CHICAGO | Boom rundown - everything over 12 floors. v5 - Page 329

Alliance · #**6561** Posted **Mar 30, 2008, 6:55 PM**

Catalyst looks atrocious. The podium is the best part of that building. Ugh...that color is

Good news on 215 W. Washington though. Its the only building under site-prep that I actually WANT to see go U/C.

Tom Servo · #**6562** Posted **Mar 30, 2008, 7:23 PM**

perhaps we should update the first page with this

...and let me just say, WOW. lucian legrange is so awesome. i mean, the park tower was great, X/O awesome, and elysian was just wow. but THIS... this is an overload of architectural prowess! it's a shame nouvel won the pritker, because i think legrange deserves it WAY more than that french hack!

WTH?

the urban politician · #**6563** Posted **Mar 30, 2008, 7:42 PM**

^ Yup. LaGrange keeps saying that Chicago wants the kinds of buildings that he designs, but in reality I think he's just old, lazy and rationalizing his own lameness

Given what I'm seeing in this forum, as well as the mounting frustration that is brewing over these ho-hum towers, I'm hopeful that in another 10 years there will be a changing of the guard and a newer generation will take design in a more daring direction. Increased competition from Asia and Middle East should hopefully help spark such a movement.

honte · #**6564** Posted **Mar 30, 2008, 7:59 PM**

You know, I think the Catalyst has the potential to be one of the ugliest towers built in this cycle (Catalyst for what - mass exodus? Increasedy NIMBYism?).

However, I have to say, I am pleased to see something a bit out of the ordinary.

VivaLFuego · #**6565** Posted **Mar 30, 2008, 8:28 PM**

....my main gripe with Catalyst is that it's continuing the trend of that part of West Loop (east of the expressway being underbuilt. That area is the logical place to extend the ultra-dense downtown core, but with all these squat 20-story condo buildings it will be NIMBY central.

I don't mind things that are unabashedly ugly, generally, it's when they try to hide it that it makes me cringe (e.g. Grand Plaza's spires )

Tom Servo · #**6566** Posted **Mar 30, 2008, 8:48 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by the urban politician

^ Yup. LaGrange keeps saying that Chicago wants the kinds of buildings that he designs, but in reality I think he's just old, lazy and rationalizing his own lameness

the SAD thing is... chicago DOES want his BS.

people are amped on his lincoln park crap trifecta, the elysian, the park tower, and so on... people love lagrange in chicago. and that's the REAL shame.

chicubs111 · #**6567** Posted **Mar 30, 2008, 9:24 PM**

Have we ever got an official height on 215 washington? I know 490 was the orginal number...but i know that usually changes?

Alliance · #**6568** Posted **Mar 31, 2008, 1:20 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by AdrianXSands

the SAD thing is... chicago DOES want his BS.

people are amped on his lincoln park crap trifecta, the elysian, the park tower, and so on... people love lagrange in chicago. and that's the REAL shame.

btw... the funny thing is... he learned everything he does from ADRIAN SMITH when he worked under him at SOM. HAHAHA

I think Adrian Smith should shoot him for crimes against architecture and for bringing down his own reputation with it. Besides X/O, he designs nothing but distasteful infill.

harryc · #**6569** Posted **Mar 31, 2008, 2:16 AM**

Series

guiding the crane

some raker beams still at work on this side.

ColumbusTim79 · #**6570** Posted **Mar 31, 2008, 2:24 AM**

If only they could have pushed 155 N Wacker over 700 ft It will get lost in the other loop buildings

harryc · #**6571** Posted **Mar 31, 2008, 2:29 AM**

Almost UC
This drill motor was waiting to be mounted.

Jibba shows this mounted later in the afternoon - in his Earlier post

More of the old-style re-bar.

harryc · #**6572** Posted **Mar 31, 2008, 3:08 AM**

225 W Vanburen
Overview

Series - higer res

Ohters

Tom Servo · #**6573** Posted **Mar 31, 2008, 3:41 AM**

.

honte · #**6574** Posted **Mar 31, 2008, 5:34 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by AdrianXSands

what reputation? adrian smith is just as bad as lagrange; they both equally tarnish this city's architectural reputation. x/o is awful and needs to be cancelled.

Generally, when you have two or more books written about you and your work (quite beautiful, in fact), that constitutes having a reputation, I'd say. Sometimes, Adrian, you are totally off-base. Just because you don't like his work, now he has no reputation? How did SOM keep reeling in supertalls year after year?

Also, I've been trying to tell you guys, LaGrange did not design X/O.

Anyway, does this have anything to do with Boom Rundown?

Dan in Chicago · #**6575** Posted **Mar 31, 2008, 6:32 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan in Chicago

YES! Jean Nouvel is the greatest. I've been a fan of his ever since the Arab Institute in Paris. Next month the Pritzker Prize should be announced... aren't Nouvel and Helmut Jahn overdue for it?

Ha! I called it!!! This makes me very glad. Nouvel's award raises the prestige of the Pritzker Prize even further. Next year -- Helmut Jahn?

I'm going to take a stance in favor of Catalyst. If it isn't beautiful in the usual way I still find it pleasing. It's in the modernist idiom and has enough variation for visual interest with the irregular overhangs and the nicely perforated carpark. And the colors seem refreshingly different.

Can anyone check the status of 215 West Washington today (Monday)? I'd like to know whether it starts in March or April. Also, what's the latest on The Admiral?

Tom In Chicago · #**6576** Posted **Mar 31, 2008, 2:04 PM**

AdrianXSands - what reputation? adrian smith is just as bad as lagrange; they both equally tarnish this city's architectural reputation.

OK. . . most everyone has had to sit here over the last few months and listen to your clap-trap. . . you have absolutely no idea what you're talking about and have become an annoying pest on these forums. . . if you can't say anything constructive please keep it to yourself. . .

. . .

VivaLFuego · #**6577** Posted **Mar 31, 2008, 2:22 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alliance

I think Adrian Smith should shoot him for crimes against architecture and for bringing down his own reputation with it. Besides X/O, he designs nothing but distasteful infill.

Well, at least there's another forumer who I can count on to consistently outdo me in terms of righteously-indignant hyperbole.

Most people think Park Tower is pretty decent, though I certainly understand not wanting an entire city/neighborhood filled with more clones. Nothing wrong with a little po-mo here and there.

Nowhereman1280 · #**6578** Posted **Mar 31, 2008, 3:45 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan in Chicago

Also, what's the latest on The Admiral?

Nothing as of the last week or so. They have completed demolition and put settlement marks for the cassions, but there is no equipment on site as of Saturday.

BVictor1 · #**6579** Posted **Mar 31, 2008, 4:08 PM**

03/28/08

This was pretty so...

Alliance · #**6580** Posted **Mar 31, 2008, 5:28 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ColumbusTim79

If only they could have pushed 155 N Wacker over 700 ft It will get lost in the other loop buildings

I think its fine. Its a good progression upwards from the surrounding buildings and I don't really think this would make a good centerpiece building.

Quote:

Originally Posted by VivaLFuego

Well, at least there's another forumer who I can count on to consistently outdo me in terms of righteously-indignant hyperbole.

Most people think Park Tower is pretty decent, though I certainly understand not wanting an entire city/neighborhood filled with more clones. Nothing wrong with a little po-mo here and there.

Despite my rhetoric, most firms I can look at some work and say "I kind of like where he was going with that." I can't do that with LaGrange. Park Tower symbolizes an era of the boom that I never wished happened, but thats not the entire point. Even LaGrange's "modern" stuff is horrible. I shudder with fear when I think of that potential office building along LSD.