Staunton - A Google SketchUp City

[Vellu]

Great thing you've introduced elevation into Staunton. That's another thing that will make this extremely realistic looking.

The Arqunette Building is a great Art Deco tower, and I really like the idea of a reclad historic building. It realistically explains why a modern looking building is so narrow.

Why there is a big blank wall without windows facing a street on the Gloucester Building? Only explanation I can think of is that there was originally an adjacent building, but it was torn down to make way for a street and the Galcorp building.

[BoiseAirport]

Woop! Staunton is back in business! And the new buildings are great! I'm excited to see your trademark ability to produce excellent skyline shots with this new Staunton. I dig it.

The forum is really starting to come back to life again, I love it!

It's too bad, though, this forum isn't the same without Mocholate and his libido for skyscrapers.

[Dac150]

Looks great; be nice to see more though.

[toyota74]

Staunton is ingrained in this forum...one
cant be without the other.

[Patrick]

Originally Posted by Vellu

Why there is a big blank wall without windows facing a street on the Gloucester Building? Only explanation I can think of is that there was originally an adjacent building, but it was torn down to make way for a street and the Galcorp building.

Ignore that, I haven't done the block for the Gloucester Building yet, it's just a placeholder to show it's effect on the skyline.

Originally Posted by ThatKidFromBoise

It's too bad, though, this forum isn't the same without Mocholate and his libido for skyscrapers.

Where is Mocholate anyways?

Originally Posted by Austin55

I was just about to tell you to take some inspiration from the way you did oceanside. Looks like you did.

I'm sure you recognize the USAirlines Headquarters from Oceanside, I always felt it belonged in Staunton, but I could never find a spot to put it in Staunton, I always planned to put it in Midtown, but I always felt it belonged right up against the tallest of Staunton.



The Orion Center and Lewis & Clark Plaza were both completed in the early 1990's, the two skyscrapers where the last major skyscrapers to be constructed in Staunton in the 20th Century. Both developed by Horton Properties, Horton faced a huge conservation battle in the late 1980's since the two skyscrapers would replace dozens of older lowrises. The two "sibling" towers where crowned as the Staunton's most sought after office buildings at the time.





The Orion Center was completed in 1991 and is the main headquarters for Orion Enterprises. It rises 897 feet, 63 floors, 3rd tallest building in Staunton. I wish I could take credit for the design, but the building was heavily inspired by New York's 135 East 57th Street, such a grand postmodern building, but at 31 floors, can hardly be seen in New York's endless skyline.

Lewis & Clark Plaza was completed in 1993, right the midst of the 90's recession, it was Staunton's last major skyscraper of the 20th Century. The building's main tenant is West Coast Based Lewis & Clark Financial Services, it features a large landscaped plaza, five story atrium, and food court. Lewis & Clark Plaza rises 756 feet, 59 floors. The building's most recognizable feature is it's modern spire on the east side of the roof. It houses four "L&C" logos on each side, brilliantly lit up at night, the spire brings the building's total height to 876 feet.

Here's a shot of the 1970's styled Crown Center, which I will show more of in a bit.

[Pingyao]

Love the monumentally imposing facade of the Orion Centre. It'll be interesting to see how these all stack up in relation to the cities context. Any chance of an overview shot showing Staunton 5.1?

[Patrick]

Originally Posted by Pingyao

Any chance of an overview shot showing Staunton 5.1?

I want to, I want to, but I just hate showing unfinished areas of the city, I'll give you guys this "skyline" shot.

This is the Downtown skyline, as you can see it is strictly office buildings. The buildings to the far right are in the Civic Center district, this area will be the transition between Downtown & Midtown. This time there will be a Midtown in Staunton, taller buildings such as the Lloyd and UIG Tower will be located there, forming a second cluster of very tall skyscrapers.

My goal is to not crowd Galcorp and Gloucester with too many neighboring skyscrapers, making the duo look much more prominent in the skyline.

