urbanSTL

^And a pointy green roof, of course.

I pray to God it's a high end quality project. Something like Skyhouse or Trianon. I really hope it's not some ho-hum government subsidized housing project like M-B's other local designs. They do a lot of good work in that regard, but I really hope this site is held to a FAR higher standard.

Just by looking at the two companies, whoever they pick, I'm sure it will be high quality.

There's a fairly odd-perspective rendering (reflective glass reflecting J-Hall, apparently at street level) in the current Universitas. So there are renderings out there somewhere.

Universitas is our alumni magazine, BTW.



Here's the official release from SLU:



Press Release



And a "Development Survey":



Survey

The Mexican firm "TEN Architects" (sic) really does some outstanding work. Like nothing we've seen in St. Louis. I would love to see them get this commission. Heck, I'm impressed that SLU is even considering them.

http://www.paceproperties.com/images/listing/194.pdf

yuck, why not put windows on all sides?

Oh thank god. This will be good. With SLU and McCormack Baron behind it, it just might become reality. Just the thing midtown needs, something modern that mirrors the grandeur of the Continental. I wonder if this is TEN architects?

HOLY sh*t! THAT'S AWSOME!

^First thing that jumped to my mind.



I have to admit, I don't like this proposal.

It may look similar, but the setting at Grand and Olive/Lindell is much more human-friendly than FPP and Grand, surrounded by Hwy 40 and its ramps. In other words, the same buildings that don't work at GV Apts and Council Towers would work here.

this is incredible! Modern, and I also thought of Council House near 40. VERY big city. Thank God. I REALLY hope this happens. Man, I wish the Metro Link ran underneath Grand Center..

Another lifeless-expansive-"plaza"-where-a-street-edge-defining-building should-be brought to you by your friends at SLU. Geez, enough with the open space already.

My initial thoughts:



Definitely not what I was expecting.



I don't see the need for the large plaza area, but it's pretty standard for SLU, and could be fine with enough street life and an open building towards it.



The medians on Lindell are great.

Is that permanent 45-degree angle parking I see there? On Lindell?!



Keep the buildings. Plop another building on on at least 2/3 of the plaza: the plaza doesn't need to be that big.



Edit: Just noticed. What is represented by the white splotch just across Olive? Are they going to replace the parking lot with a parking garage? The rendering, oddly, shows a building in the background in "nothing to see here" gray.

I think the plaza mirrors the park at Grand and Washington nicely. Not that it could possibly be as nice as that park, but at that scale, with 60,000 sqf. of retail, perhaps a Bread Co. pouring onto the sidewalk?, it could be quite active.



Building something substantial on the south east corner of Grand and Lindell would really help give the plaza a sense of space/purpose.

Mill204 wrote:Edit: Just noticed. What is represented by the white splotch just across Olive? Are they going to replace the parking lot with a parking garage? The rendering, oddly, shows a building in the background in "nothing to see here" gray.

I was wondering the same thing. This is what's here now:



http://maps.live.com/#JnE9eXAuc3QlNDAyK ... M2NzE4NzU=



And per ChesterfieldKid03, this is what's proposed:







Honestly, I'm fine with the proposal. Would I like to see the fascia extend all the way along Grand? Sure. Would I like the building to butt up to the sidewalk on Lindell? Of course. But the placement of the building is fine as-is; to completely fill the block, you sacrafice building height.



As for the design of the building itself - it's too early to tell for sure. These are pretty crude renderings. It does appear to pay homage to the Council Tower and the Grandview Apartments, but the key is in the details and materials used. If it's a near copy, then I'll be a bit disappointed. If, however, it's a 21st-century interperetation of mid-century modern, then I'll be pleased.



It *is* better than the grass field that's there now <ducks>. IMO it represents real progress from SLU (we need more green space!) , and despite the plaza taking up 1/3 of the block, it should greaty improve the Grand streetscape. I'll have to wait until a more detailed rendering emerges before making a final judgement on the design, however.



-RBB

Why leave the prominent corner wide open as a plaza? Maybe the architect has a penchant for large areas splattered with pigeon sh^t.

The rendering looks like they paved over Vito's!