CHICAGO | Highrise Projects & Construction

[guesswho]

Originally Posted by SamInTheLoop

^ Their 'plan' could be referring to sitting back and watching as Kelleher and Atlas deal falls through (as I'm sure many people expect to happen), then they get the site, no?

Well, yea, that too, but I meant more along the lines of having the impression that they have already been allocating employees/resources to get the ball rolling for (eventual) development on day T+0 if/ever they receive the site.


.................
What's wrong with Robert Stern???? Doesn't he design classical/traditional ultra high end buildings in NYC like 15 Central Park West, 520 Park Avenue, and 220 Central Park South?

[rlw777]

Originally Posted by SamInTheLoop

Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh, God NO!!!!!! God!!!!


This is where I really need Ch.G, Ch.G to come in with one of those clips - I'm thinking maybe from The Office: Michael Scott's reaction to when Toby suddently reappears in the office after his misadventures in Central America.....

Come to think of it - Robert AM Stern is like the Toby Flenderson (at least in Michael's eyes!) of the design world - just a horrible, haggardly old, boring mega-douchebag, and it shows in his work - in spades........with that stated, if it is indeed him, I wonder if there's a chance for this particular site he could go off-style and maybe even do something 'of our day'??

LOL you mean you don't want a Limestone Jesus for Chicago? I don't think he is terrible I think he just doesn't take any design risks. He emphasizes context way more than most... but at least he does that well.

[SamInTheLoop]

^^ You actually just answered you're own question!

[LouisVanDerWright]

Originally Posted by rlw777

LOL you mean you don't want a Limestone Jesus for Chicago? I don't think he is terrible I think he just doesn't take any design risks. He emphasizes context way more than most... but at least he does that well.

Well context at that location would be to build an all glass tower considering there is almost nothing old in the area except the River East Arts building.

[rlw777]

Originally Posted by LouisVanDerWright

Well context at that location would be to build an all glass tower considering there is almost nothing old in the area except the River East Arts building.

I realize that. I was just making a joke in reference to what Stern is most known for.

[ardecila]

Originally Posted by SamInTheLoop

Come to think of it - Robert AM Stern is like the Toby Flenderson (at least in Michael's eyes!) of the design world - just a horrible, haggardly old, boring mega-douchebag, and it shows in his work - in spades........with that stated, if it is indeed him, I wonder if there's a chance for this particular site he could go off-style and maybe even do something 'of our day'??

First, Stern is not 100% committed to traditional design... people forget that he did Comcast Center in Philly and Tour Carpe Diem in Paris.

Second, the work he does (while often traditional) is usually lightyears ahead of Lucien Lagrange and his ilk in Chicago. We've had this conversation comparing the two before... Stern is one architect who actually has a lot of experience using traditional materials like brick and limestone on a large scale, and doesn't constantly resort to beige precast and jumbo brick.

IF you accept that there is a market for traditional design and IF you accept that there will always be some developers who build traditional styles, THEN Stern is exactly the kind of architect who should be doing the design.

For a good idea of what Stern will do in Chicago, just check out what he did for some of Related's recent projects in New York. Not a lot of masterpieces but solid, attractive buildings that fit into warehouse districts like Chelsea and Flatiron.

[StormFire]

Originally Posted by i_am_hydrogen

John Buck to present office proposal to panel

April 15, 2014

The Chicago Plan Commission is scheduled to consider Chicago-based John Buck Co.'s proposed 35-story office tower at 151 N. Franklin St. at its April 23 meeting, according to a legal notice. To build the John Ronan-designed structure, Buck agreed to buy a parcel at Franklin and Randolph streets, as well as development rights, from Chicago-based InterPark Holdings Inc.

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/realestat...fice-proposal-to-panel?r=2883H3247467E8W

The Walgreens at Franklin and Randolph has signs up inside saying they lost their lease and have to be out by June 6 or so.

[harryc]

Originally Posted by StormFire

The Walgreens at Franklin and Randolph has signs up inside saying they lost their lease and have to be out by June 6 or so.

But where will we park the Cadillacs ?

Sept-2013

[Notyrview]

Originally Posted by ardecila

IF you accept that there is a market for [crap] and IF you accept that there will always be some developers who build [crap], THEN Stern is exactly the kind of architect who should be doing the [crap].

I cannot.

[denizen467]

I'm not so sure Stern will do a traditional or stone-clad tower at that location; I would lean towards one of his modern designs. First, the caissons have already been sunk and the footprint already decided, so he's got a pretty small rectangle onto which the 50 stories will be stacked. This leaves no room for setbacks or other massing manipulations that make traditional/stone buildings look nice (like his 15 CPW). Second, because the likely result is a sheer-vertical-wall box, a stone-clad tower of that kind of massing would seem a little out of place in that neighborhood, surrounded by sleek glass boxes. His 30 Park Place looks a little like the Park Hyatt tower here, and I think that wouldn't have an impressive impact in glassy Streeterville. I could picture a small podium there involving a lot of stone, harmonious with River East Art Center and 474 LSD across the street, but a tower portion with no or limited stone. I guess this begs the question of why one would bring RAMSA in from NY to design a mostly-glass tower, but between the podium, interiors, and detailing on the tower being handled by him, it could end up being a powerful marketing message. Besides, maybe they cut a deal on his fees based on other lucrative projects Related has done with him in NY?

