CHICAGO | The Elysian | 686 FT / 209 M | 60 FLOORS | COM

[Tom In Chicago]

Originally Posted by nergie

Just go home from T.O. and while the glass box is the ubiqitous choice of condo architecture it sure beats the shit Lagrange puts up. Why is it we get crap concrete boxes a faux pomo crap. The TO RC is such a sleek design and we get the pos design. :hel

Although there are a few recent good examples of glassy stuff up there, most of the buildings in T.O. are awful IMO. . . including most of the new glassy ones. . .

. . .

[new.slang]

gotta agree with you Tom. Most of the buildings in TO are shitty...some newer nice ones like the RC, which is infiniteley better than the one you-know-who designed. But overall, i think Chicago got the better end of the stick...some crap buildings but also got beautiful ones like Trump, Aqua and 300 North LaSalle.

[denizen467]

^ toronto ontario ??


Elysian's crown was VE'd to oblivion, but as much as this is an architecture forum, people need to remember to spread blame to the developer, David Pisor, as well. I don't know whether LaGrange remains 20% or 50% or 80% blameworthy for this, but we should always remember that most developers have worse taste than trained architects. And their horizon of emotional/professional investment in a project is only a couple of years -- while architects are stuck with their reputations forever (their only out is to "plant vines" - f.l.w.).

[jc5680]

[Chicagoguy]

It is funny how 10 E Delaware and the Elysian have some of the higher pricepoints of this boom, but I guess that is just who LaGrange attracts. I mean look at Lincoln Park 2520, when built it is suppose to have one of the most expensive penthouses in the city going for something like 40 million. I think the "old money" in this city is drawn to his work.

[VivaLFuego]

Originally Posted by jc5680

You can even see exactly where to hang the tassle...

Seriously, that roof material looks like it belongs on a distribution facility off I-80 near Mokena.

[george]

^ As the song says, "don't do it without your fez on" Part of what fails the fez is the black hole siding. I know there's alot going on under there, but I would rather see the fez sheathed in a lighter colored material, copper or stainless, or better yet, glass panels, which could be illuminated at night.^

[spyguy]

http://www.chicagorealestatedaily.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=36103

Elysian drops condo-hotel plan
By Alby Gallun, Nov. 11, 2009

After months of negotiations with its lender, the developer of the Elysian Hotel & Private Residences has scrapped a plan to sell the project’s 188 hotel suites as condominiums, removing a cloud of uncertainty over the new $280-million Gold Coast high-rise.

[Rizzo]

Originally Posted by VivaLFuego

I actually rather like the material for what it is - but I'd agree with the architect-types (Hayward et al) that I'd rather the precast be presented for what it is rather than as a faux or replacement limestone.

I know you agree with me too an extent.... but I wanted to highlight this is my whole point to Coloprecaster.

And no worries dude, yes I have made design decisions for precast material on plenty of buildings beyond the few you listed. I think it's a beautiful material when it is used in honest expressions. No, I don't believe in creating material imitations and I never will. If a budget can't afford revivalist architecture with limestone cladding and copper cornices, I won't go down that road. With that, I don't think the Elysian should have either It's my personal design philosophy. I express precast on the exterior of building when I find it appropriate, and I don't believe the Elysian was one of them.

You want to expand my posts into something far too complex. I have nothing against precast or the work that you do. If this tower has importance to you because of that, it's your own opinion and respected. However, I do think it is okay to be critical of this tower, hear everyone's opinions and respond to them if we see it differently.

[Dr. Taco]

oh man, that roof is so bad

[Brian.]

Originally Posted by Hayward

I know you agree with me too an extent.... but I wanted to highlight this is my whole point to Coloprecaster.

I'm sorry if you think I was trying to say that your opinion is not valid.

I think it's a beautiful material when it is used in honest expressions.

If I may ask again to get in your head and define "honest" for me. What would a good application to you look like? I guess for me I see it in every shape, size and color on a regular basis and I'll completely admit I have know idea what the material meant to be other than cold gray concrete. As soon as it is altered with color and texture, I guess that would become dishonest?!?!

