[observer]

The louvers and blow through floors have received a good bit of comments over the last year or so, with debates on them being appropriate or not. I don't recall seeing a lot of comments though on the unremarkable nature of the base of the building. I think initial concepts for the building had a more grand gesture, similar to what was called for in the original master plan for this site (a gateway element of sorts visually connecting the Lakeshore East Park with river). Not sure that was ever going to be the right solution, but in my opinion the base of the building is completely unremarkable from the pedestrian experience side. Yes, one can look up and experience the delightful massing of the building, but once you look forward again, there is little in the way of upgraded details/materials/pedestrian space. This is not an office building, granted, where the omission of an upgraded pedestrian experience on an iconic tower would be almost criminal, but even so, it may be the uninspired and under improved base of the building that ultimately captures the most criticism when the building is complete and not the louvers or blow through floors. I am surprised this has not been discussed or called out more (if it has, I missed it, and my apologies for missing the discussion!).