown skyline wont be as tall or big as the downtown skyline but it will have a couple pre-war skyscrapers mixed in with 21st century residential towers (notice all the skyscrapers in downtown are strictly office space). Staunton Square will also be located in uptown but it won't resemble Times Square like it did in the past in terms of the layout (there will still be plenty of advertisements). Midtown is where the civic center will be located. One of the major problems with Staunton in the past is that I never had enough room for a grand civic center. Staunton's new civic center will be huge, I have a pretty good vision of what I want the it to look like so stay tuned, it will be beautiful!!!

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5496/10110616976_e2520292f3_h.jpg

[Pingyao]

Sounds exciting Patrick. Good to hear you've got plans for how to move Staunton forward. Have you created a street network yet for the next phase. It would be interesting to see how you expand from the existing model.

[Pzuriz]

very nice!

[BoiseAirport]

Bravissimo!! :cheers:

I LOVE this render. It makes me feel like a unscrupulous CEO looking down at the miserable peons below. I'll take you up on sending you some fictional company logos. I need stuff to fill my design portfolio anyway and it would be a great challenge. :D

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5542/9994106574_2793c125e7_h.jpg

And of course, you have a very solid vision for what you want Staunton to be, so as a fellow designer I of course won't be offended if you reject anything I make for not fitting in with what you're looking for. If anything I'll just be happy to contribute. :)

Keep it up, it's looking gorgeous!

[Austin55]

This makes me so happy.

One Ferry Plaza is the SEX.

[Patrick]

I haven't yet Pingyao so far only downtown has been mapped out I've just been procrastinating doing it. :P

I'll be waiting for those logos BoiseAirport! I'm sure you get the idea of what kind of companies would reside in Staunton.