[Dac150]

Skyline is looking pretty balanced, yet boxy from that angle. I’d love to see some different perspective shots.

[Pingyao]

we want an overview, we want an overview - lol, actually don't worry about empty plots, it would be great to see how the skyline fits into the wider context, even without other buildings.

[Vellu]

That skyline shot looks very good as it is, but I have to say that it looks more "old Staunton" than I was expecting. But probably the skyline will look a lot different once you get outside of downtown. Also I was hoping to see Galcorp and Gloucester a little more prominent - like the Willis Tower, or the John Hancock Center or the Empire State Building. Maybe move the Lewis and Clark and the Orion Center a bit to the left?

[Innsertnamehere]

is it just me, or is this thread dead???

[Flamesrule]

Originally Posted by Innsertnamehere

is it just me, or is this thread dead???

Patrick tried getting back into Staunton, but here I think these are some reason why he isnt getting inspired.

1) He just finished being a senior in school(I think so)

2) Not enough cities on this forum

3)He has made 5 versions of the city

4)Hasnt visited New York/Philadelphia, Chicago/ LA(maybe)?

5)Just hasnt had the time

If this city is dead it'll be sad to see this city dies. It has been the longest city on the subforum and it has been pretty cool to see this city develope.

Maybe over the summer he could make a midwestern city?

[Patrick]

Sorry I haven't been as dedicated to Staunton as I used to be, but I'm much more busy with life these days. Usually summertime is when I worked nonstop on Staunton, but these days I work at McDonald's (lol, I know) and spend time with my friends whenever I can.

It was easier to work on Staunton back in the day when I was still new in Arizona and had less friends, or lacked a social life for that matter ha. Yet I'm a bit nostalgic for those days, I still remember working on Staunton nonstop back in 8th grade, before photo-real textures, those where the days! I think that's when Staunton was at it's most creative state, that's what I'm trying to restore.

Originally Posted by Flamesrule

1) He just finished being a senior in school(I think so)

I'm entering my senior year, I'm not too excited, most of my niche has graduated, I'm more excited for collage, wherever I go.

Originally Posted by Flamesrule

2) Not enough cities on this forum

Yeah, I really do miss everyone's cities, I think we all where inspired by each others works and such. I sure wish Sta Fee & Vellu's cities where around during the Sketchup boom!

Originally Posted by Flamesrule

3)He has made 5 versions of the city

It's getting pretty annoying that I keep starting over, I'm sure I'm not the only one who is annoyed either, but I can't keep working on Staunton when I know it's not coming out the exact way I wanted.

Originally Posted by Flamesrule

4)Hasnt visited New York/Philadelphia, Chicago/ LA(maybe)?

The Ironic thing is I've actually visited all those cities and I realized many things. Once visiting New York, I remember the feeling that New York City did not feel like Staunton. At the time Staunton was a total rip off of New York City, so I restarted it later on. Boston, and most notably, Philadelphia, where cities that just felt like Staunton. I always wanted Staunton's layout to be simular to Sydney's, you'll notice this in the very early stages of Staunton.

Lower Manhattan + Sydney + Chicago Loop + Boston + Downtown Philadelphia + Suburban Sprawl (LA, Dallas, Houston) = Staunton (?)

But thanks Flamersrule & Innsertnamehere, it's really cool to see that people still think about Staunton even though it's a graveyard over here!

In all honesty, since I've last updated, I've added, probably, two city blocks at the most, The Carmit and The Marlon, one a thin postmodern tower and the other a long thin 1960's slab, both major downtown hotels. Both of which I'll show later.

For now, this is Staunton from where the Jefferson Bridge would be, please note this view will dramatically change, the historical financial core will rise right in front of Galcorp, i.e. the Staunton Stock Exchange & friends, the buildings in this future area will mostly be older infill as this is will be the heart of Staunton's commerce (plus, I'd like to keep Gloucester and Galcorp unobstructed from this viewpoint)



Galcorp will no longer be part of a World Trade Center styled complex and will be an independent skyscraper (gasp!) I am planning an addition across the street, but I haven't decided yet if it will be an smaller twin like in the past, or a newer 21st Century building. I'm thinking something along the lines of the Leadenhall Building in London.



