Salt Lake:Official development news thread

[urbanboy]

This seems like a no brainer to me, the south-east corner of the Convention Center is a poor use of space. Why not build the 1000 room Convention Hotel on Convention Center property, then put the money, which would have been spent to buy extra land, into the hotel. The hotel could even include an extra level of convention space on a second floor with easy access via escalators and elevators. Furthermore, there won't even be a temptation to construct yet another sky-bridge because the hotel would be on the same block. And Arrow Press square will not need to be demolished, preserving the little history we have left.



I think the panoramic views would be better from that location anyway:

[Future Mayor]

It really does make the most sense, without connecting the hotel and the convention center via a skybridge. The best convention center hotels that I have seen tend to have a direct interior connection to the center, and do include additional facilities for meetings.

[arkhitektor]

Here's what the Marriott I sketched up last year would look like on the NW Corner of W. Temple and 200 S.:







Are there any examples of convention centers that work well in an urban setting from any other city? The Salt Palace just seems like a giant sprawling mess to me. I'd be interested if anywhere else they've been able to take a large convention center (which by design has to be huge) and made it fit in with the rest of the city.

[urbanboy]

Good work ark!

Would it be possible to add some other existing buildings to the rendering for more perspective?

[shakman]

Originally Posted by arkhitektor

Here's what the Marriott I sketched up last year would look like on the NW Corner of W. Temple and 200 S.:







Are there any examples of convention centers that work well in an urban setting from any other city? The Salt Palace just seems like a giant sprawling mess to me. I'd be interested if anywhere else they've been able to take a large convention center (which by design has to be huge) and made it fit in with the rest of the city.

I find most convention centers a sprawling mess, but economically very important. The DC Convention Center has streets below, while the convention center is elevated above in order to break apart the continuous bland facade. Though facade of the entrance fits quite well.

The Salt Palace looks quite large from the pics above.

[delts145]

I whole heartedly agree. The hotel should go on that corner. Infact, I think we should begin a bit of a write-in campaign to the Mayor, etc.

[urbanboy]

And to the City Council. Let's do it!

[delts145]

Okay, would someone who keeps track of official e-mail sites be willing to post the appropriate e-mails here for us?

[arkhitektor]

Originally Posted by urbanboy

Good work ark!

Would it be possible to add some other existing buildings to the rendering for more perspective?

Here's a quick look from Google Earth:

[urbanboy]

Beautiful!

I'd even bring the tower right up to the south side on 200 South, similar to the Regent, so there is a continuous verticle from the top to the building, down to the street.

[Makid]

That would help to stretch the skyline to the west a bit more.

Would need to contact the County Council also as they own the convention center, they would need to be included with the decisions to attach to their building.

[SLCforme]

when Urbanboy first proposed that site several months ago I didn't really like the idea but now I'm 100% for it. Without a doubt, that's the best location for a convention hotel, right on top of the convention center, and yes, it would also add more conventions space. Find out who to write to and I'll send a letter.

[arkhitektor]

Originally Posted by urbanboy

Beautiful!

I'd even bring the tower right up to the south side on 200 South, similar to the Regent, so there is a continuous verticle from the top to the building, down to the street.

You're right. I rotated it 180 degrees and it fits much better that way:

[T-Mac]

Very nice work Ark and great idea Urbanboy. I like that a whole lot.

[Future Mayor]

I think forumers should run the city county and state, we have the best ideas and good collaboration.

I love the design of that hotel.

Maybe we could have it be a W or a Hyatt instead. Like I should be picky. Maybe the downtown Marriott on the CCC block could sell to another company and build the new one here.

Philadelphia has a decent size convention center and hotel right in downtown. It is integrated into the historic Reading Railroad terminal which has been converted to the grand ballroom of the convention center on the top floor and a public market on the street level. Great building. The streets of the city run at grade and under the convention center halls.

The convention center in Philly is however not as large as the Salt Palace. 440,000 sq feet of exhibit space (philly) and the Salt Palace is about 510,000 sq ft.

The building on the south is the former Reading Terminal building and the Marriott Convention Hotel is in the red (connected by a skybridge)

[cololi]

I don't think the SE corner of the salt palace is a waste of space. when the convention center is in use, that plaza has a lot of people milling about. When I go to conferences in other cities, I often hate the fact that I can't just go outside sit in the sun and take a break from the meetings. There are very few that I have been to that have a plaza like the one at the Salt Palace. I think usable plazas that are comfortable to be in are one of the unsung features that make places great. SLC has very few plazas where people actually sit down and take a load off.

There are far too many places across the street from the Salt Palace where a convention hotel would do just fine. 200 S is going to become a great street in the not to distant future. A convention hotel will be a great part of that street.

[urbanboy]

Love it ark!!!!

[Stenar]

Originally Posted by urbanboy

And to the City Council. Let's do it!

I think y'all should definitely lobby the city and county to build a convention hotel at the convention center, but you should also be aware that Earl Holding (Little & Grand America) spends tens of thousands lobbying the city, county, the state and our congressional delegation to prevent this very thing from happening. L&G hotels book most of the large conventions in Utah because they're the only hotel properties with enough rooms for large conventions, even though they're nowhere near the Salt Palace.

[Stenar]

Originally Posted by cololi

I don't think the SE corner of the salt palace is a waste of space. when the convention center is in use, that plaza has a lot of people milling about. When I go to conferences in other cities, I often hate the fact that I can't just go outside sit in the sun and take a break from the meetings. There are very few that I have been to that have a plaza like the one at the Salt Palace. I think usable plazas that are comfortable to be in are one of the unsung features that make places great. SLC has very few plazas where people actually sit down and take a load off.

There are far too many places across the street from the Salt Palace where a convention hotel would do just fine. 200 S is going to become a great street in the not to distant future. A convention hotel will be a great part of that street.

I agree completely. While I did just post in another comment that people should lobby the city and county regarding a convention hotel, I don't actually favor putting the convention hotel on this corner. Plaza space is great and my favorite buildings when I lived in NYC were those that had nice, big public spaces out front.

Convention-goers can easily walk across the street. Most of them are regularly going all the way from the Little & Grand Americas, so I think they'll be fine walking across the street.

[ski_steve]

A pretty cool business lure for utah


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