And thanks Austin, One Ferry Plaza is a definite favorite of a mine since it's one of my more creative buildings.

~~~

Here's a shot looking west from the Atlantic Ocean, good morning Staunton!

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7357/10133788374_8f1aee9031_h.jpg

[Skydragon42]

The skyline looks very compact to me, I like it from that angle.

[Vellu]

To me the skyline looks better from north than from east. I like to see quite a lot of height variation in a skyline. I have to say, though, that the Galcorp and the Gloucester lurk quite nicely in the back :)

What the latest shot shows very well is that Staunton certainly has a lot of interesting looking buildings from many era's. Very realistic looking. I really hope that someday you will make it to the suburbs, so the downtown skyline can be viewed from a distance.

Any chance of a shot looking up the Gloucester Building with the Galcorp Building in the back?

[mity1021]

Wow!

[Patrick]

Any chance of a shot looking up the Gloucester Building with the Galcorp Building in the back?

Of course! Here are some shots demonstrating the relationship between Staunton's king & queen.

I haven't had much free time at all lately because of school so I don't have anything new to show, but Staunton will finally see it's first train station soon!

Another morning in Staunton...

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5450/10264001775_af0c515185_h.jpg

Lurking in the shadows of the Stock Exchange district.

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5527/10263890814_7c2bd192c1_h.jpg

High above the financial core of the city (Ignore the empty plot in the left-hand corner, this is where the cathedral will rise, if I ever find the time to model it!)

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2878/10264108413_612577b19d_h.jpg

Hanging out at Kent Plaza, looking up at the Gloucester Building with One Allied American Plaza in the foreground.

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3727/10263995616_93b60d8b66_h.jpg

Looking towards the Atlantic Ocean with Staunton's biggest players in the foreground, what a view!

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2847/10263897414_74937ea700_h.jpg

[Pingyao]

Beautiful shots, I love the big city vibe of Staunton. I hadn't realised how dense it was until I saw that aerial.

[Skydragon42]

I like the aerial view, it does show how dense the city is.
I hope you start your cathedral model soon, I'd like to see it;)

[Vellu]

Thanks, Patrick. Those shots are exactly what I was hoping for. Gloucester Building and Galcorp Building fit together really well. My favorite picture is the one looking upwards from Kent Plaza at the Gloucester Building with the Galcorp looming behind.

[Patrick]

Thanks guys!!!

Here is an overview of downtown, I've been concentrating mainly on Terminal Square which can be seen in the foreground. Staunton's Union Station can be seen center-left, connected to the STA (Staunton Transit Authority) Transportation Center. The older building just right of the STA Transportation Center is the U.S. Post Office Building, the Post Office Annex is the three-winged building behind the train tracks.

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2878/10504911864_2b18b070ae_h.jpg

I'll never forget my first impression of visiting Chicago, I got off the train at the LaSalle Street Station and was immediately greeted by The Willis Tower and 311 Wacker Drive, which towered over the LaSalle Street Station, I knew from then on that Staunton's main train station would have to be located by Galcorp Plaza. Many years later this view is finally recreated in Staunton. I wanted to create an iconic view for the thousands of commuters that entered Staunton every morning. Instead of a cathedral I decided to place Staunton's post office in-between Galcorp and Terminal Square. The cathedral will rise in the green space beneath the Gloucester Building in the above photo.

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5501/10504909474_9298b3e326_h.jpg

Staunton's Post Office is notoriously small and needed more space only a few years after it's completion in 1931. This lead to the construction of the post office annex building across the street (seen in the very bottom right corner).

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2878/10504886036_abcf1e1b52_h.jpg

Additional shot of downtown, more soon!

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5521/10504897475_d6d9657550_h.jpg

[Pingyao]

Those large lower rise buildings really help to fill out Staunton and helps to give you some great vista's when looking up. Its amazing what you can do with some blocks and textures. Are you planning on a governmental/courthouse/judicial area like the part around NYC's City Hall? The area in front of the Gilbert building would be great for this.

[Skydragon42]

The city is looking really good, I can't wait to see your cathedral!

[Patrick]

Are you planning on a governmental/courthouse/judicial area like the part around NYC's City Hall? The area in front of the Gilbert building would be great for this.

I am! Staunton's going to get a huge civic center just right of the Gilbert Building, the block directly in front of the Gilbert Building is a thin strip of park, the city's cathederal will be right next to this park in front of One Galcorp Plaza. This overview below should help illustrate what I'm talking about:

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7457/10567373166_79fb2f7215_h.jpg

Here's a shot looking across the STA Railyard at the Post Office Annex Building.

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2857/10567618673_1bc1aa3bc6_h.jpg

On the corner of United American Avenue and Callahan Boulevard.

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2806/10567348975_89e6711fd2_h.jpg

Here's a shot of Terminal Square from the top of the STA Bus Terminal/Parking Garage. The buildings of the civic center (and city hall) will rise behind the buildings on the right.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7321/10567353045_4b5a98a809_h.jpg

[Austin55]

I love trying to figure out what real buildings the textures are from.

[Vellu]

Really great shots once again! The view from Terminal Square towards the Galcorp Building really is iconic. I would love to walk out of Union Station and see that view in real life!

The slightly curving streets lend themselves to some really interesting street views.

[BillM]

My favorites are One Ferry Plaza and Harmon Plaza. I also like Two Galcorp Plaza.

[Shmazzle]

Hey Patrick,
I just got an account on this site, but I have been following this thread for a few months. This city is just amazing. Keep up the awesome work.

