Quote:
Originally Posted by bob rulz
I never thought I would see so much defense of the ugly, dated Church Office Building.
Personally I think the mid-century, International-style era was a cold, dark history in skyscraper architecture. It's alright on a smaller scale, or if surrounded by taller, better-looking buildings, but I cannot think of a single International-style skyscraper off the top of my head that I like on its own outside of the OGs (PSFS Building in Philadelphia and the Seagram Building in New York), and the Sears Tower. They're mostly just bland, boring copycat boxes that infested skylines all over the world.
The post-modernism era of the late 1970s-early 1990s wasn't significantly better either, but at least those skyscrapers had shape.
Re-cladding of the COB would be a benefit to the city. It wouldn't have to be shiny, modern blue glass, but just adding a little bit of variation would do wonders.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Orlando
I'm not sure why you guys want a reclad of the COB. It's a nicely designed mid 20th century modern office tower with decent durable materials (stone? or granite?). I know it's a little austere, but not worth the cost of a reclad.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by airhero
I don't really mind the COB other than the north facade. Base is pretty ugly in areas as well.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SL,UT
I don't know why you would want to reclad the COB. Sure it is not the most beautiful building, but it is a prime example of international style architecture and it should be preserved. Our skyline needs diversity in it's buildings. Not a bunch of cold glass boxes.
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In the almost thirteen years since I joined this forum the reclad of the COB has been one of the most popularly revisited topics on this thread. I had to post all four of the above quotes because they represent my full opinion from past to present on the building perfectly. Starting with Bob, this is exactly how I felt in the beginning. Don't rule this out Bob, but the COB might grow on you with time.
After I had settled into Los Angeles this last go around, I couldn't help but notice that there were a lot of this particular design spread out through Downtown and the Wilshire Corridor. Also, major cities like San Francisco that experienced a large tower boom during that era have a boat load of these type towers. If it's any consolation, the COB is probably by far the more attractive of any of this type tower between L.A. and Chicago. I know that era didn't produce a style that has proven timeless, but it is unique for Salt Lake City. If there were dozens of them in Salt Lake of varying heights like you find in L.A. or San Fran I would have a differing opinion, but I think it's important to keep that particular style, since there are so few to almost none in Salt Lake. My only qualm would be upgrading that north facade center where you see the oddly out of place stairwell windows. Like Airhero suggested, it's ugly. Probably a little something could be done with the street level to update it without detracting from the original style. Also, in the past the forum had generally come to the conclusion that eventually the COB won't stick out so much as the tallest, as many other towers will be added to the skyline, some appearing taller. I think it pretty much a given that the COB2 will be just north of the current COB. Even if COB2 is not quite as tall as the COB, it will go a very long way in smoothing out and balancing the appearance of that north skyline view from the east or west. In fact, from the iconic view of the Northwest, I think placing a shorter tower to the north of the COB, and a few eventual towers around 2nd, 3rd and 4th South that appear taller than the COB, would make for one of the more beautiful skylines in the country, this is of course especially with the addition of the Wasatch as its backdrop.
Even over the next couple of years as the new skeletons go up on the current towers beginning their countdowns, the skyline is going to change a lot. Tower 8 and the CCH will have a dramatic impact from different angles.
https://epiconeadventures.com/wp-con...t-option-1.jpg
We'll still need some more ump from this angle, but the CCH on the right, and Tower 8 on the left will be a definite improvement.
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/270/3...cc50ecc6_b.jpg
It's hard to find decent updated views from the west. This one doesn't even include 111, but we get the idea how Tower 8, the CCH and Liberty Sky will add to this view. Anyone long time members save that incredible stylized shot looking west view of the skyline in the background and TRAX in the foreground, as it rounded the bend at the top of the hill toward the U of U.? Remember? Comrade, Anyone?
https://static1.squarespace.com/stat...g?format=1500w
I know this has been mentioned in the past, but given the lower elevation of southward plots, how tall would future towers have to be say at 4th south, in order for them to appear a little taller than the COB?
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