CHICAGO | Highrise Projects & Construction

[Ch.G, Ch.G]

Originally Posted by rlw777

I mean he produces coherent compositions with a consistent design language which is more than I can say for a lot of architects. I just think of him like he's the Rolls Royce of buildings. He's not doing anything new or groundbreaking but what he is doing he does well enough and with the right materials for people who are concerned about such things to buy the hype.

But I think this makes him very different from Lucien Lagrange, who exhibits none of those traits.

Anyway—and I say this as someone who believes that high quality postmodern architecture isn't an oxymoronic expression and who ALSO finds Stern to be a nasty old queen—I think the criticism of RAMSA is so misguided it's almost hilarious, but the intensity of the disdain is enough that, aside from this post, I don't want to touch the topic with a ten-foot pole.

[harryc]

as seen from Wolf Point

[pilsenarch]

^am I the only one who doesn't get the Catalyst design? I think it looks like one of the cheapest, thoughtless designs in the city. Of course, cheap is nothing new for BL.

[ardecila]

^ Have you seen the podium? The blankness is disappointing but the facade is excellently detailed and the building is overall well-composed. The color palette of green glass, spandrel glass, and various grays is also very attractive.

[harryc]

Originally Posted by pilsenarch

^am I the only one who doesn't get the Catalyst design? I think it looks like one of the cheapest, thoughtless designs in the city. Of course, cheap is nothing new for BL.

high hopes that the random patterns of occupancy will enhance the aesthetics.

[Chi-Sky21]

Originally Posted by pilsenarch

^am I the only one who doesn't get the Catalyst design? I think it looks like one of the cheapest, thoughtless designs in the city. Of course, cheap is nothing new for BL.

I don't really like it that much either.

[LouisVanDerWright]

Originally Posted by pilsenarch

^am I the only one who doesn't get the Catalyst design? I think it looks like one of the cheapest, thoughtless designs in the city. Of course, cheap is nothing new for BL.

What about it looks cheap? It has by far one of the highest quality curtainwall systems we've seen in years. Also, I think half the appeal of the building is the fact that they actually did something different than "vertical blue glass box, possibly with randomized fenestration". This is the anti-550 LSD, orderly pattern, horizontal box, clear glass with a hint of green, actual contrast to the facade instead of two nearly identical shades of glass. How can you not like it? What else are you looking for in a design like this?

Also, what other cheap buildings has B+L put out? They have finished very few designs since their split with bKL, I'm not sure how you can suggest there is some pattern of cheapness here when they have finished maybe a handful of buildings at most as an independent firm. I think their pre BKL work was probably some of the best of any local Chicago firm during the boom. 1720 S Michigan, R+D 659, 1620 S Michigan, and even that smaller project they did on Franklin all strike me as very modern, practical, architectural endeavors. 550 St Clair is a bit more iffy for me because of the nasty podium, but it seems that was likely dictated by the developer and/or site constraints and not by the architects, the tower above the base is quite nice. They don't strike me as particularly cheap though they are not what comes to mind as particularly pricey either.

[HomrQT]

Originally Posted by LouisVanDerWright

What about it looks cheap? It has by far one of the highest quality curtainwall systems we've seen in years. Also, I think half the appeal of the building is the fact that they actually did something different than "vertical blue glass box, possibly with randomized fenestration". This is the anti-550 LSD, orderly pattern, horizontal box, clear glass with a hint of green, actual contrast to the facade instead of two nearly identical shades of glass. How can you not like it? What else are you looking for in a design like this?

Also, what other cheap buildings has B+L put out? They have finished very few designs since their split with bKL, I'm not sure how you can suggest there is some pattern of cheapness here when they have finished maybe a handful of buildings at most as an independent firm. I think their pre BKL work was probably some of the best of any local Chicago firm during the boom. 1720 S Michigan, R+D 659, 1620 S Michigan, and even that smaller project they did on Franklin all strike me as very modern, practical, architectural endeavors. 550 St Clair is a bit more iffy for me because of the nasty podium, but it seems that was likely dictated by the developer and/or site constraints and not by the architects, the tower above the base is quite nice. They don't strike me as particularly cheap though they are not what comes to mind as particularly pricey either.

I think pilsenarch just doesn't like the design. I also do not like the design, and maybe the word "cheap" here is just because it doesn't have the appearance of a luxury tower. To me it's boring and adds nothing visually except density.

[SamInTheLoop]

Originally Posted by ardecila

^ Have you seen the podium? The blankness is disappointing but the facade is excellently detailed and the building is overall well-composed. The color palette of green glass, spandrel glass, and various grays is also very attractive.

I like it for the most part. But, the one thing I think I wish were changed (Harry's photos above really solidified this for me) is the spandrel glass. To me (and clearly atmospheric/lighting conditions/vantage pt etc all play a part), it is too white (i know it's not actually white, but leans that way) and opaque......just has a really 'solid' feeling that I'm not crazy about......I would have preferred something with some degree of transparency and potentially a different shade here.......