[Skydragon42]

Are there any new updates for Staunton city soon?

[Patrick]

Thanks for the comments guys!

I've been really busy with school and haven't had enough time to really focus on Staunton!

Not much new to show just a couple new filler buildings here and there, I did manage to bust out a couple renders:

The downtown waterfront on a crisp early morning.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7430/11071234556_b1bc1bb107_h.jpg

Kent Plaza, surrounded by some of downtown's most prestigious office space.

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Looking south from Ganton with the STA Bus Terminal, Union Station, and the STA Transportation Center in the foreground. The land left of downtown will be home to a low-rise neighborhood.

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The Staunton Bridge is back!

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The sun sets on Staunton's former tallest building, The Gloucester Building.

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The Jefferson Bridge is back also, here you can see the land where Fort Staunton park will be going, Staunton's finally going to get the big waterfront park it deserves, goodnight Staunton!

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[Skydragon42]

I really like your bridge:) I'm going to have to make up my own bridges for my city.

[Jarrod]

This makes me so happy! Awesome work!

[gregSt]

A really perfect skyline from all angles, just beautiful!

[Vellu]

Beautiful bridges! The use of lattices as decorations works especially well. The city itself looks good from every direction. The combination of different shapes, heights and architectural styles is very well balanced, which makes this city very interesting to look at.

[Patrick]

Thank you guys for the comments they keep me motivated :)

I'm proud to re-introduce the start of the Staunton Civic Center!

Staunton's nickname remains "The City of Justice" so it deserves a huge gleaming civic center full of ivory colored buildings. There will be many city government buildings surrounding a large mall-type park that will lead to a very modern Preforming Arts Center. In previous versions of Staunton I was confined to a Lower Manhattan sized CBD, now with the more Sydney-like layout I have much more room.

(L- R) Staunton Police HQ (One Police Plaza), Staunton City Hall, and the Society Building. The Staunton Courthouse will be located on the left in front of One Police Plaza, and the Opera House (which will incorporate a 1930's skyscraper) will be located on the right in front of the Society Building. If your wondering what "SMEX" stands for on that building in the background, that is the Staunton Mercantile Exchange.

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City Hall, the city's crown jewel as viewed from One Galcorp Plaza, at night it is heavily floodlit. The city's cathederal (St. John's) will go in the space in front of city hall.

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Looking down Callahan Boulevard, I really need to name the pomo tower at the end of the street, I'm thinking Terminal Tower, thoughts, suggstions?

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One Police Plaza, home to Staunton's dysfunctional police department overlooking Terminal Square.

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I always pictured the Society Building as this very old civic building that complimented City Hall. You can see this building in older versions of Staunton, it certainly looks a lot better now that it did back then! The significant thing about this building is it's large wrap-around balcony, a popular place for fundraisers, weddings, and parties for the rich and famous. Here is that famous view:

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The Harmon Tower, been with Staunton from the beginning, back then it was called 715 Jefferson I believe. Once a prominent feature in the skyline, it has since been surrounded by it's big boxy neighbors.

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3752/11193316414_9be00af3fe_h.jpg

Skyline update, the Ameribank Center has also returned (pomo building with large dome) behind it are two large city/government buildings I have yet to name the smaller one but the larger one is the City Services Building.

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[Pingyao]

Oh my! Wonderful views of Staunton, its really bulking out nicely! Love the 4th render, epic skyline. Where did the Harmon building spring from and the set backs really look effective.

Can't wait to see how you push the limits of the city wider and start on more low rise smaller scale architecture, will the map revert to more of a grid?

[Vellu]

Great update! The City Hall looks great and I can really imagine what kind of monument of power it felt like in the minds of Staunton's citizens when it was completed. The Society Building is a great pair for it.

Great shots altogether and I especially like the view from that balcony. I can really imagine how those rich and famous folks hold their parties there. :)

The Harmon Building is like the Fuller Building in NY: very nice shape and form and interesting building in itself, but hardly noticeable in the skyline.

[BillM]

I really like the Harmon building too; can't find it in any of the skyline shots. I wish it was more visible!

[Patrick]

Thanks guys!

I had to take a little break from Staunton to get inspired again. To motivate me I finally laid out (most) of the surrounding area:

As we look east towards the Atlantic Ocean, a new neighborhood Staunton Point appears just above downtown. I intend for Staunton Point to be a very old and well preserved neighborhood resting atop a hill. The green spaces will be home to a hilltop park with an obelisk, providing magnificent views of the area. North of downtown (left) will be a more blighted and neglected neighborhood. I have yet to find a grungy name for it, I'm thinking something like "North Park". This area will be home to many abandoned warehouses and paved parking. However it is in the process of being slowly gentrified so watch out for condominium projects rising here and there. South of downtown (right) is Fort Staunton Park. The historic fort will be located on the peninsula. Like Chicago's Grant Park, this park will be home to many of the city's museums and will be a popular hangout spot for Stauntonites.

Please note I've hidden the bridges since they haven't been fully integrated into the model yet, since I still need to build that damn expressway! The Aldrich expressway will wrap around downtown and tunnel into Fort Staunton Park.

