Freeport-McMoRan Center (One Central Park East) - Phoenix, AZ

[Phxguy]

That would explain this....

[Evil Empire]

Are they just using some of the floors for the hotel and building a lobby area or something?

[HX_Guy]

Oh if we could only see something like this for Cityscape some day...

Permit# LPRN-1001269 Issue Date 5/18/10 Expires 5/18/11
Permit Description WESTIN HOTEL
Project 06-1166 CENTRAL PARK EAST

DESCRIPTION OF WORK: 242 ROOM HOTEL TENANT FIR OUT IN EXISTING SHELL HI RISE BUILDING. AND ADDITION ADJACENT TO EXISTING HI RISE TO ADD KITCHEN, RESTROOMS, COURTYARD DINING & HOTEL ENTRANCE.

[gymratmanaz]

Someday SOON!!! Please?!?!?!

[phxbyrd]

so they are going to have a seperate entrance for the hotel? That's pretty cool.

[HX_Guy]

Originally Posted by phxbyrd

so they are going to have a seperate entrance for the hotel? That's pretty cool.

Yep. I'm thinking it's going to face Central.

[Vicelord John]

Originally Posted by HX_Guy

Yep. I'm thinking it's going to face Central.

Really going to change my percieved level of security at. Night at central station.

[plinko]

Originally Posted by Vicelord John

Really going to change my percieved level of security at. Night at central station.

^You mean you'll ditch the uzi and just pack the 9mm? (like I know anything about —...)

[Leo the Dog]

How many floors is the addition going to be? If they're going to build a kitchen, courtyard dining, porte cochere along the Central Side, you'd think it'd have to be at least a couple floors high.

If so, this would make a nice corner. Too bad we're about to have another surface parking lot behind the building tho.

[dtnphx]

Found this on the City of Phoenix Zoning Adjustment Hearing page. Good news for signage (I'm guessing) for the Westin.

8. Application #: ZA-153-10-8 (Sign)

Existing Zoning:
Downtown Core

Location:
333 North Central Avenue

Block Location:
306 North – 0 East

Quarter Section:
11-28

Proposal:
1) Use permit for a major amendment to the One Central Park East Comprehensive Sign Plan. Use permit required. 2) Variance to allow the area of a high-rise wall sign to be more than 1% of the area of the elevation to which it is attached. Maximum sign area allowed for high-rise wall signs is 1%. 3) Variance to attach a high-rise wall sign closer to the side edge of a building less than one-half the width of the largest letter or element of the sign. A wall sign shall be located no closer to the side edge of a building than one-half the width of the largest letter or element of the sign.

Ordinance Sections:
705.E.2.d. 705.D.3.i.(1) 705.D.3.i.(2)
Applicant:
Fluoresco Lighting & Signs
Representative:
Fluoresco Lighting & Signs

That is all.....

[Vicelord John]

I would imagine the signage is for Freeport McMoran?

[Leo the Dog]

Could be Westin signage and new lighting for their drive?

[combusean]

It's absolutely for the marquee on top. It's for an edge wall sign whose size is given in terms of the total size of the building, there's a comprehensive plan, and a major electric sign contractor is doing the work.

[dtnphx]

Originally Posted by combusean

It's absolutely for the marquee on top. It's for an edge wall sign whose size is given in terms of the total size of the building, there's a comprehensive plan, and a major electric sign contractor is doing the work.

Cool. That makes sense.

[NIXPHX77]

Is there a scheduled opening date for the Westin yet? i hope it can be ready before the July 2011 MLB Allstar game.

[BA744PHX]

Originally Posted by NIXPHX77

Is their a scheduled opening date for the Westin yet? i hope it can be ready before the July 2011 MLB Allstar game.

February 3, 2011
found on starwood.com on future developments

[Vicelord John]

freeport is already occupying the building. This past Monday was their first day of operations there.

[HX_Guy]

What permits look like for a hotel that is actually being built...

Permit# LPRX-1001453 Issue Date 6/9/10 Expires 6/4/11
Permit Description PODIUM/ENTRY ADDITION
Project 06-1166 CENTRAL PARK EAST

DESCRIPTION OF WORK: SINGLE STORY STRUCTURE ATTACHED TO THE "ONE CENTRAL PARK EXISTING PROJECT"; ADDITIONAL ALTERATION; ROOF AREA OF STRUCTURE INCLUDES A "SPA", LOWER LEVEL INCLUDES RESTROOMS AND FUTURE KITCHEN SPACE, OPEN COURTYARD IS FOR DINING

Permit# CCPR-1001548 Issue Date 6/17/10 Expires 6/16/12
Permit Description WESTIN PHX HOTEL
Project 06-1166 CENTRAL PARK EAST

DESCRIPTION OF WORK:1ST REVIEW SUBMITTAL FOR G & D WITH OFF SITE IMPROVEMENTS FOR NEW BUILDING ADDITION TO EXISTING DEVELOPMENT.

[Schadenfreude]

http://www.azcentral.com/community/phoenix/articles/2010/06/18/20100618phoenix-closed-streets.html

Some downtown Phoenix streets and parts
of the transit system will be closed Saturday
while two signs are installed on a high-rise
building.

These streets will be closed from 5 a.m. to 5
p.m.:

• Central Avenue from Monroe to Fillmore
streets.

• Van Buren Street from First Avenue to
Second Street.

• First Street from Monroe to Taylor streets.

• Polk Street from Central to Second Street.

The city said there's a chance the same
closures will be in place on Sunday. The two
large signs are for the Freeport-McMoRan
Copper & Gold mining company building at Central and Van Buren.

The signs will be lifted into place in sections
by helicopter. Workers hope to have the
entire installation finished Saturday.

The Central Station transit stop will be sealed
to the public and closed. The street and
station closures will affect both light-rail and
bus service.

They are lifting pieces of the sign up now.

[vertex]

You saw it here first.

I happened to be downtown near Central and Fillmore when I saw the helicopter. I didn't know the signs were going up, until I saw a gigantic "t-Mc" hovering above Van Buren. Too bad I didn't have more than just my phone's camera with me.








The giant "t-Mc", just getting settled into place.






Now I'm on top of the Chase Bank garage. You can see the staging area for the rest of the signage, in the parking lot north of the t-Mc building. I was hoping they would simply bolt the next piece to the helicopter, and take it right up. Instead, he came in for a landing.




You can just see the workers rappelling down the front of the sign to bolt it in.






Streets cordoned off. You can see a bit of Chase Bank's plaza makeover from up here.










A close-up of the staging area. Note the temporary landing pad for the helicopter.




It's interesting that all of the streets for a 9-block area were impassable, yet the northbound train was able to continue right past it.