However I am thinking of making a new Stock Exchange Addition that is modeled off of this future building as well, we will see. All I know is, yes, Staunton will be getting modern buildings and is no longer frozen in time!

I've got some great ideas for the waterfront, elevated highways, an old town district, a large park with yes, Fort Staunton. So Staunton is not dead, just on a slow recovery!

Until next time!

[ertiikus]

Staaaauuuuuuuuuntoooooooonnnnnnn!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[JHoward88]

Wonderful! I'm looking forward to seeing the slow progression. Life requires different things of us at different times. It doesn't matter how long it takes, as long as you don't give up. I reckon that applies to life just as much as this sketchup project. :-)

[ertiikus]

Originally Posted by JHoward88

Wonderful! I'm looking forward to seeing the slow progression. Life requires different things of us at different times. It doesn't matter how long it takes, as long as you don't give up. I reckon that applies to life just as much as this sketchup project. :-)

Basically what he said

[Pingyao]

Patrick, Staunton and Elvis have not left the building, they're back (well Elvis isn't)! Good to see some new shots and glad to know you're rekindling your love affair with 3D cities, all be it in a more relaxed, informal way.

[Austin55]

Yessssssss. Nothing inspires me like a little staunton now and then

keep it u.

[Patrick]

Thanks for the feedback guys!

So after work I did three more blocks today, Staunton is getting kind of fun again!

I've decided to give in and show an overview, but no textures, muahaha, I don't want to spoil much yet. I'm coming up with ideas as I go along, I just don't want to end up redeveloping an area as time goes by (this happened several times in the past, once I realized Downtown was missing something)

Basically I'm hoping this will be the final version of Staunton, so I need to make this just right, so please, if you have an opinion, voice it!



So the East End and the South End will be lowrise historical districts. The East End being more of a Fisherman's Wharf kind of area, the South End will be more of a upper middle class residential area on a hill. The David Alderich Expressway will be a major thoroughfare that divides the East End and Downtown, it connects New Ganton, Staunton, and Jefferson all together. The expressway was named after former mayor Alderich, a major advocate for the expressway in the 1950's.

The Plaza District is where Staunton's largest and most prominent skyscrapers are located while the Stock Exchange District is the cities commercial heart. This is where the Stock, Futures, & Mercantile, Exchanges will be located. Most of the buildings here will be older and not as tall. The Staunton Ferry Terminal will be one of the major gateways into the city.

I'm not sure what to do with The North End. I'm thinking of making it into a large paved gray port, simular to Sydney's "hungry mile" area. Not pretty, but this IS Staunton and we need some awful parts. I'd rather not make this area similar to Battery Park City, like in the past. I don't want to see the Staunton Financial Center back, it was one of my favorites, but I feel like it was just too much like New York's World Financial Center.

Yay, nay?

Sydney's "Hungry Mile" on the right.


Source: Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Barangaroopanorama2.jpg

Livingston Square (named after Jersey's first governor) will be equivalent to Philadelphia's Rittenhouse Square or New York's Madison Square. There will also be a major cathedral located in this park. McClellan Square (formerly Farley Square, named after Jersey's 24th governor, major general during the Civil War) will pretty much be City Hall Park. The Civic Center will obviously be the heart of the city.

Here's an Idea: I've been thinking of stretching City Hall Park to 2 or 4 blocks long, forming a Mall, similar to the Los Angeles Civic Center Mall. On the East End will be City Hall, and other government buildings. While the West End will have the Opera House, Preforming Arts Center, etc, this area will be very 1960's, similar to the Rothenburg Center from older Staunton.

Yay, nay?

The Los Angeles Civic Center Mall.


Source: Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/33455118@N08/3650444074/

What do you think!

[Flamesrule]

Patrick, you outdue your self evry time.