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Alright enough chit-chat, here are some skyline shots!

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Here is a comparison shot of Staunton back in 2007. What I love most about Staunton now is the unintentional resemblance to the city's original skyline, before I went in the wrong direction and favored a more Manhattan-like layout.

http://img77.imageshack.us/img77/509/001xq3.jpg

[Skydragon42]

Your city is looking beautiful! I really do like it. So when are you going to make the cathedral? and can we have a preview of it?

[JHoward88]

It's a pretty city you've got there. It's been years in the making, and your patience truly shows. The town hall building is awesome.

I think a mid-height complex styled after Tacoma's County-City Building would fit quite well at the edge of your downtown core.

[BillM]

I could see those areas to the north, south and east becoming interesting neighborhoods. I think they will really enhance the city.

Curious to see how the expressway pans out. Personally, I hope it doesn't follow that mid 20th century model that plagues several mid sized American cities.

Looking forward to updates.

[Pingyao]

Great map, reminds me a little of Sydney with the park jutting into the water and buildings wedged up against it. I wonder - it would be really cool if you could create terrain for that park, give Staunton an extra dimension.

[Codster121]

What an amazingly realistic and beautiful city, you should try making some buildings from Minneapolis and putting them in staunton, Minneapolis has a nice skyline, the tallest building is the IDS Center which is 792ft built in 1973, and Capella tower, which is 776 ft built in 1992. I also posted some more pictures of my city.

[mity1021]

I love Staunton!

[Vellu]

Every shot shows really well, that the Galcorp and the Gloucester really are the king and queen of this city. I also like the Atlanticorp Buildings role in the skyline.

Waiting to see some of those surrounding areas. The skyline will look even better when the downtown is surrounded by lowrises.

[Shmazzle]

It's sad this forum is dead. Staunton was such a great city.

[Skydragon42]

It's sad this forum is dead. Staunton was such a great city.

Yes! It really was a great city model! I was a lurker here in the forums hayday, and wish my city could get as much attention as the old ones did.

[Codster121]

I found staunton, and it inspired me to build a city of my own.

Now, my city might outgrow Staunton. :(

[verticalextropy]

And over time it gets better and better and better!
Patrick in this forum we respect the Laws of Thermodynamics!

[Codster121]

Please work on Staunton, because my city might be the fastest growing city on this forum, i don't want my city to outgrow Staunton. :(

I would like Galcorp to be in my city too, since i want my cities to be in the same universe as Staunton, and to help revive this forum, it needs more cities, and i have about 30 fictional cities that can have individual threads of their own, and i will update each city whenever possible.

Can i use your textures from your 3d warehouse buildings?

Btw, the tallest building in my state is the IDS Center, which was built in 1972, which Lakeport's tallest building is going to be heavily based on it, btw i updated Lakeport, and there will be another update very soon, since i am going to update my city as frequently as possible.

[Patrick]

So it's been about two years since I touched Staunton, my life has been so busy that there's simply no time for Sketchup! I was so inspired by Vellu's amazing work on Halvoo that I decided to dust off Staunton and continue working on it during my down time. Now that it's summer and things have slowed down, I hope to get as much of Staunton modeled before I head back to school in the fall.

I'll give you guys a more formal update once I have more new material to show, but for now here are some renders to refresh you all on Staunton's atheistic!

Good morning Staunton! In the center of the image we have towers The Ferry Plaza. To the right, I've renamed the Atlanticop Center to Lewis & Clark Plaza (Staunton's equivalent of Wells Fargo).

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Looking at the heart of the city, we see some of Staunton's most cherished pre-war beauties. Starting on the left, we have the Gilbert Building, City Hall, the Society Center, and Harmon Tower.

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Terminal Square with Staunton's postmodern jewels, Terminal Tower and Worthington Center in the center. I'm not satisfied with this area and plan on revamping it, expect a redesigned train station in the near future.

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The North End in all it's glory, looking south we can see the newer part of downtown with it's healthy stock of postmodern buildings. To the left we have the Galleria Center and the Coppers Center. They are the latest additions to the skyline.

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In contrast, when viewing the city from the south you can see more of Staunton's pre-war buildings that lie within the Stock Exchange district. The Jefferson Bridge is absent from this shot (I have yet to work on the freeway system).

https://c6.staticflickr.com/8/7718/27443594165_e55aa1c9ae_h.jpg

Well that's all I have for now, I'd like to thank all the support I've gotten from SSP over the years, there would be no Staunton today without it! Long live the Google Sketchup subfourm!

[verticalextropy]

That last "ferry view" image is priceless
Staunton's looking much better than the actual Lower Manhattan.... I specially like that 80s-90s style of partial cladding as seen on Lewis and Clark and VD.

[Vellu]

Great to have Staunton back, even if it's just for the summer! The views are stunning, the density is remarkable! Every building looks very realistic and the balance between landmark buildings and more ordinary buildings - "fillers" - is just about perfect.

The last shot: nice photoshopping! I think this kind of waterfront works really well with Staunton's skyline.

Terminal Square with Staunton's postmodern jewels, Terminal Tower and Worthington Center in the center. I'm not satisfied with this area and plan on revamping it, expect a redesigned train station in the near future.

https://c8.staticflickr.com/8/7343/27371679551_45dd9a69a6_h.jpg


I actually very much love this view! The post-modern beauties in the middle and the massive Galcorp Plaza looming in the background!

[Codster121]

Staunton looks like a real city recreated in Sketchup.

I'll make some highway ramps and interchanges for Staunton if you want, i need to make them anyway for Lakeport, and other cities.