You want to expand my posts into something far too complex. I have nothing against precast or the work that you do. If this tower has importance to you because of that, it's your own opinion and respected. However, I do think it is okay to be critical of this tower, hear everyone's opinions and respond to them if we see it differently.

I only want to be a voice of reason. I completely accept everyone likes a style for different reasons.

[Lexy]

Originally Posted by VivaLFuego

You can even see exactly where to hang the tassle...

Seriously, that roof material looks like it belongs on a distribution facility off I-80 near Mokena.

Holy crap man that's funny!!!! LMAO!!!!! Here's an intresting shot I got of it while they were finishing up the top floors back during the Spring.

Tell me what you think!

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2652/3936066746_9ef1f789ec_o.jpg

At the time I thought it was a very intresting tower in how slender it is. Still, looks like a nice place to set up a family nest!! Alhough now that it's been brought up, it looks like it should have a tassle hanging off the roof!! LOL!!!!

[evanmack]

they have to build more of these in new york city

[ardecila]

they already did


property investment project

[Nowhereman1280]

Originally Posted by evanmack

they have to build more of these in new york city

I hope that all the rest of "these" do get built in NYC and elsewhere because I'm sick of these turds marring the landscape.

Also the top is truly unforgivable. Originally it was going to be a real material like copper (which would have been sooo dope) or slate, but now its just corrugated aluminium. Can you imagine how nice this tower would look if it had a nice green patina roof after a decade or so?

Has anyone figured out what they are doing in those huge black patches near the top where it looks like they are still installing glass and balconies? What will that black stuff be finished with?

[Rizzo]

Originally Posted by ColoPrecaster

I'm sorry if you think I was trying to say that your opinion is not valid.

I was talking to viva fuego on that one

Originally Posted by ColoPrecaster

If I may ask again to get in your head and define "honest" for me. What would a good application to you look like? I guess for me I see it in every shape, size and color on a regular basis and I'll completely admit I have know idea what the material meant to be other than cold gray concrete. As soon as it is altered with color and texture, I guess that would become dishonest?!?!

A pattern intended mimick or emulate another type of material or construction in a literal sense is dishonest. I prefer to express precast in spatial forms. Different sizes and masses create form. If I wanted materials that have some relief or reveal to them, I'll choose a different type of cladding, metal panels, terra cotta, brick, block, etc, that express lines where the components meet. More expensive materials, yes. Does it work within budgets? With a little convincing, yes. I hope that answers your question

Originally Posted by ColoPrecaster

I only want to be a voice of reason. I completely accept everyone likes a style for different reasons.

Don't quote me and talk about style. I'm not concerned about "style." How many times was that made clear. I care about the choice of materials.

[Brian.]

Originally Posted by Hayward

A pattern intended mimick or emulate another type of material or construction in a literal sense is dishonest. I prefer to express precast in spatial forms. Different sizes and masses create form. If I wanted materials that have some relief or reveal to them, I'll choose a different type of cladding, metal panels, terra cotta, brick, block, etc, that express lines where the components meet. More expensive materials, yes. Does it work within budgets? With a little convincing, yes. I hope that answers your question

I give. I'll finish this with you after you have a few hundred projects under your belt. You have lofty expectations of your clients. Good for you if you tell them you can't design their project because they can't afford you. Stick to your guns.

[the urban politician]

Originally Posted by ColoPrecaster

I give. I'll finish this with you after you have a few hundred projects under your belt. You have lofty expectations of your clients. Good for you if you tell them you can't design their project because they can't afford you. Stick to your guns.

[Rizzo]

Originally Posted by ColoPrecaster

I give. I'll finish this with you after you have a few hundred projects under your belt. You have lofty expectations of your clients. Good for you if you tell them you can't design their project because they can't afford you. Stick to your guns.

Ok

[tulip city madman]

It seems that if some of the original detailing that was shown on the original sketch were applied such as roof spikes that the banal nature of the top would be slightly mitigated. Also the roof seems to have been stretched from the original image giving it odd proportions. This may have been done to accommodate the liquid mass damper.

[original image posted by jc5680]