But at any rate, I still like it on the whole.....

[SamInTheLoop]

Originally Posted by Ch.G, Ch.G

But I think this makes him very different from Lucien Lagrange, who exhibits none of those traits.

Anyway—and I say this as someone who believes that high quality postmodern architecture isn't an oxymoronic expression and who ALSO finds Stern to be a nasty old queen—I think the criticism of RAMSA is so misguided it's almost hilarious, but the intensity of the disdain is enough that, aside from this post, I don't want to touch the topic with a ten-foot pole.

Sorry in advance, I can't resist (I literally am quite unable to help myself!)....

Firstly, I would say it is high quality postmodern architecture in the year 2014 that is indeed an oxymoronic expression. Secondly, I quite happily can't speak at all to Bobby Stern's personal hygiene or life. And thirdly, (and here's where I am utterly unable to help myself) I just can't afford to pay attention to (despite your overall quite high taste level) you much on postmodernism, given your praise of the cartoonishly bad 190 South LaSalle. Quite literally everything is wrong with that building......I can barely look at it, it fills me with such rage....don't be the — of Philip Johnson's grand joke on Chicago!!

[LouisVanDerWright]

Originally Posted by SamInTheLoop

Philip Johnson

Philip Johnson was a Nazi... Literally.

[Jibba]

Originally Posted by SamInTheLoop

Sorry in advance, I can't resist (I literally am quite unable to help myself!)....

Firstly, I would say it is high quality postmodern architecture in the year 2014 that is indeed an oxymoronic expression. Secondly, I quite happily can't speak at all to Bobby Stern's personal hygiene or life. And thirdly, (and here's where I am utterly unable to help myself) I just can't afford to pay attention to (despite your overall quite high taste level) you much on postmodernism, given your praise of the cartoonishly bad 190 South LaSalle. Quite literally everything is wrong with that building......I can barely look at it, it fills me with such rage....don't be the — of Philip Johnson's grand joke on Chicago!!

I like a lot of Bofill's work. 77 W Wacker would be about perfect without the silly pediment at the top (it would have been better to have the frieze/architrave that's atop the row of pilasters to be the parapet). His Meritxell Sanctuary is awesome, as is the JCDecaux headquarters.

[untitledreality]

Originally Posted by LouisVanDerWright

What about it looks cheap?

Protruding slab edge... whether it is exposed, or capped with an aluminum spandrel, it doesn't matter. Shadow boxes would have made a world of difference... at least for the tower portion.

I don't blame B+L, they do the best with what is handed to them.

[Ch.G, Ch.G]

Originally Posted by ardecila

^ Have you seen the podium? The blankness is disappointing but the facade is excellently detailed and the building is overall well-composed. The color palette of green glass, spandrel glass, and various grays is also very attractive.

Agreed! I don't even have a problem with the podium.

Not to sound like a broken record, but I'm also shocked at the bad reviews of Catalyst. All y'alls is crazy.

[J_M_Tungsten]

Delete

[BVictor1]

3 new renderings regarding 3 new proposals on Reilly's website.

[spyguy]

^
Gino's Tower


HoJo Tower


108 N Jefferson hotels
210-key Hampton Inn, 128-key Homewood Suites
23 floors, 250' tall, 117 parking spots, ground floor retail

[SamInTheLoop]

^ I thought I was going to break news of these new renderings....I'll keep dreaming........

So, obviously the gino's project is the Loewenberg design - I can tell because it's the lame one...why in the world does he feel the need to keep his architecture practice going? I think he'd be the first to admit he's a hack-— 'designer', plus it's not like he has many commissions these days, and then there's the fact that by all accounts this development thing is working out really quite well for him.....on 108 n Jefferson, I've been saying since the late Triassic that jupiter's office proposal was a nonsense......although I can't say that i foresaw the switch to hotel.....always thought it would eventually revert to resi....

[spyguy]

^It's been a while and I lost interest in the proposal, but wasn't it Reilly and possibly some community opposition which forced Jupiter to switch from residential to office and shorten the project?

Also, the Loewenberg tower isn't groundbreaking, but it could be fairly nice and miles ahead of the — they produced in the 2000's.

[SamInTheLoop]

^ I believe it was the Fulton district association that was pushing back against the size (which of course was eminently appropriate) of the defunct SCB-designed apartment tower (because of concern about supply-induced downward pressure on their condo values in the case of potential future conversion to condo!!! - break for super chunky, super high speed projectile vomit - ......ok, I'm back)....I definitely think a still-economically feasible residential compromise was to be had, but Jupiter caved with gusto and for some bizarre reason pulled straight out of their — reason thought they could pull off a ~400k sf office project on the parcel.....it was a weird move.....but maybe this hotel deal will work out even better for them......??....if so, good on 'em...

And, yes, Gino's is a nicer arrangement than Loewenberg's 90's-00's excrement fest. So is my upchuck (see above) from 5 mins. ago.......and that was no beauty....jimmy boy needs to fold his scribble shop, and let history do its best to forget it ever existed....