[mity1021]

Absolutely incredible city.

[Patrick]

Thank you guys for the feedback, Codster121 I might take you up on that offer. My focus is currently on getting Downtown completely modeled so I can wrap it with infrastructure.

MERCHANT'S HILL

What was once a densely packed district thriving with business, Merchant's Hill fell largely unpopular and abandoned by the late 1960's. In an effort to bring back interest to the city center, Staunton city planners proposed leveling out the hill and demolishing blocks of old buildings to be replaced with new office development. Merchant's Hill's large new parcels of land ready for development attracted many corporations to build their Staunton headquarters in a recovering Downtown.

The large scale destruction of an entire neighborhood led to a massive preservation movement that led to the landmarking of many historic building across the city. With the loss of the urban fabric that once made up Merchant's Hill came Downtown's first wave of postmodern architecture. Gone were the alleyways and lowrise buildings, replaced with towering class A office space surrounded by landscaped plazas.

In this shot below, Merchant’s Hill is considered to be everything left of One Galcorp Plaza.

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I have redone the STA Center and Union Station and switched their positions. Union Station was completed in 1926 and is considered one of Staunton’s most cherished landmarks. The decaying structure was saved by a swift preservation movement following the large scale demolition of the surrounding neighborhood in the 1970’s. The Staunton Transit Authority proposed expanding the station across the street and constructing a new building to serve as their headquarters. In 1985 the STA Center opened for business with a newly restored Union Station. The STA Center also houses the first shopping mall to be built on Merchant’s Hill. The success of the STA Center Mall helped revitalize the district and inspired developers to build the Staunton Place Mall just a few blocks over.

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Terminal Tower has been expanded to fill the whole block, which will now go by Station Place. In response to the success of the STA Center, the mixed-use Station Place was finished in 1989, complete with an office tower, hotel wing, and shopping atrium.

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The rush to preserve the remaining pre-war buildings on Merchant’s Hill led to the landmarking of Block 40. City planners and developers often spoke of tearing down the block and either uniting Galcorp Plaza with Terminal Square or constructing new development. Today, the block is dwarfed by surrounding buildings and is now a part of one of Staunton’s most iconic and photographed views. Everyday thousands of commuters are greeted by this magnificent view of Downtown's skyscrapers towering over Terminal Square as they exit Union Station.

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With the success of the neighboring STA Center and Station Place, developers started to see Merchant’s Hill as Staunton’s next great shopping district. Developers proposed The Staunton Place, a five story, three building shopping center. The first building opened in 1991, the other two were both open by 1993. While the mall has had it’s ups and downs economically, it remains largely successful thanks to it’s prime location near the waterfront.

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The Liberty Building was once Staunton’s tallest building, completed in 1913 it has long been surpassed by neighboring skyscrapers. The building stood vacant for a decade until it was restored and converted into lofts in 2000, reopening as Liberty Lofts.

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Two Galcorp Plaza is considered to be the final piece of the Merchant’s Hill Redevelopment Plan. The long-delayed controversial tower was finally finished in 2006, marking an end to over three decades of construction on Merchant’s Hill.

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Well that's all for now, my next update will focus on the Financial District which I have also been working on. :)

[Codster121]

So pretty, must make moar pretty skyscrapers. xD

Does Two Galcorp Plaza take inspiration from the Leadenhall Building in London? it looks like a big blue cheesegrater too. :)

Also, the history of Merchant's Hill sounds similar to the Gateway District in Minneapolis during the 1960s, when nearly a quarter of the city was demolished.

[Skydragon42]

This city is the best!

I remember when it was first posted!

I was not a member then, and did not have a computer that could run sketchup, but this city and Sun city inspired me to make my own someday!

I wish Sun city was still on here, but now theres my city!

[Vellu]

Outstanding update! I really love the low rise historic block among the gigantic skyscrapers. The stories behind the pictures are great.

The view from the Terminal Square towards the One Galcorp Plaza is breathtaking! It would be amazing to see this kind of view in real life.

I'm really looking forward to seeing the Financial District.

[JMGA196]

How do you manage to keep sketchup working with so many textures?

[Mocholate]

Patrick, still kickn and rippin it. You must be like 60 y.o now?

[JHoward88]

Staunton represents a great work of faith and devotion. As a project which has spanned nearly a decade, it epitomizes the spirit of the Sketchup community. Patrick, your work and dedication to the urban form is inspiring and beautiful. I look forward to seeing more updates, if and when they come.

[verticalextropy]

I echo the last post, Patrick it just gets better and better.
I always like large scale detailed shots, but that pic of the Liberty Building at dusk is absolutely fantastic. Gotham Ultra.

[Patrick]

Hello everyone! After a 2 year hiatus, Staunton is back in business!

It's hard to believe Staunton is nearing it's 11 year anniversary. Seems like it was just yesterday when I was a junior high student messing around with Sketchup. Now in my mid-20's, my vision of Staunton remains largely the same. I still dream of finishing this fictional city of mine and in time I'm sure I can but I know that's still a ways away. I'm happy with this version of Staunton (the 7th reincarnation) and finally feel the city has an identity of it's own.

I miss our active little community we once had in this sub forum, if you guys are still out there I just wanted to say thanks for helping me along the way with this passion project. Staunton would have never continued for as long as it has without the feedback and input from this sub forum.