[Notyrview]

I'm really worried we're just going to be getting more if his signature business class postmodernism. There's nothing in the portfolio to suggest otherwise for a residential tower. Otherwise, 15 CPW does NOT look nice. The top massing is just absurd. It looks like a masturbatory chamber. You might as well live on the set of Spartacus.

[sentinel]

Originally Posted by denizen467

I'm not so sure Stern will do a traditional or stone-clad tower at that location; I would lean towards one of his modern designs. First, the caissons have already been sunk and the footprint already decided, so he's got a pretty small rectangle onto which the 50 stories will be stacked. This leaves no room for setbacks or other massing manipulations that make traditional/stone buildings look nice (like his 15 CPW). Second, because the likely result is a sheer-vertical-wall box, a stone-clad tower of that kind of massing would seem a little out of place in that neighborhood, surrounded by sleek glass boxes. His 30 Park Place looks a little like the Park Hyatt tower here, and I think that wouldn't have an impressive impact in glassy Streeterville. I could picture a small podium there involving a lot of stone, harmonious with River East Art Center and 474 LSD across the street, but a tower portion with no or limited stone. I guess this begs the question of why one would bring RAMSA in from NY to design a mostly-glass tower, but between the podium, interiors, and detailing on the tower being handled by him, it could end up being a powerful marketing message. Besides, maybe they cut a deal on his fees based on other lucrative projects Related has done with him in NY?

Well, hold onto yer butts...because it is R.A.M.S. (great name for a gay leather bar - I'd probably go there) and even though I haven't seen the final design yet, I was told it's a rather simple design - no frills, few setbacks, but with his signature (slightly off-white, NON beige) pre-cast. If I'm allowed to post renderings in the next few weeks I will, otherwise I'm sure spyguy will be posting something soon enough for us to loathe...or like

[sentinel]

Also, does anyone have any info on the John Buck/John Ronan tower from the meeting a few days ago?

[LouisVanDerWright]

Originally Posted by sentinel

Well, hold onto yer butts...because it is R.A.M.S. (great name for a gay leather bar - I'd probably go there) and even though I haven't seen the final design yet, I was told it's a rather simple design - no frills, few setbacks, but with his signature (slightly off-white, NON beige) pre-cast. If I'm allowed to post renderings in the next few weeks I will, otherwise I'm sure spyguy will be posting something soon enough for us to loathe...or like

Lol, so this is Related's idea of stepping up their game and bringing in a "starchitect"??? Laughable. I actually did chortle when I saw this. Say what you want about developers like Lowemburg, but at least they have never sunk to the level of neoclassical hackery.

I am sure they will grace us with a sampling of their classic low grade facade materials. I can't wait to see how horrifying a Related take on precast turns out.

Thanks for bringing some culture out here to this little cowtown on the prairie guys! Precast pomo is an insult to the history of this city.

[Notyrview]

Originally Posted by sentinel

Well, hold onto yer butts...because it is R.A.M.S. (great name for a gay leather bar - I'd probably go there) and even though I haven't seen the final design yet, I was told it's a rather simple design - no frills, few setbacks, but with his signature (slightly off-white, NON beige) pre-cast. If I'm allowed to post renderings in the next few weeks I will, otherwise I'm sure spyguy will be posting something soon enough for us to loathe...or like

Dude. Who cares if its NON beige. Seriously? —.

[sentinel]

Originally Posted by Notyrview

Dude. Who cares if its NON beige. Seriously? —.

It was meant as an inside joke for all of the people in this specific thread who decry the beige standard of River North/Streeterville. Just. Relax. buddy.

[Notyrview]

Originally Posted by sentinel

It was meant as an inside joke for all of the people in this specific thread who decry the beige standard of River North/Streeterville. Just. Relax. buddy.

I can't help it. I find this latest Related onslaught traumatizing.

[intrepidDesign]

Stern's residential work is criminal. The highrise he did in Toronto is the only one that's not beyond offensive, and it's forgettable at best. In fact the only building that I've ever seen of his that's acceptable is the office tower he did in Philadelphia. Loathe cannon charging to maximum.

[sentinel]

Originally Posted by Notyrview

I can't help it. I find this latest Related onslaught traumatizing.

No I get it, and frankly I personally will wait to pass judgement on the design until I actually see it. But admittedly, there appears to be a marked difference in the quality of projects between Related's work in NYC (or elsewhere perhaps) vs what they're pumping out here, no? I think there is...

[munchymunch]

I don't even know where this heading is there argument over Related makes better buildings in NY then in Chicago, or is there an argument over what would look better a glass building or a stone building??