~~~

Keeping up with the times, Staunton is no longer the dilapidated metropolis in the midst of a recession. Today, Staunton's economy is healthier than ever and is in the midst of a renaissance. Downtown is cleaner than ever and is experiencing a large influx of new residents and residential development. However the city still stuffers from a large presence of organized crime and a corrupt city government and police department.

Checking in on the eastern end of Downtown in the early morning. Exchange Place, Staunton's old financial core, can be seen in the center.

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The most significant recent addition is the Arquette Building, Staunton's 4th tallest building. Completed in 1929, it housed offices for the city until it was converted to luxury condominiums in 2017.

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Located just steps from City Hall, residents of the building enjoy a convenient centralized location with unparalleled views of the city.

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Looking east towards the Atlantic we see the wealthy suburb of Brighton to the left and to the right we see Artillery Park. Staunton's lush waterfront park is home to several museums, a zoo, botanical gardens, and historic Fort Staunton.

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As the sun sets on Staunton we see the Financial District, an area that saw many boxes go up during the 1960's and 70's. The three main buildings in the foreground from left to right are the Pence Pharmaceuticals Plaza, Staunton Title & Trust Center, and the Grant Provident Building.

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That's all I have for now! I have exciting plans for the civic center including a performing arts complex (a first for Staunton!) and two low rise neighborhoods. Callahan will be a former industrial neighborhood north of Downtown that is experiencing major gentrification and Artillery Hill, a charming waterfront neighborhood home to some of the city's oldest buildings.

Stay tuned!